NASCAR SPRINT CUP
SOUTHERN 500
SITE: Darlington.
SCHEDULE: Today, practice (Speed, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.), qualifying (Speed, 5-6:30 p.m.); Saturday, race, 7 p.m. (FOX, 6:30-11 p.m.).
TRACK: Darlington Raceway (oval, 1.366 miles).
RACE DISTANCE: 501.3 miles, 367 laps.
LAST YEAR: Regan Smith raced to his first Sprint Cup victory, holding off Carl Edwards in a green-white-checker finish. Kyle Busch tangled with Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer to set up the overtime finish.
NEXT: All-Star Race, May 19, Charlotte Motor Speedway.
NATIONWIDE
VFW SPORT CLIPS HELP A HERO 200
SITE: Darlington.
SCHEDULE: Today, practice, qualifying (ESPN2, 3:30-4:30 p.m.); race, 7:15 p.m. (ESPN2, 6:30-9:30 p.m.).
TRACK: Darlington Raceway (oval, 1.366 miles).
RACE DISTANCE: 200.8 miles, 147 laps.
LAST YEAR: Kyle Busch raced to his first Darlington Nationwide victory, edging Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.
NEXT: Pioneer Hi-Bred 250, May 20, Iowa Speedway.
CAMPING WORLD TRUCK
NEXT: N. C. Education Lottery 200, May 18, Charlotte Motor Speedway.
FORMULA ONE
SPANISH GRAND PRIX
SITE: Barcelona, Spain.
SCHEDULE: Today, practice (Speed, 8-9:30 a.m.; Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 8-9:30 a.m.); Sunday, race, 8 a.m. (Speed, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.).
TRACK: Circuit de Catalunya (road course, 2.89 miles).
RACE DISTANCE: 190.8 miles, 66 laps.
LAST YEAR: Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel raced to the fourth of his 11 2011 victories en route to his second straight season title. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was second.
NEXT: Monaco Grand Prix, May 27, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
INDYCAR
NEXT: Indianapolis 500, May 27, Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
NHRA FULL THROTTLE
NEXT: NHRA Summernationals, May 18-20, Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kan.
The Associated Press
