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GM is reeling from huge financial losses and the giant automaker plans to slash annual spending by $10 billion. Its support of NASCAR and other auto racing is not exempt from possible cuts.

GM’s slump added to economic problems now buffeting NASCAR stock-car racing, the IndyCar Series, the NHRA drag-racing circuit and smaller niche circuits such as sports-car racing.

The tough economic times, combined with high gas prices, also are keeping many fans from attending races.

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To get it done on Sonoma’s 2.245-mile, 12-turn road circuit, Dixon will have to come out of Sunday’s race at least 106 points ahead of second-place Helio Castroneves, third-place Dan Wheldon, his teammate, and Tony Kanaan — the remaining contenders.

Former series champions Wheldon, 138 points behind, and Kanaan, 147 back of Dixon, would need a win and a miracle — or at least an early crash or engine failure by the leader — to stay in contention beyond Sunday.

(More in ‘Dixon hopes to wrap up IRL championship with races to spare’…)

Gibbs’ No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas have dominated this season, combining to win 14 of 25 Nationwide races. NASCAR last month ordered all Toyota teams to cut about 15 horsepower in their motors.

On lap 194, Hamlin’s car went up in smoke with a blown engine, and he finished the race 39th. After starting the day ninth in points, 565 behind leader Kyle Busch, Hamlin earned 46 and fell to 12th — 694 behind.

“We just can’t seem to get there, every week it’s something,” Hamlin said.

He wasn’t the only driver to see his standing fall in the Chase for the Sprint Cup after Sunday, when Carl Edwards got his fifth victory.

(More in ‘Miffed Hamlin departs early’…)

That Colon is positioned as she is in the sport might have a direct link to the late, great Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time NASCAR Cup series champion known as “The Intimidator.”

The turning point of her career might have come in 1994 during a test at Talladega Superspeedway. At the time Colon, now 41, was involved in data acquisitions, which then was fairly new to the sport.

And at that time, Earnhardt wasn’t a big believer in Colon.

(More in ‘Colon unique NASCAR presence’…)

“That’s pretty neat, pretty special to me,” said Busch, who finished second Saturday in the Nationwide race at The Glen. “To be a force to be reckoned with means a lot. This year has just been phenomenal. It’s just crazy.”

Busch, who also clinched the top spot in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup title, has won 16 races in NASCAR’s top three series this season — eight in Sprint Cup, six in Nationwide and two in trucks.

(More in ‘Busch dominates at Glen’…)

Adrian was picked to finish second, followed by Olivet, Alma, Trine (formerly Tri-State), Albion and Kalamazoo.

• Eastern lands center: Matt Balkema , a center from Warren Cousino, has accepted a scholarship at Eastern Michigan. He averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds last season.

• Lindsay honored: Four-time Stanley Cup-winner and former Red Wings star Ted Lindsay is among four recipients of this year’s Lester Patrick Trophy, for service to hockey in the United States.

(More in ‘Briefs: ABC shows Indy 500 through 2012′…)

“Visibility was the big, big problem,” said Fellows, the first Canadian winner in a major NASCAR race in Canada. “At over 70 mph, there was just so much spray.”

The 48-year-old Ontario driver took advantage of Marcos Ambrose’s pit-road speeding penalty to take the lead, and had about a half-minute advantage over fellow Canadian Patrick Carpentier when the NAPA Auto Parts 200 was red-flagged.

“It’s very dangerous,” Fellows said minutes before the race was called.

(More in ‘Fellows finds his ‘groove’ in waterlogged Nationwide race’…)

Grand Prix officials plan to announce a major headliner for Aug. 30 in the next few days. Local bands will be announced shortly, as well.

Updates can be found at www.detroitgp.com.