When ESPN2 comes to the starting line for its coverage of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, fans will notice an exciting new look and feel to the telecasts as well as a new lead announcer. The season kicks off at Pomona, Calif., Feb. 8-11, and veteran motorsports announcer Paul Page will bring more than 30 years of experience to the booth for ESPN2’s coverage of the NHRA.

Page, who anchored select NHRA telecasts on ESPN2 in 2006, has been a familiar face and voice to race fans since 1974. He served as lead announcer for the Indianapolis 500 on either radio or TV for more than 25 years. 

“Last year was an incredibly close season for the NHRA not only in the round-by-round competition but also in the championship battles,” said Page. “I’ve done a team tour over the winter and that’s really gotten me pumped for the new season.”

Page will be joined in the booth for expert analysis by former drag racer Mike Dunn, an integral part of ESPN2’s drag racing coverage since 2002. Gary Gerould and David Rieff also return as pit reporters.

Rieff will take on expanded duties in 2007 as the host for NHRA Race Day, a news and information program airing on Sunday morning of all 23 NHRA POWERade event weekends on ESPN2. NHRA Race Day will set 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 will originate from NHRA’s Nitro Alley, allowing fans attending the race to watch and participate in the show.

ESPN2 will have coverage of both the qualifying and eliminations rounds of all NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events, with extended coverage of the U.S. Nationals from Indianapolis in September. With the NHRA’s new “Countdown to the Championship” format for determining its champions, and the recently-announced professional debut in 2007 of Ashley Force, daughter of 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, the season promises excitement for NHRA fans.

And fans can expect similar excitement with ESPN2’s revamped drag racing coverage in 2007.

ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Shawn Murphy, who has overseen production of the network’s drag racing coverage since 2001, said that several new features will appear in the TV coverage for 2007. Among the advancements will be a new animation package and graphics, including a screen crawl containing information including what drivers are coming up as well as other notes to help keep viewers better informed.

In addition, alternative metal/hard rock band Saliva’s popular song “Ladies and Gentlemen” will be featured music all season on ESPN2’s coverage of the NHRA, Murphy said.

“When fans tune in for that first show, it’s going to look, sound and feel new, and we’re very excited about that,” said Murphy.

NHRA coverage will also air on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network, and will be distributed internationally by ESPN International. Rieff will also anchor coverage of the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on ESPN2 in 2007.

The first NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series telecast of the year on ESPN2 will be qualifying from Pomona on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 p.m. – midnight ET. Finals coverage from Pomona will be televised on Sunday, Feb. 11, from 8-11 p.m. ET.

2007 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SCHEDULE ON ESPN2
(All times Eastern)

Feb. 10 Pomona Qualifying, 10 p.m.
Feb. 11 Pomona Finals, 8 p.m.
Feb. 24 Phoenix Qualifying, 12 midnight
Feb. 24 Phoenix Finals, 7 p.m.
Mar. 18 Gainesville Qualifying, 1:30 a.m.
Mar. 18 Gainesville Finals, 5 p.m.
Mar. 31 Houston Qualifying, 7 p.m.
Apr. 1  Houston Finals, 4 p.m.
Apr. 14 Las Vegas Qualifying, 6 p.m.
Apr. 15 Las Vegas Finals, 7 p.m.
Apr. 28 Atlanta Qualifying, 7 p.m.
Apr. 29 Atlanta Finals, 7 p.m.
May 6   St. Louis Qualifying, 5 p.m.
May 6   St. Louis Finals, 7 p.m.
May 19  Bristol Qualifying, 6:30 p.m.
May 20  Bristol Finals, 8 p.m. 
June 2  Topeka Qualifying, 6 p.m.
June 3  Topeka Finals, 4 p.m.
June 9  Chicago Qualifying, 5 p.m.
June 10 Chicago Finals, 4 p.m.
June 23 Englishtown Qualifying, 11 p.m.
June 24 Englishtown Finals, 10 p.m.
June 30 Norwalk Qualifying, 8 p.m.
July 1  Norwalk Finals, 8 p.m.
July 14 Denver Qualifying, 10 p.m.
July 15 Denver Finals, 9 p.m.
July 21 Seattle Qualifying, 11:30 p.m.
July 22 Seattle Finals, 7 p.m.
July 28 Sonoma Qualifying, 6 p.m.
July 29 Sonoma Finals, 7 p.m.
Aug. 12 Brainerd Qualifying, 12:30 a.m.
Aug. 12 Brainerd Finals, 7 p.m.
Aug. 18 Reading Qualifying, 6 p.m.
Aug. 19 Reading Finals, 10 p.m.
Sep. 2  Indianapolis Qualifying 1, 12:30 a.m.                  
Sep. 2  Indianapolis Qualifying 2, 12 noon     
Sep. 2  Indianapolis Qualifying 3, 11 p.m.
Sep. 3  Indianapolis Finals 1, 12 noon
Sep. 3  Indianapolis Finals 2, 7 p.m.
Sep. 15 Memphis Qualifying, 10 p.m.
Sep. 16 Memphis Finals, 7 p.m.
Sep. 22 Dallas Qualifying, 10 p.m.
Sep. 23 Dallas Finals, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6  Richmond Qualifying, 10 p.m.
Oct. 7  Richmond Finals, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 Las Vegas Qualifying, 10 p.m.
Oct. 28 Las Vegas Finals, 7 p.m.
Nov. 3  Pomona Qualifying, 10 p.m.
Nov. 4  Pomona Finals, 7 p.m.