CHARLOTTE SCHEDULED

Fitting, isn’t it, that Jimmie Johnson collected Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th victory on Saturday night, seven short days before the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

 

Johnson sent a message, loud and clear, to his colleagues and to fans. That message: “Hey, remember us? Despite a mini-drought, we’re still the juggernaut you have feared for the past two decades.”

 

Johnson delivered that message, post-marked perfectly, a week before the lights shine on the best NASCAR has to offer at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Coincidence? Doubtful.

 

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race festivities kick off on Thursday night with the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET. SPEED will broadcast the event on tape delay at 8 p.m.

 

On Saturday, the Sprint Showdown starts at 7 p.m. on SPEED, with the top-two finishers advancing into the main event. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race starts at 9 p.m. on SPEED.

 

This weekend’s action begins Friday night with the return of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing, with the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on SPEED.

 

NASCAR Nationwide Series wraps up the weekend with always-anticipated short-track racing at Iowa Speedway. The Pioneer hi-Bred 250 will run Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.