TV Schedule: March 2-4

Sprint Cup drivers race on Phoenix's new asphalt in November 2011.
Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

NASCAR leaves the sunny beaches of Daytona behind for the hot desert. The Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series descend upon Phoenix International Raceway.

Phoenix was repaved for the first time in its history last year, in time for its fall race weekend. Changes include widening the frontstretch, reconfiguring pit road, pushing out the famous dog-leg curve and tightening the curve radius, and installing variable banking to promote side-by-side racing.

The Camping World Truck Series is on hiatus until March 31 at Martinsville.

Track facts
Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Length: 1-mile tri-oval
Type: Short oval
Banking: 10-11 degrees in Turns 1 and 2, 10-11 degrees in apex of dog-leg at Turn 3, 8-9 degrees in Turn 4, 3 degrees on the frontstretch, 9 degrees on the backstretch

SPRINT CUP
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Format:
500 kilometers, 312 laps

2011 winners:
Spring: Jeff Gordon
Phoenix: Kasey Kahne

NATIONWIDE
Bashas' Supermarkets 200 format:
200 miles, 200 laps

2011 winners:
Spring: Kyle Busch
Fall: Sam Hornish Jr.

The following is a schedule of track events and TV coverage this weekend. All times are in Eastern Daylight Time.

Friday, March 2:
12:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
1 p.m. NNS Practice, SPEED
2:30 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
4 p.m. NNS Final Practice, SPEED
5:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED
7 p.m. Trackside, SPEED. Guest: Brad Keselowski.
8 p.m. NSCS Practice (re-air), SPEED
9:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice (re-air), SPEED
11 p.m. Trackside (re-air), SPEED
11:30 p.m. NNS Practice (re-air), SPEED

Saturday, March 3:
11:30 a.m. The 10, SPEED
12 noon NASCAR Performance, SPEED
12:30 p.m. Trackside (reair), SPEED
1 p.m. NNS Qualifying, SPEED
2:30 p.m. NSCS Qualifying, SPEED
4 p.m. NNS Countdown, ESPN2
4:30 p.m. NNS: Bashas' Supermarkets 200, ESPN2. Green flag: 4:45 p.m.

Sunday, March 4:
4 a.m. NNS: Bashas' Supermarkets 200 (re-air), ESPN2
11 a.m. NASCAR Now presented by 5-HOUR Energy, ESPN2
11:30 a.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED
12 noon SPEED Center NASCAR Edition, SPEED
12:30 p.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
2:30 p.m. NSCS Pre-Race Show, FOX
3 p.m. NSCS: Subway Fresh Fit 500, FOX. Green flag: 3:14 p.m.
6 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED
9 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (also re-runs at midnight at 9 a.m. Monday)