NASCAR’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series roll into California this weekend for their only 2011 appearance at the 2-mile D-shaped Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Forty-five Nationwide and forty-three Sprint Cup teams are entered in Saturday and Sunday’s races with Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson returning as defending race winners.

Kurt Busch heads west with the Sprint Cup Series points lead, the Penske driver holding a slight one-point cushion on Carl Edwards. Jason Leffler is on top of the Nationwide Series standings with four races in the books.

The action at Fontana kicks off Friday with Sprint Cup practice at 12:00 p.m. followed by a lone Nationwide practice at 1:40 p.m. Qualifying for the Auto Club 400 at 4:00 p.m. completes the day. Watch all of Friday’s on track activities live on SPEED.

Saturday begins with Nationwide qualifying at 10:10 a.m. followed by two Sprint Cup Series practices at 11:30 and 12:50 respectively, all live on SPEED. The stars of the Nationwide Series take center stage at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN with driver intros for the Royal Purple 300 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Actor Christian Slater will give the command for drivers to start their engines prior to Sunday’s Auto Club 400. Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard is scheduled to wave the green flag at 12:00 p.m.

FOX will broadcast the Auto Club 400 live from Auto Club Speedway.

Times are listed in Local/Pacific Time.

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