TV Schedule: March 23-25

Kevin Harvick showed why he's "The Closer" last year at Auto Club Speedway.
Credit: Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR
NASCAR is California dreamin' as the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series head to Auto Club Speedway. Last year the Fontana, Calif., track dropped down to one NASCAR race weekend and had its Sprint Cup race shortened to 400 miles.

The racing typically gets strung out on the 2-mile track, making it hard for cars to pass. But we've seen some exciting racing as the track, completed in 1996, continues to age, including the battle between Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson for the win last year.

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

Track facts
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
Length: 2-mile D-shaped oval
Type: Superspeedway
Banking: 14 degrees in the turns, 11 degrees on the frontstretch, 3 degrees on the backstretch

SPRINT CUP
Auto Club 400 format:
400 miles, 200 laps

2011 winner:
Kevin Harvick

NATIONWIDE
Royal Purple 300 format:
300 miles, 150 laps

2011 winner:
Kyle Busch

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

Friday, March 23:
2:30 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
3 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
4:30 p.m. NNS Final Practice, SPEED
7 p.m. NSCS Qualifying, SPEED
9 p.m. Trackside, SPEED. Guest: Jimmie Johnson.
10:30 p.m. NSCS Qualifying (re-air), SPEED

Saturday, March 24:
12 noon NASCAR Live, SPEED
12:30 p.m. NSCS Practice, SPEED
1:30 p.m. NNS Qualifying, ESPN2
3:30 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, SPEED
5 p.m. NNS Countdown, ESPN
5:30 p.m. NNS: Royal Purple 300, ESPN. Green flag: 5:46 p.m.

Sunday, March 25:
4 a.m. NNS: Royal Purple 300 (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: Auto Club 400, FOX. Green flag: 3:16 p.m.
6 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED
9 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (re-airs at midnight and 9 p.m. Monday)
TV Schedule: March 23-25 TV Schedule: March 23-25 Reviewed by Rebecca Kivak on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Rating: 5