TV Schedule Oct. 21-23

Here come the two-car tandems ... Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

The Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series head to the biggest and one of the most volatile tracks on the circuit: Talladega Superspeedway. In Sprint Cup, Dega, the wild card, marks the midway point in the Chase and promises to shake up the standings.

The 2.66-mile speedway is a fan favorite, though maybe not so much among drivers. The unpredictable high-banked oval produces speeds so fast that restrictor plates are needed to restrict horsepower. The Alabama track has 33 degrees of banking in the corners, 16.5 degrees on the frontstretch and 2 degrees on the backstretch.

The two-car tandems have replaced pack racing as the norm at Talladega, which many fans have complained about. Judging from the first Sprint Cup practice, NASCAR's changes - increasing the size of the restrictor plates and recalibrating the pressure-relief valve - haven't stopped the two-by-two style of drafting.

To win at Talladega, you need a dancing partner and luck on your side. Who will emerge unscathed this weekend?

The Nationwide Series is on an extended break and will return in two weeks at Texas for its last three races of the season.

The following are the most recent winners at Talladega:

SPRINT CUP
Fall 2010: Clint Bowyer
Sprint 2011: Jimmie Johnson

TRUCK SERIES
2010: Kyle Busch

Here's a handy guide to television coverage and track events this weekend at Talladega (all times are in Eastern Standard Time):

Friday, Oct. 21:
2:30 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
3 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
3:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
4 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED
5 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying, SPEED
7 p.m. Trackside at Talladega, SPEED. Guests: Ron Hornaday and Matt Kenseth.
8:30 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
9:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
10 p.m. NSCS Final Practice (re-air), SPEED
11 p.m. Trackside at Talladega (re-air), SPEED

Saturday, Oct. 22:
12 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying (re-air), SPEED
7 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
11 a.m. Trackside at Talladega (re-air), SPEED
12 noon NSCS Qualifying, SPEED
3 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
3:30 p.m. NCWTS SetUp, SPEED
4 p.m. NCWTS: Talladega 250, SPEED
6:30 p.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED
8 p.m. NSCS Qualifying (re-air), SPEED

Sunday, Oct. 23:
1:30 a.m. NCWTS: Talladega 250 (re-air), SPEED
9 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
9:30 a.m., NASCAR Performance, SPEED
10:30 a.m. SPEED Center NASCAR Edition, SPEED
11 a.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
1 p.m. NSCS Countdown, ESPN
2 p.m. NSCS: Talladega 500, ESPN. In-race reporter: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (re-airs at midnight on ESPN2 and 4 a.m. Monday on ESPN Deportes)
6 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (re-airs at midnight and 9 a.m. Monday)
10 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2