TV Schedule: June 17-19

Kevin Harvick captures the checkered flag last fall
at Michigan. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images
NASCAR heads from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania to the Irish Hills of Michigan. The Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series converge on Michigan International Speedway, located near the Big 3 automobile manufacturers - Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge (Chrysler).

The 2-mile track in in Brooklyn, Mich., was used as a guide for Auto Club Speedway. The D-shaped oval has 18 degrees of banking in the turns, 12 degrees on the frontstretch and 5 degrees on the backstretch. With its sweeping corners and long straightaways, the track is considered one of the fastest in NASCAR.


A win at Michigan comes with bragging rights - every driver wants to win in their manufacturer's backyard. Several races here have come down to fuel mileage, with the most notable being Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s victory in June 2008. With fuel mileage coming into play in so many races this season, we could see yet another instance this weekend at Michigan.


Here's a look at last year's winners at Michigan:


SPRINT CUP
Spring: Denny Hamlin
Fall: Kevin Harvick


NATIONWIDE 
Brad Keselowski (home track)

The following is a handy guide to track events and TV coverage this weekend at MIS (all times are in Eastern Standard Time):

Friday, June 17:
11 a.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
11:30 a.m. NNS Practice, SPEED
12:30 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
2 p.m. NNS Final Practice, SPEED
3:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED
7 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
7 p.m. Trackside at Michigan, SPEED. Guests: Ryan Newman, Bud Moore, Martin Truex Jr.
8:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED

Saturday, June 18:
12 a.m. Trackside at Michigan, SPEED
12:30 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
1 a.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
2:30 a.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED
11 a.m. NNS Coors Light Pole Qualifying, ESPN2
12 p.m. Seat Swap, SPEED
12:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
1 p.m. NSCS Qualifying, SPEED
3 p.m. NNS Countdown, ABC
3:30 p.m. NNS: Michigan 250, ABC
8 p.m. NSCS Qualifying, SPEED

Sunday, June 19:
4 a.m. NNS: Michigan 250, ESPN Deportes
6 a.m. NNS: Michigan 250, ESPN2
8:30 a.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED
9 a.m. NASCAR Now presented by 5-Hour Energy, ESPN2
9:30 a.m. SPEED Center NASCAR Edition, SPEED
10 a.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
12 p.m.    NSCS Countdown to Green, TNT
1 p.m. NSCS: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400, TNT
8 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (reruns at 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday)
TV Schedule: June 17-19 TV Schedule: June 17-19 Reviewed by Rebecca Kivak on Friday, June 17, 2011 Rating: 5