TV Schedule Sept. 9-10

Richmond holds the honor of setting the Chase field - pictured is the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase contenders.
Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

Richmond International Raceway plays host to the boys of the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series this weekend. Richmond has hosted the final “regular season” race, leading up to the start of the Chase for the Cup - each year since the Chase concept was introduced in 2004. NASCAR fans will definitely enjoy the shot track racing this weekend.

Last year, owner and driver Kevin Harvick lead 175 of the 250 laps in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and held off a charging Brad Keselowski. Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the points standings were shaken up after Justin Allgaier got into his Turner Motorsports teammate Reed Sorenson, who was in a tight battle with Elliott Sadler and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

It’s a short week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup guys as Atlanta Motor Speedway was run on Tuesday. This leaves many teams rushing to get loose ends tied up before heading to Richmond. Last year, Denny Hamlin dominated at Richmond and instantly became the top seed in the Chase by virtue of wins.

Eight drivers have clinched a top-10 spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. Brad Keselowski, who has three victories, has clinched at least a Wild Card berth. He still remains eligible to earn a top-10 spot.

Some Clinch Scenarios:

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is currently 25 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Junior will clinch if he finishes:

-20th or better with no laps led
-21st or better and leads at least one lap
-22nd or better and leads the most laps

Tony Stewart is currently 23 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Stewart will clinch if he finishes:
-18th or better with no laps led
-19th or better and leads at least one lap
-20th or better and leads the most laps

Many different finishes affect the Wild Card scenario.

-With a victory, Denny Hamlin will earn at least a Wild Card spot.

-With a victory, Paul Menard will earn a Wild Card spot.

-With a victory AND entry into the top 20, Marcos Ambrose or David Ragan will earn a Wild Card spot. Both drivers are currently outside the top 20. Ambrose is seven points out while Ragan is 20 points outside the top 20.

The following is a schedule of track events and TV coverage for Richmond (all times are in EST). Events without a channel listed will not be televised:

Friday, September 9th:

9:00 NNS Practice

10:30 NNS Final Practice

12:10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice, ESPN2

2:45 NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Practice, ESPN2

4:05 NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying, ESPN 2

5:35 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, ESPN 2

7:00 NASCAR Nationwide Countdown, ESPN2

7:30 NNS Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (250 laps, 187.5 miles), ESPN 2

*In Race Reporter: Reed Sorenson*

10:00 NASCAR Trackside Live with Special Guest Greg Biffle, SPEED

Saturday, September 10th:

11:00am NASCAR Trackside (rerun), SPEED

3:30 NASCAR Performance, SPEED

4:00 The 10 (Greatest NASCAR Rivalries), SPEED

4:30 SPEED Center NASCAR Edition, SPEED

5:00 NASCAR Raceday, SPEED

7:00 NASCAR Countdown, ABC

7:30 NSCS Wonderful Pistachios 400 (400 laps, 300 miles)

*NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will go silent from Laps 9 thru 11 as a moving tribute to 9-11-01*

11:00 Postrace NASCAR Now, ESPN2

11:30 NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (will reair on 9-11 at 8pm)