GEARING UP

1 As NASCAR’s Chase for the Nextel Cup starts Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway, speculation is growing that the Loudon track might be sold.

Executives at the sports marketing firm of John Henry, who owns the Boston Red Sox and part of the NASCAR team of Roush Fenway Racing, confirmed it held preliminary talks about buying the 1.058-mile track.

But there also were reports that Speedway Motorsports Inc. and perhaps other potential buyers were eyeing the track. No deal has been announced so far.

2 A close championship battle in the Daytona Prototype class of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series will be decided at the series’ finale Saturday at the 4.5-mile, 24-turn Miller Motorsports Park course near Salt Lake City.

Co-drivers Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty of Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing hold a one-point lead over Scott Pruett of Telmex/Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and Max Angelelli of SunTrust Racing is only three points back.

3 The Champ Car World Series plans to move its Northern California race next year from the streets of San Jose to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course in Monterey.

Development around the 1.5-mile temporary street course in downtown San Jose forced the series to look elsewhere. Champ Car had raced in San Jose for three years.

4 Speaking of Laguna Seca, Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Ben Spies and Mat Mladin will decide the AMA Superbike championship this weekend at the Monterey course. Mladin, the six-time champion, has stormed back into contention with six consecutive wins and now leads Spies, the reigning title holder, by only three points.

5 The Championship Off Road Racing series races Saturday and Sunday at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster. In local racing Saturday night, Irwindale Speedway’s six-race program includes a demolition derby, and sprint cars head the lineup at Ventura Raceway.