TV Schedule Sept. 16-18


Which driver will win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase?
NASCAR's playoffs start this weekend at Chicagoland.
Credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series head to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois this weekend.

The 1.5 mile D-Shaped oval will host the first race in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, which was previously held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Sprint Cup Series points were reset after Richmond, and a few of the Chasers could be favorited to take the checkered flag in the Geico 400. This will be the first weekend the speedway has hosted all three events in the same weekend.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to the track after a two week hiatus. A lot has happened in those two weeks. As Skirts and Scuffs reported last week, Kevin Harvick Inc. will close their truck operation in 2012, and will merge their Nationwide operation with Richard Childress Racing. Ron Hornaday, who is currently driving for KHI in the drivers, will be looking for a ride next year. Can he add more wins to his resume? Kyle Busch won this race last year.

Last week, at Richmond International Raceway, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Kyle Busch held off Carl Edwards for the win. We will not see Kyle Busch doing triple duty this weekend, letting someone else get into Victory Lane. Will it be a NASCAR Nationwide driver, or maybe a driver doing double duty? We’ve definitely got a close points battle brewing between Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Elliott Sadler as only 16 points seperate first and second. Will Ricky add to the lead?

The Chase has been set. Let’s get ready for the last 10 races of the 2011 season. Can you believe it? Season has flown by. Last year, David Reutimann won the second Sprint Cup race of his career in this Saturday night shootout. Can he give Michael Waltrip Racing something to cheer about? Will we see a NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase driver make his way in VL? Tune in Sunday to find out.

The following is a schedule of track events and television coverage from Chicagoland Speedway. (All times are Eastern Standard Time):

Friday, September 16:
10:00am NCWTS Practice
11:30am NCWTS Final Practice
12:40pm NNS Practice
2:00pm Sprint Cup Practice, ESPN2
3:30pm NCWTS Qualifying, SPEED
4:30pm NNS Final Practice, SPEED
6:00pm Sprint Cup Final Practice, SPEED
7:30pm NCWTS Set-Up from Chicagoland, SPEED
8:00pm NCWTS Fast-Five 225, SPEED
(150 laps, 225 miles)
10:30pm NASCAR Trackside, SPEED

Saturday, September 17:
12:00am NCWTS Set-Up, REAIR on SPEED
12:30am NCWTS Fast-Five 225, REAIR on SPEED
11:00am NASCAR Trackside, Reair on Speed
12:00pm NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying, SPEED
1:30pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, SPEED
3:00pm NASCAR Nationwide Countdown, ESPN2
3:30pm NNS Dollar General 300 from Chicagoland, ESPN2
(200 laps, 300 miles-In Race Reporter: Justin Allgaier)
8:00pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, Reair on SPEED
9:30pm NASCAR Performance, SPEED

Sunday, September 18:
9:30am NASCAR Performance, Reair on SPEED
10:00am The 10: NASCAR's Greatest Sound Bites, SPEED
10:30am Speed Center: NASCAR Edition, SPEED
11:00am NASCAR Trackside Live, SPEED
1:00pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Countdown, ESPN
2:00pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Geico 400 from Chicagoland, ESPN
(267 laps, 400 miles-In Race Reporter: Tony Stewart)
5:30pm NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED
11:30pm NASCAR Post-Race Now, ESPN2
TV Schedule Sept. 16-18 TV Schedule Sept. 16-18 Reviewed by Kristin Weaver on Thursday, September 15, 2011 Rating: 5