The week ahead in motorsports 10/17/02

WINSTON CUP

OLD DOMINION 500

Site: Martinsville, Va.

n Schedule: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 2:05 p.m.; Sunday, race (NBC, 11 a.m.).

Track: Martinsville Speedway (oval, 0.526 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).

n Race distance: 263 miles, 500 laps.

Last race: Subbing for the injured Sterling Marlin, Jamie McMurray became the quickest driver in NASCAR modern-day history to win a race when he took the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Concord, N.C. Making just his second career start, McMurray ran in the top-10 for most of the race before passing Mark Martin with 30 laps to go.

n Last year: Ricky Craven held off Dale Jarrett in a final-lap duel and won the Old Dominion 500 for his first victory in 174 starts in the Winston Cup series. Craven pulled away from Jarrett on a restart with 13 laps to go, opening a wide lead. Craven's Ford beat Jarrett's across the line by .141 seconds, giving owner Cal Wells his first victory in NASCAR's premier series.

Next race: NAPA 500, Oct. 27, Hampton, Ga.

BUSCH SERIES

SAM'S TOWN 250

Site: Memphis, Tenn.

n Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 1 p.m.; Saturday, race (NBC, 1 p.m.).

Track: Memphis Motorsports Park (oval, .75 miles, 11 degrees banking in turns).

n Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 laps.

Last race: Jeff Burton nearly lapped the field at Lowe's Motor Speedway, winning the Little Trees 300 by nearly 20 seconds. It is Burton's second straight win and fifth of the season.

n Last year: Randy Lajoie won the Sam's Town 250 after a one-day rain delay, slipping under leaders Jay Sauter and Jeff Green as they went high toward the wall with 1 1/4 laps to go. Lajoie watched Sauter and Green vie for first place and waited for them to make contact in Turn 4. As their cars went up the bank, Lajoie went under them and held off Green for the finish.

Next race: Aaron's 312, Oct. 26, Hampton, Ga.

CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Next race: Craftsman 250, Nov. 2, Fontana, Calif.

CART

Next race: Honda Indy 300, Oct. 27, Surfers Paradise, Australia.

NHRA

Next event: ACDelco Nationals, Oct. 27, Las Vegas.