TV Schedule April 15-17

Kevin Harvick snapped a 115-race winless streak when he beat Jamie McMurray to the
finish line at last spring's Sprint Cup race at Talladega. Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

NASCAR heads to what could be the most unpredictable track on the circuit: Talladega Superspeedway, a favorite among fans.

The biggest track on the schedule at 2.66 miles, Talladega will host the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series this weekend. The restrictor-plate track boasts 33-degree banking in the corners, 16.5 degrees on the frontstretch and 2 degrees on the backstretch. With its high banks and long straightaways, anything can happen at the Alabama track - and it usually does.

Restrictor-plate races are often said to be a lottery, but you can't deny the success Richard Childress Racing has had. Out of the last five restrictor-plate races in the Sprint Cup Series (that includes both Daytona and Talladega), RCR claims three victories: Kevin Harvick with two and Clint Bowyer with one. Harvick has been on a roll this season with two wins under his belt; can he claim his third at Dega?

Looking to break a 100-race winless streak is Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has five Cup wins at the superspeedway. With the consistency and good runs he's had this season, can he find victory lane again at Talladega?

The practice sessions for the Nationwide Series were held Thursday, with Aric Almirola leading the first practice and Kevin Harvick leading the second. Will we see a Nationwide regular win their first race of the season?

The following are last year's winners at Talladega:

SPRINT CUP
Spring: Kevin Harvick
Fall: Clint Bowyer

NATIONWIDE
Brad Keselowski

The Aaron's 312 Nationwide race is Saturday and the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race is Sunday. The Camping World Truck Series will return to action next week at Nashville.

The following is a handy guide of track events and TV coverage at Talladega (all times are in Eastern Daylight Time):

Friday, April 15:
12 noon NNS Pole Qualifying, SPEED
2 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
3 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
3:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED *canceled because of rain
4:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
5 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
7 p.m. Trackside at Talladega, SPEED. Guests: Brad Keselowski, Paul Menard and Slugger Labbe. *canceled due to
8:30 p.m. NASCAR Hall of Fame Biography: Lee Petty, SPEED
9:30 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
10:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED

Saturday, April 16:
1:30 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
9 a.m. ARCA Race Series at Talladega: 3 Amigos 250, SPEED
11:30 a.m. NSCS Pole Qualifying, SPEED
2 p.m. NNS Countdown, ESPN2
3 p.m. NNS: Aaron's 312, ESPN2
7:30 p.m. NSCS Pole Qualifying, SPEED
10 p.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED

Sunday, April 17:
4 a.m. NNS: Aaron's 312, ESPN Deportes
8:30 a.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED
9 a.m. The 10, SPEED
9 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
10 a.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
12 noon NSCS Pre-Race Show, FOX
1 p.m. NSCS: Aaron's 499, FOX
8 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (reruns 12 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday)