AUTO RACING: Hamlin now the man to beat in NASCAR?
By The Associated Press - Oct. 06, 2021 01:23 PM EDT
Denny Hamlin makes his way to his car for a NASCAR Cup series auto race Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. The race was postponed until Monday due to wet weather. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Denny Hamlin makes his way to his car for a NASCAR Cup series auto race Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. The race was postponed until Monday due to wet weather. (AP Photo/John Amis)

All Times Eastern

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Bank of America Roval 400

Site: Concord, North Carolina

Schedule: Sunday, race, 2 p.m.

Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

Race distance: 109 laps, 252.88 miles.

Last year: Chase Elliott won after starting second.

Last race: Bubba Wallace won a rain-shortened race at Talladega for his first Cup Series victory.

Fast facts: Sunday’s race will narrow the playoff field to eight drivers. ... Denny Hamlin leads Kyle Larson by 19 points in the standings with Joey Logano 20 points back and Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. 21 behind. ... Hamlin has finished on the lead lap in a series-best 29 of 31 races.

Next race: Oct. 17, Fort Worth, Texas.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Drive For The Cure 250

Site: Concord, North Carolina

Schedule: Saturday, race, 3 p.m.

Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

Race distance: 67 laps, 155.44 miles.

Last year: A.J. Allmendinger won after starting 22nd.

Last race: Brandon Brown got his first career victory when NASCAR called the race because of darkness at Talladega.

Fast facts: The playoff field will be whittled to eight following the race. ... Defending series champion Austin Cindric has clinched a spot in the next round with an insurmountable lead over ninth-place Jeb Burton. ... Allmendinger crashed in Stage 1 and dropped from second to fourth in the standings. Cindric leads Justin Allgaier by 22 points, Daniel Hemric by 36 and Allmendinger by 44.

Next race: Oct. 16, Fort Worth, Texas.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR TRUCK SERIES

Last race: At Talladega, Tate Fogelman won for the first time in 46 career starts.

Next race: Oct. 30, Martinsville, Virginia.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

FORMULA ONE

Last race: Seven-time series champion Lewis Hamilton won the Russian GP to reclaim the series points lead from runner-up Max Verstappen.

Next race: Oct. 10, Istanbul, Turkey.

Online: http://www.formula1.com

INDYCAR

Last race: Colton Herta won the season finale at Long Beach, California, as Alex Palou wrapped up the series championship.

Next race: Feb. 27, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Online: http://www.indycar.com

NHRA DRAG RACING

Last event: Steve Torrence won in Top Fuel and Matt Hagan won in Funny Car at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois.

Next event: Oct. 7-10, Ennis, Texas.

Online: http://www.nhra.com

WORLD OF OUTLAWS

Next events: Oct. 8-9, Port Royal, Pennsylvania.

Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars

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