AUTO RACING: Bell’s three-race win streak snapped and Norris takes the F1 season opener
AUTO RACING: Bell’s three-race win streak snapped and Norris takes the F1 season opener
All Times Eastern
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Straight Talk Wireless 400
Site: Homestead, Florida.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 1:05 p.m., qualifying, 2:10 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Race distance: 267 laps, 400.5 miles.
Last year: Tyler Reddick secured the win from the pole after a last-lap pass of Ryan Blaney.
Last race: Following a late-race duel with Daniel Suarez in Vegas, Josh Berry surged ahead securing his first series victory.
Next race: March 30, Martinsville, Virginia.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Hard Rock Bet 300
Site: Homestead, Florida.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 10:35 a.m., qualifying, 11:40 a.m., race, 4 p.m. (CW).
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Race distance: 200 laps, 300 miles.
Last year: Austin Hill passed Cole Custer with 12 laps to go earning him a victory and a spot in the Championship 4.
Last race: Justin Allgaier secured his first win of the season in Vegas, dominating with a race-high 102 lap lead.
Next race: March 29 Martinsville, Virginia.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
Baptist Health 200
Site: Homestead, Florida.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 3:35 p.m., qualifying, 4:40 p.m., race, 8 p.m. (FOX).
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Race distance: 134 laps, 201 miles.
Last year: Grant Enfinger grabbed his 12th-career victory, beating second-place finisher Ty Majeski by more than 17 seconds.
Last race: Corey Heim earned his second series win overtaking Enfinger and maintaining the lead from lap 101 onward.
Next race: March 28, Martinsville, Virginia.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA ONE
Heineken Chinese Grand Prix
Site: Shanghai.
Schedule: Thursday, practice, 11:25 p.m.; Friday, sprint qualifying, 3:25 a.m., sprint race, 10:55 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 2:35 a.m.; Sunday, race, 2:55 a.m. (ESPN).
Track: Shanghai International Circuit.
Race distance: 56 laps, 189 miles.
Last year: Max Verstappen dominated from the pole position, trailing for only a few laps and keeping a No. 2 Lando Norris at bay.
Last race: Norris narrowly defeated reigning world champ Verstappen in a chaotic, rain-affected season opener.
Next race: April 6, Suzuku, Japan.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
The Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix
Site: Thermal, California.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, practice, 1 p.m., qualifications, 5 p.m.; Sunday, warmup, 11 a.m., race, 3 p.m. (FOX).
Track: The Thermal Club.
Race distance: 65 laps, 199 miles.
Last year: Last year’s race in Thermal was a non-championship exhibition event called the ”$1 Million Challenge”. This year the race debuts as a full championship points race.
Last race: Two-time defending champ Alex Palou battled his way past Newgarden and Dixon to win the season opener.
Next race: April 13, Long Beach, California.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
NHRA Arizona Nationals
Site: Chandler, Arizona.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 11:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 2:50 p.m.; Sunday, race, 11 a.m.
Track: Firebird Motorsports Park.
Race distance: 1/4 mile.
Next race: March 30, Pomona, California.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
World of Outlaws Battle at the Crossroads
Site: Swainsboro, Georgia.
Track: Swainsboro Raceway.
World of Outlaws Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step
Site: Paige, Texas.
Track: Cotton Bowl Speedway.
Next events: March 28-29 Lawton, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing