THE LINE - AUGUST 28, 2013

(Infiniti)
Sebastian Vettel (No. 1 Red Bull Racing-Renault RB9) powered to a commanding win at the Belgian Grand Prix to extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 46 points over Fernando Alonso (No. 3 Ferrari), who finished second ahead of pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton (No. 10 Mercedes). Vettel finished 16.8 seconds ahead of Alonso to claim his fifth win of the season. “I don’t think we expected to be dominant here, and it surprised all of us actually; it's a great result,” said Vettel after the race. “I think we knew going into the race that our race pace, compared to Mercedes, maybe gave us a little in hand, but we didn't know where we were compared to the others, especially Ferrari, and Lotus looked very quick in dry conditions also. “It wasn't clear if the rain was going to come at the end of the race, so we kept pushing, but the gap we had by that stage meant we were able to control the race from there and the last couple of laps weren't too stressful.” In the Constructors’ battle, Red Bull Racing has 312 points, Mercedes has 235 and Ferrari has 218.

(Infiniti)

(Matthew T. Thacker ©2013 LAT Photo USA)
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Dollar General Toyota Camry) held off Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS) over the last 27 laps to win the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night, his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup victory of the year. The win guaranteed Kenseth at least a Wild Card spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Watch the videos here.

(Rusty Jarrett for Chevrolet/GM Racing)
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS) didn't close the deal Saturday night in Bristol but he drove an excellent race. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet SS) finished 10th. Kahne is 8th and Earnhardt Jr. is 7th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings.

(Rusty Jarrett for Chevrolet/GM Racing)
After being told his contract wouldn't be renewed for 2014, Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet SS) finished a strong 3rd Saturday night. Montoya may go back to INDYCAR if Michael Andretti can secure sponsorship for the deal. Paul Menard (No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Schrock/Menards Chevrolet SS) finished 6th.

(Lesley Ann Miller ©2013 LAT Photo USA)
Kyle Busch (No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Monster Energy Toyota Camry) flat dominated Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway leading 228 of 250 laps. Busch started from the pole (his sixth of the season) and pulled away from runner-up Brad Keselowski (No. 22 Penske Racing Discount Tire Ford Mustang) over a green-flag run for the final 72 laps. It was the sixth win for Busch in a NNS event at the .533-mile short track. The victory was also his ninth of the season and the series-record 60th of his career. Busch has won 15 times at Bristol across NASCAR's top three series. Watch a video here.

(Photo by Phillip Abbott for Chevrolet/GM Racing)
Will Power (No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet/Dallara) led the final 16 laps to win the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway Sunday. Power won at the 2.385-mile, 12-turn road course for the third time in four years. He also became the 10th different winner in 15 IZOD IndyCar Series races in 2013. Power inherited the lead on Lap 70 when Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara) was issued a drive-through penalty by INDYCAR officials for a pit safety infraction on his final stop. Dixon and Power were running 1-2 when they pitted on Lap 64, with Power's pit stall directly in front of Dixon's. As Dixon accelerated out of the pits, he clipped the right-rear tire carried by Penske crew member Travis Law, which knocked Law into airjack man Damon Lopez. Both Law and Lopez, along with crewman Jeremy Baker, who was hit by an airgun, were evaluated and released by INDYCAR Medical without injury. It was a highly questionable call, as it appeared as the Penske crewman deliberately put himself in harm's way. It cost Dixon the race as he clearly had the measure of Power.

 (Photo by John Cote/INDYCAR)
After the penalty, Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara) charged from 20th to finish 15th. He picked up three bonus points, two for leading the most laps (27) and one for leading a lap, but the race was costly for Dixon. He now trails Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Team Penske Hitachi Chevrolet/Dallara) by 39 points heading to the Sept. 1 Grand Prix of Baltimore. Dixon entered the race 31 points back of Castroneves, who finished seventh for his 11th consecutive top 10.

(Photo by Richard Dowdy/INDYCAR)
Justin Wilson (No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda/Dallara) placed a season-high second at Sonoma.

 (Photo by John Cote/INDYCAR)
Verizon P1 Award winner Dario Franchitti (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara) finished a very racy third, recording his fourth podium finish in the past five races.

(Photo by Richard Prince for Cadillac Racing)

Andy Pilgrim, (No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V Coupe) won the GT Class of the Pirelli World Challenge Cadillac Grand Prix of Sonoma, California, on Sunday. Cadillac clinched the 2013 manufacturer’s championship during qualifying.

(Mark Weber/SCCA)
The 50th SCCA National Championship Runoffs begins at Road America on Monday, September 16, with practice for all 28 classes. Qualifying takes place Tuesday through Thursday, with a National Champion crowned in 28 class races on Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22. The SCCA National Championship Runoffs has crowned Club Racing National Champions in a winner-take-all, single race format since 1964. Two major attendance records are being threatened for the 50th SCCA National Championship Runoffs as marks for both the total starters for an event and the total starters for one class are within reach. The 50th celebration of the crown jewel of amateur road racing currently has 717 drivers on the entry list to compete in 28 classes. The current record saw 709 cars take a green flag at the 2004 Runoffs, held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In addition to the thrill of joining a prestigious group of SCCA National Champions, the 2013 entry list is boosted by the 50th running of the prestigious event, a champions provisional extended to past SCCA National Champions, and the conclusion of a five-year run at Road America. Beginning in 2014, the event will travel to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Daytona International Speedway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in successive years.