This Week's Auto Racing Picks

Dale Earnhardt Jr is my pick to win this weekend's NASCAR event at Talladega, and Michael Schumacher will win his third straight F1 race in Japan.

The weekend is closing in and I'm ready to roll with my weekend predictions- from Talladega, Alabama, US all the way to Suzuka, Japan.

NASCAR Nextel Cup- UAW Ford 500 at Talladega

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr- Earnhardt Jr is well overdue for a restrictor plate victory, if you call 2 years overdue. His last win at the 2.66-mile super speedway was during the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship, and everyone remembers his little four word slip-up in his victory lane speech that cost him 25 championship points.

2. Tony Stewart- Stewart is Dale Earnhardt Jr's unofficial teammate at Talladega and Daytona.

3. Jeff Gordon- Okay, the top three is very conventional, but it's hard to neglect the track records of Gordon, Stewart, and Earnhardt Jr.

4. Ryan Newman- Because Newman is having such a pitiable season, it is easy to overlook his two top five finishes in the previous four restrictor races.

5. Dale Jarrett- Why not! Jarrett is the defending champion of this race, and he finished fourth last weekend at Kansas. Could there be some momentum escalating?

Other favorites- Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Matt Kenseth

Darkhorse picks-Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler

Formula One- Japanese Grand Prix

1. Michael Schumacher- When Schumacher gets hot, he's virtually impossible to beat, and after two straight wins in Italy and Shanghai, it's safe to say the he has caught fire.

2. Kimi Raikkonen- Raikkonen is arguably the best driver not to win a race in 2006. He may give Schumacher all he can handle.

3. Felippe Massa- Massa may be able to slide past Giancarlo Fisichella for the third spot in the Formula One standings.

4. Fernando Alonso- While Schumacher has caught fire, Alonso has finished outside of the top ten in two of the previous four races.

5. Giancarlo Fisichella- Expect Fisichella to be among the frontrunners.

Other favorites- Jensen Button

Darkhorse pick- Rubens Barrichello