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For Immediate Release
ESPN PR
January 22, 2009
860-766-2000

Prime Time Finals Coverage Highlights ESPN2’s NHRA Drag Racing for 2009

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.

ESPN’s NHRA coverage will feature New Broken Bow/Holeshot Records artist Krista Marie and her song “Drive It Like You Stole It” during the 2009 season.

NHRA coverage is distributed internationally by ESPN International and will continue to have a presence on ESPN360.com in 2009. 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. 7

Pomona Qualifying

10 p.m. – midnight

Feb. 8

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.

March 15

Gainesville Qualifying

2 – 4 a.m.

March 15

Gainesville Qualifying (re-air)

10 – 11:30 a.m.

March 15

Gainesville Finals

3 - 6 p.m. (ESPN)

March 28

Houston Qualifying

8 – 10 p.m.

March 29

Houston Finals

4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

April 4

Las Vegas Qualifying

8 - 10 p.m.

April 5

Las Vegas Finals

4 – 7 p.m.

April 18

Atlanta Qualifying

6 - 8 p.m.

April 19

Atlanta Finals

7 - 10 p.m.

May 2

St. Louis Qualifying

8 – 10 p.m.

May 3

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.

June 6

Chicago Qualifying

10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

June 7

Chicago Finals

4 - 7 p.m.

June 13

Englishtown Qualifying

7 – 8 p.m.

June 13

Englishtown Qualifying

11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

June 14

Englishtown Finals

10 p.m. – 1 a.m.

June 27

Norwalk Qualifying

8 - 10 p.m.

June 28

Norwalk Finals

8 – 11 p.m.

July 11

Denver Qualifying

10 p.m. – midnight

July 12

Denver Finals

8 - 11 p.m.

July 18

Seattle Qualifying

7 - 9 p.m.

July 19

Seattle Finals

9 p.m. – midnight

July 25

Sonoma Qualifying

6 – 8 p.m.

July 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.

Sept. 5

Indianapolis Qualifying

11 p.m. – midnight

Sept. 6

Indianapolis Qualifying

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sept. 6

Indianapolis Qualifying

5 - 7 p.m.

Sept. 7

Indianapolis Finals

1:30 – 6 p.m.

Sept. 19

Charlotte Qualifying

11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

Sept. 20

Charlotte Finals

7 - 10 p.m.

Sept. 25

Dallas Qualifying

10 p.m. – midnight

Sept. 26

Dallas Finals

7 - 10 p.m.

Oct. 4

Memphis Qualifying

1 – 3 a.m.

Oct. 4

Memphis Qualifying (re-air)

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Oct. 4

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. 1

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.

 

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