NASCAR goes short-track racing under the lights this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The Sprint Cup and Nationwide series head to the 3/4-mile D-shaped oval, a favorite of drivers and fans alike. And after a monthlong break, the Camping World Truck Series gets back on track at Kansas Speedway.
Richmond has 14-degree banking in the corners, 8 degrees on the frontstretch and 2 degrees on the backstretch. Drivers can gain a lot of speed coming off the corners. Racing in such close quarters has the potential for some serious bumpin' and bangin', and is bound to raise the frustration level of some drivers. With the incredible racing we've seen recently at Martinsville and Talladega, expect it to continue at this popular track.
The Bubba Burger 250 Nationwide race will take to the track Friday, and the Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400 Sprint Cup race will roll out Saturday. Kyle Busch swept both series at Richmond last spring, becoming only the second driver in NASCAR history to win on his birthday (the Cup race on May 2, 2009). Defending fall race winners are Denny Hamlin in Cup and Carl Edwards in Nationwide. The Truck Series hits the ground running Sunday at the 1.5-mile Kansas tri-oval, its fifth race of the 2010 season. Kyle Busch captured the first win for his new team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, at Nashville before the series took a breather. Can the team keep up the momentum at Kansas? Looking to defend his win from last season will be Mike Skinner.
The following is a schedule of track events and television coverage this weekend at Richmond and Kansas (all times are in Eastern Standard Time. Events without a TV channel listed will not be televised):
Friday, April 30:
9 a.m. Nationwide practice
12 noon Sprint Cup practice, SPEED
1:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
2:00 p.m. Sprint Cup final practice, SPEED (reruns at midnight)
3:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
4:00 p.m. Nationwide qualifying, SPEED
5:30 p.m. Sprint Cup qualifying, SPEED (reruns at 1:30 a.m.)
7:00 p.m. Nationwide Countdown presented by Hellmann's, ESPN2
7:30 p.m. Nationwide race at Richmond: Bubba Burger 250, ESPN2. Green flag: 7:43 p.m. (reruns at 2 a.m.)
11 p.m. Trackside at Richmond, SPEED. Guests: Kasey Kahne and David Ragan (reruns Saturday at 11 a.m.)
Saturday, May 1:
10 a.m. Truck Series practice
10:00 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
11:40 a.m. Truck Series final practice
3:30 p.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED
4:00 p.m. NASCAR Smarts, SPEED
4:30 p.m. NASCAR in a Hurry, SPEED
4:35 p.m. Truck Series qualifying
5:00 p.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
7:00 p.m. Sprint Cup pre-race show, FOX
7:30 p.m. Sprint Cup race at Richmond: Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400, FOX. Green flag: 7:44 p.m.
Sunday, May 2:
12:30 p.m. Truck Series SetUp, SPEED
1:00 p.m. Truck Series race at Kansas: O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, SPEED. Green flag: 1:19 p.m.
8 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane at Richmond, SPEED (reruns at 2 a.m.)
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