GEARING UP

1 Mark Martin added three races to his limited NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule, lifting his total to 26 events this year.

The 48-year-old veteran, running a partial schedule for Ginn Racing, added races at Pocono, Pa., Richmond, Va., and Dover, Del.

2 In NASCAR’S latest feud, Kasey Kahne and David Stremme have been sniping at each other since they tangled in a race May 6 at Richmond.

Kahne called Stremme “fat” and said he “was probably pretty worn out” when they collided. Stremme replied that Kahne had “his own mental problems, let alone being 32nd in points.”

Kahne has since moved up to 30th.

3 This weekend’s NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., was rescheduled to July 6-8 because part of the newly resurfaced track is not ready.

The delay was aimed at ensuring the safety and quality of the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the National Hot Rod Assn. said.

4 The Championship Off-Road Racing series will compete at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona on Saturday and Sunday, with Nextel Cup driver and off-road racer Robby Gordon of Orange scheduled to drive in Sunday’s race.

5 In local racing Saturday night, fans at Irwindale Speedway for the track’s multi-race program will also be able to watch the NASCAR All-Star Challenge on a giant screen. The USAC Western Midget series returns to Ventura Raceway, and late-model stock cars top programs at Perris Auto Speedway and Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino.

-- JIM PELTZ