The week ahead in motorsports 10/3/02

AREA EVENTS

Sprint, late model, modified, hobby, pure stock and cruiser divisions at Malden (Mo.) Speedway, 7 p.m. Friday.

Sprint, modified, street stock and cruiser divisions at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark, 7 p.m. Saturday.WINSTON CUP

EA Sports 500

Site: Talladega, Ala.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 11:30 a.m.).

Track: Talladega Superspeedway (tri-oval, 2.66 miles, 33 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 500 miles, 188 laps.

Last race: Jeff Gordon successfully defended his Protection One 400 championship at Kansas City by pulling away from Ryan Newman following a restart with three laps remaining. Gordon led a race-high 116 of the final 121 laps in winning for the third time this season, the 61st of his 322-race career.

Next race: UAW-GM Quality 500, Oct. 13, Concord, N.C.

CART

GP of the Americas

Site: Miami

Schedule: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 12:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (CBS, noon, due to NFL coverage, may air at 3:30 p.m., same-day tape in some markets).

Track: Bayfront Park (street course, 1.57 miles, 16 turns).

Race distance: TBD after qualifying.

Last race: Dario Franchitti seized the lead with 38 laps remaining and narrowly beat points leader Cristiano da Matta to the finish line to win the Rockingham 500 in England on Sept. 14. Franchitti won for the first time on an oval, the third time this year and for the 10th time in his career while remaining in contention for the CART title with four races remaining.BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Last race: Jeff Burton passed Kerry Earnhardt and pulled away to win the Mr. Goodcents 300 at Kansas Speedway for his fourth win in 11 starts this season. Burton, one of 15 different leaders in the race that was interrupted nine times by cautions, all of them for accidents, led 48 of the 200 laps.

Next race: Lowe's 300, Oct. 12, Concord, N.C.

CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Mike Bliss extended his points lead, driving a strategic race to win the Hardee's 250 at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway on Sept. 21. He passed Coy Gibbs on lap 199 and held a six-second lead when the 10th and final caution flag waved.

Next race: The Orleans 350, Oct. 13, Las Vegas.FORMULA ONE

Last race: Team Ferrari had another arranged finish at the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis as leader Michael Schumacher slowed on the last lap to allow teammate Rubens Barrichello to pass for the win.

Next race: Japanese Grand Prix, Oct. 13, Suzuka.

NHRA

Last event: Tony Pedregon won his third-straight event at the Craftsman 75th Anniversary Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, remaining on track for the Funny Car championship. Jeg Coughlin took over the points lead with a win in Pro Stock and Doug Kalitta won in Top Fuel.

Next event: O'Reilly Fall Nationals, Oct. 13, Ennis, Texas.

-- From staff, wire reports