AUTO RACING: Defending F1 champ Max Verstappen eyes another title and NASCAR heads to Vegas
AUTO RACING: Defending F1 champ Max Verstappen eyes another title and NASCAR heads to Vegas
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares for the pit during a Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Christopher Bell celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Christopher Bell (20) leaves a trail of smoke as he celebrates his win of a NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares for the pit during a Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares for the pit during a Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Christopher Bell celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Christopher Bell celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Christopher Bell (20) leaves a trail of smoke as he celebrates his win of a NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Christopher Bell (20) leaves a trail of smoke as he celebrates his win of a NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
All Times Eastern
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube
Site: Las Vegas.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 1:35 p.m., qualifying, 2:40 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3:30 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 267 laps, 400.5 miles.
Last year: Kyle Larson led a race-high 181 laps, surviving a late surge from Tyler Reddick that earned him his third-straight win in Vegas.
Last race: Christopher Bell became the first to win three straight races in the NextGen car, edging teammate Denny Hamlin by 0.049 seconds in Phoenix Raceway’s second-closest finish.
Next race: March 23, Homestead, Florida.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
The LiUNA!
Site: Las Vegas.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 6:05 p.m., qualifying, 7:10 p.m.: Saturday, race, 4:30 p.m. (CW).
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 200 laps, 300 miles.
Last year: John Hunter Nemechek earned his first Las Vegas victory, leading a race-high 99 laps in a wind-swept race with gusts up to 70 mph.
Last race: Aric Almirola claimed an overtime victory in Phoenix after a dramatic last-lap pass of Alex Bowman.
Next race: March 22, Homestead, Florida.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
Ecosave 200
Site: Las Vegas.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 3:35 p.m., qualifying, 4:40 p.m., race, 9 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 134 laps, 201 miles.
Last year: Rajah Caruth took the win from the pole position, becoming the third Black driver to win a NASCAR series race.
Last race: Kyle Busch pulled away from Stewart Friesen in the final seconds in Atlanta, earning him his 67th series victory.
Next race: March 21, Homestead, Florida.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA ONE
Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix
Site: Melbourne, Australia.
Schedule: Thursday, practice, 9:25 p.m.; Friday, practice, 12:55 a.m.,: Saturday, qualifying, 12:35 a.m., race, 11:55 p.m. (ESPN).
Track: Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.
Race distance: 58 laps, 190 miles.
Last year: Carlos Sainz earned the win after taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s early exit due to mechanical issues. Charles Leclerc finished in second place while Lando Norris took third after a dramatic crash from George Russell.
Last race: Lando Norris claimed his first championship in Abu Dhabi, ending Verstappen’s four-year winning streak.
Next race: March 23, Shanghai, China.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Last race: Two-time defending champ Alex Palou battled his way past Newgarden and Dixon to win the season opener.
Next race: March 23, Thermal, California.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
Next race: March 23, Chandler, Ariz.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
World of Outlaws Tennessee Tipoff
Site: Maryville, Tennessee.
Track: Smoky Mountain Speedway.
World of Outlaws Cowtown Classic
Site: Kennedale, Texas.
Track: Kennedale Motor Speedway.
Next events: March 21-21 Swainsboro, Georgia & Paige, Texas.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing