AUTO RACING: Hamlin goes back-to-back with victory in Darlington and F1's Verstappen gets first win
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.
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.
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.
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.
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