ESPN2 Announces 2009 NHRA Drag Racing Coverage Schedule

FlA & Co. NHRA ^ | January 23, 2009 | ESPN Staff / Email

[flattorney]

ESPN2’s coverage of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for 2009 will feature final eliminations action in prime time, continuing a pattern of consistent scheduling that includes finals telecasts from 18 of 24 events in Sunday night viewing times. With exclusive coverage of the NHRA for the ninth consecutive season, ESPN2’s season begins Feb. 7-8 with the 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals from Pomona, Calif. ESPN2 will have coverage of qualifying and finals rounds from all 24 events in the series, with expanded coverage from drag racing’s biggest event, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. All coverage is produced in high definition. The final six events, which comprise the “Countdown to 1” in the NHRA’s “Countdown to the Championship,” all will air in the 7-10 p.m. time slot on Sunday nights.

"We're looking forward to getting the season started at Pomona," said Shawn Murphy, ESPN senior coordinating producer who oversees the NHRA production. "Our team has been working together for several years now and all of us are ready to go." ESPN2’s drag racing coverage team returns in 2009 led by Paul Page, who became lead announcer in 2006. The award-winning Page has worked in motorsports broadcasting since 1974 and served as lead announcer for the Indianapolis 500 on either radio or TV for more than 25 years. Former drag racer Mike Dunn, a 22-time winner in NHRA competition and one of only three drivers to have scored more than 10 wins in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes, returns for his eighth season as ESPN’s drag racing analyst. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff return as pit reporters for the full season, with motorsports television veteran John Kernan joining them as a third reporter for the final seven events.

Rieff and Dunn continue as hosts of NHRA RaceDay, a news and information program airing on Sunday morning of all 24 NHRA Full Throttle event weekends on ESPN2. NHRA RaceDay sets up the day for fans at home with must-see matchups, interviews with stars of the sport, driver features, news and analysis, a review of qualifying and what to look for during the finals action. The show originates from NHRA’s Nitro Alley, allowing fans attending the race to watch and participate in the show. NHRA coverage is distributed internationally by ESPN International. Rieff also continues as anchor for coverage of the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on ESPN2 in 2009.

2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series TV Schedule (all times Eastern, all on ESPN2 unless noted)
Feb 07 Pomona Qualifying 10 p.m. – midnight
Feb 08 Pomona Finals 6:30 – 10 p.m.
Feb 22 Phoenix Qualifying 2 – 4 a.m.
Feb 22 Phoenix Qualifying (re-air) 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb 22 Phoenix Finals 7 – 10 p.m.
Mar 15 Gainesville Qualifying 2 – 4 a.m.
Mar 15 Gainesville Qualifying (re-air) 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Mar 15 Gainesville Finals 3 - 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Mar 28 Houston Qualifying 8 – 10 p.m.
Mar 29 Houston Finals 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Apr 04 Las Vegas Qualifying 8 - 10 p.m.
Apr 05 Las Vegas Finals 4 – 7 p.m.
Apr 18 Atlanta Qualifying 6 - 8 p.m.
Apr 19 Atlanta Finals 7 - 10 p.m.
May 02 St. Louis Qualifying 8 – 10 p.m.
May 03 St. Louis Finals 7 - 10 p.m.
May 16 Bristol Qualifying 8 – 10 p.m.
May 17 Bristol Finals 7 – 10:30 p.m.
May 30 Topeka Qualifying 9:30 – 11:30 p.m.
May 31 Topeka Finals 4 - 7 p.m.
Jun 06 Chicago Qualifying 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Jun 07 Chicago Finals 4 - 7 p.m.
Jun 13 Englishtown Qualifying 7 – 8 p.m.
Jun 13 Englishtown Qualifying 11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Jun 14 Englishtown Finals 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Jun 27 Norwalk Qualifying 8 - 10 p.m.
Jun 28 Norwalk Finals 8 – 11 p.m.
Jul 11 Denver Qualifying 10 p.m. – midnight
Jul 12 Denver Finals 8 - 11 p.m.
Jul 18 Seattle Qualifying 7 - 9 p.m.
Jul 19 Seattle Finals 9 p.m. – midnight
Jul 25 Sonoma Qualifying 6 – 8 p.m.
Jul 26 Sonoma Finals 9 p.m. – midnight
Aug 15 Brainerd Qualifying 6 – 7 p.m.
Aug 16 Brainerd Finals 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Aug 23 Reading Qualifying 1 - 3 a.m.
Aug 23 Reading Qualifying (re-air) 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Aug 23 Reading Finals 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Sep 05 Indianapolis Qualifying 11 p.m. – midnight
Sep 06 Indianapolis Qualifying 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sep 06 Indianapolis Qualifying 5 - 7 p.m.
Sep 07 Indianapolis Finals 1:30 – 6 p.m.
Sep 19 Charlotte Qualifying 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Sep 20 Charlotte Finals 7 - 10 p.m.
Sep 25 Dallas Qualifying 10 p.m. – midnight
Sep 26 Dallas Finals 7 - 10 p.m.
Oct 04 Memphis Qualifying 1 – 3 a.m.
Oct 04 Memphis Qualifying (re-air) 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Oct 04 Memphis Finals 7 – 10 p.m.
Oct 10 Richmond Qualifying 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Oct 11 Richmond Finals 7 – 10 p.m.
Oct 31 Las Vegas Qualifying 10 p.m. – midnight
Nov 01 Las Vegas Finals 7 - 10 p.m.
Nov 14 Pomona Qualifying 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Nov 15 Pomona Finals 7 - 10 p.m.

[NormsRevenge]

I am w/o speed channel for my second year. I changed dish packages and lost it .. but have managed to survive. ;-) espn getting in the mix helps.

wiping out a bobsled can get nasty quick, but what a rush.