AUTO RACING: Hamlin goes back-to-back with victory in Darlington and F1’s Verstappen gets first win
AUTO RACING: Hamlin goes back-to-back with victory in Darlington and F1’s Verstappen gets first win
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, is sprayed champagne by second placed, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, second left, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands receives the checkered flag as he crosses the finish line to win the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, is sprayed champagne by second placed, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, second left, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, is sprayed champagne by second placed, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, second left, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands receives the checkered flag as he crosses the finish line to win the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands receives the checkered flag as he crosses the finish line to win the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
All Times Eastern
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Food City 500
Site: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 2 p.m., qualifying, 3:05 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 500 laps, 266.5 miles.
Last year: Leading a race-high 163 laps, Denny Hamlin took the win over teammate Martin Truex Jr. in a race that saw a record-breaking 54 lead changes.
Last race: Hamlin earned his second consecutive win in Darlington, holding off William Byron after a perfectly executed pit stop.
Next race: April 27, Talladega, Alabama.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
SciAps 300
Site: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 11:30 a.m., qualifying, 12:35 p.m., race, 5 p.m. (CW).
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 300 laps, 159.9 miles.
Last year: The last race which took place in 2020, saw Noah Gragson claim an overtime victory after battling it out with Briscoe and Jones in a two-lap shootout.
Last race: Brandon Jones took the checkered flag in Darlington, earning him his first win in 98 races and sixth of his career.
Next race: April 19, Rockingham, North Carolina.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
Weather Guard Truck Race
Site: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 3:35 p.m., Qualifying, 4:30 p.m., race, 7:30 p.m. (FS1)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 250 laps, 133.25 miles.
Last year: Christian Eckes earned his first win of the season, maintaining the lead after passing Kyle Busch with 92 laps to go.
Last race: Daniel Hemric who led a race-high 149 of 200 laps, secured the victory in Martinsville after a late-race pass of teammate Tyler Ankrum.
Next race: April 18, Rockingham, North Carolina.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA ONE
Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
Site: Sakhir, Bahrain.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 7:25 a.m., practice, 10:55 a.m.; Saturday, practice, 8:25 a.m., qualifying, 10:55 a.m.; Sunday, race, 10:55 a.m. (ESPN2).
Track: Bahrain International Circuit.
Race distance: 57 laps, 191.5 miles.
Last year: Max Verstappen led every lap, securing a commanding victory from the pole in his 55th career F1 win.
Last race: Verstappen held off the surging McLaren team earning him his first win of the season and fourth straight Japanese Grand Prix.
Next race: April 20, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Site: Long Beach, California.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 6 p.m., Saturday, practice, 11:30 a.m., qualifications, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, warmup, Noon, race, 4:30 p.m. (FOX).
Track: Streets of Long Beach.
Race distance: 90 laps, 177.1 miles.
Last year: Stretching his fuel out for the last 34 laps, Scott Dixon took the win edging Colton Herta by less than a second.
Last race: Alex Palou stays perfect going 2-for-2 for the season after passing pole sitter Pato O’Ward with 10 laps to go in Thermal.
Next race: May 4, Birmingham, Alabama.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
NHRA 4-Wide Nationals
Site: Las Vegas.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, qualifying, 11 a.m., race, 6:30 p.m. (FS1).
Track: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 1/4 mile.
Next race: April 27, Concord, North Carolina.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
World of Outlaws Illini 100 Practice
Site: Farmer City, Illinois.
Track: Farmer City Raceway.
World of Outlaws Illini 100
Site: Farmer City, Illinois.
Track: Farmer City Raceway.
World of Outlaws Federated Auto Part Spring Classic
Site: Pevely, Missouri.
Track: I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.
Next events: April 18-19, Knoxville, Iowa.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing