Brian Keselowski's post-Gatorade Duel misery continues.
The driver-owner of the No. 92 K-Automotive Dodge Charger was diagnosed with a severe case of gallstones and will have surgery this evening to remove his gallbladder. His medical malady, reported by SB Nation's Jeff Gluck, means he will be unable to qualify for this weekend's Jeff Byrd 500, as well as next week's race in Fontana, California and two weeks in Martinsville. His status beyond Martinsville has yet to be determined. Longtime NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor Dennis Setzer, who has competed for K-Automotive in the past, will attempt to qualify at Bristol and Martinsville, while the team will probably skip Fontana.
The No. 92 machine made the Daytona 500, possibly the biggest surprise at Daytona since crew chief turned racer Kirk Shelmerdine put his self-owned machine in the race in 2006. Since then, however, he has crashed out of the 500 and failed to qualify at Phoenix and Las Vegas.
We wish Brian a quick and speedy recovery and return to action.
While he's out of his car, there's a good chance that like most racing enthusiasts not making the trek to Bristol, Brian will be catching this weekend's on-track action on television. Here is the TV schedule for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series at the World's Fastest Half-Mile.
All times Eastern:
Friday, March 18
12 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice - SPEED
1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice - SPEED
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying - SPEED
5 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series Final Practice - SPEED
Saturday, March 19
9:30 a.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying - SPEED
10:30 a.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice - SPEED
12 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Practice - SPEED
1 p.m.: NASCAR Countdown - ESPN
2 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series Scotts EZ Seed 300 - ESPN
Sunday, March 20
10:30 a.m: NASCAR RaceDay - SPEED
12:30 p.m.: NASCAR on FOX Pre-Race - FOX
1 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Jeff Byrd 500 - FOX