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Wednesday, February 28
Updated: March 12, 6:37 PM ET
NASCAR hits Vegas; F1 kicks off 2001
Associated Press

Here's a breakdown of this weekend's action in the world of motorsports. (All times ET)

Winston Cup
FAST FACTS
Event UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
Site Las Vegas
Schedule Friday, qualifying (FSN, 5 p.m.); Sunday, race (Fox, 2 p.m.).
Track Las Vegas Motor Speedway (tri-oval 1.5 miles, 12 degrees banking)
Distance 400.5 miles 267 laps

Last race: Steve Park honored his late boss by driving a Dale Earnhardt Inc. car to victory Monday in the Dura Lube 400. Park held off Winston Cup champ Bobby Labonte by two car-lengths in the rain-delayed race at North Carolina Speedway. The race began Sunday and was postponed by rain after just 51 of 393 laps.

Drivers to Watch
Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Las Vegas.

Last year: Jeff Burton won the rain-shortened event. NASCAR stopped the race after 148 of a scheduled 267 laps.

Fast facts: Jeff Burton outraced brother Ward to the finish line in 1999. It was the first 1-2 finish by brothers since Terry Labonte beat Bobby in 1997 in Talladega, Ala. ... Only the inaugural race in 1998 was won from a top-10 starting spot. ... Ricky Rudd started on the pole last year. ... Rusty Wallace leads the standings after two races.

Next race: Cracker Barrel 500, March 11, Hampton, Ga.

Busch
FAST FACTS
Event Sam's Town 300
Site Las Vegas
Schedule Friday, qualifying (FSN, 3:15 p.m.); Saturday, race (FX, 3 p.m.).
Track Las Vegas Motor Speedway (tri-oval 1.5 miles, 12 degrees banking)
Distance 300 miles, 200 laps

Last race: Todd Bodine gambled on a late stop and made it pay off with a victory in the Alltel 200 at North Carolina Speedway. Bodine was leading when Scott Wimmer's car hit the wall on the 183rd of 197 laps. Bodine pitted for four tires, while several others, including defending series champ Jeff Green, stayed out.

Last year: Jeff Burton got his 11th Busch Series win after leader Mark Martin got caught behind Jack Sprague's spinning car.

Fast facts: Jeff Gordon, making his first Busch Series start since 1992, finished fourth in 1999. ... Green holds the race record of 114.153 mph in 1997. ... Martin set the qualifying mark last year at 166.328 mph.

Next race: Aaron's 312, March 10, Hampton, Ga.

Craftsman Trucks
FAST FACTS
Event Florida Dodge Dealers 400
Site Homestead, Fla.
Schedule Saturday, qualifying, 11 a.m.; Sunday, race (ESPN, Noon).
Track Homestead-Miami Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles, 8 degrees banking)
Distance 250.5 miles, 167 laps

Last race: Joe Ruttman held off Ricky Hendrick to win the season-opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250 and become the oldest winner of a stock car race at Daytona International Speedway.

Last year: Andy Houston overcame a pit-stop accident to win. It was Houston's first victory in the series since 1998.

Fast facts: Rick Crawford won the 1998 race, holding off a late charge from Jack Sprague. Crawford has not won on the circuit since, a drought of 75 races. ... Before Houston last year, every previous winner of the race also had been a first-time winner on the circuit. ... Jimmy Hensley's streak of 127 consecutive starts ended at Daytona.

Next race: Chevy Silverado 150, March 17, Avondale, Ariz.

Formula One
FAST FACTS
Event Australian Grand Prix
Site Melbourne, Australia.
Schedule Friday, qualifying, 11 p.m.; Saturday, race, 10 p.m.
Track Albert Park Circuit (3.28 miles)
Distance 190.24 miles, 58 laps

Last year: Michael Schumacher won, going to the front when Mika Hakkinen, who had led by 2.6 seconds, left on the 18th of 58 laps with smoke billowing from the rear of his car.

Drivers to Watch
Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Austrailia.

Fast facts: This is the first race of the season. ... Albert Park was rebuilt for the start of the 1996 season. ... Hakkinen was the first polesitter to win in Melbourne. Damon Hill won from the pole in previous Prix host city, Adelaide, in 1995. ... Eddie Irvine got for his first victory on the Formula One circuit in 1999.

Next race: Malaysian Grand Prix, March 18, Kuala Lumpur.

NHRA
Last event: John Force raced to his 93rd career Funny Car victory, beating Bruce Sarver in the final round of the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals in Chandler, Ariz. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) won their divisions.

Next race: Mac Tools Gatornationals, March 18, Gainesville, Fla.

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