NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, showcasing sportsman racers and NHRA member track network, to air on Inside Drag Racing

NHRA announced that ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will continue to air 16 one-hour shows with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events in 2009.  In addition, the popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, focusing on sportsman racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA’s member track network, will return on Inside Drag Racing.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be showcased on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of NHRA’s exclusive relationship with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports. ESPN2 is now available in more than 96 million households.



                                  

 


NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, showcasing sportsman racers and NHRA member track network, to air on Inside Drag Racing

NHRA announced that ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will continue to air 16 one-hour shows with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events in 2009.  In addition, the popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, focusing on sportsman racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA’s member track network, will return on Inside Drag Racing.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be showcased on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of NHRA’s exclusive relationship with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports. ESPN2 is now available in more than 96 million households.

All 16 broadcasts will air on Saturday or Sunday.  The NHRA Lucas Oil Series has a long-standing tradition of serving as a developmental arena for the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Many of today’s top professional drivers, including Brandon Bernstein, Jeg Coughlin and Ashley Force to name a few, got their start in one of the NHRA Lucas Oil Series’ seven sportsman categories. 

Returning as anchor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts will be long-time NHRA announcer David Rieff, who will be joined in the booth by popular NHRA announcer Bob Frey.  Rieff has been involved for many years with NHRA coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD.

Frey will host the NHRA Sportsman Spotlight segment, which will air in 2009 as part of a special feature on Inside Drag Racing, a Masters Entertainment Group production, on Fox Sports Net National at 11:30 a.m. (ET) beginning Sunday, April 13 and every Sunday thereafter.

In addition to segments produced in 2008 that were not broadcast, Bob Frey will visit an NHRA Member Track in each of NHRA’s seven divisions.  Bob Frey’s schedule of appearances include: Spencer Mountain Speedway in New York (Aug. 8: Div. 1); Palm Beach International Dragway in Florida (March 7: Div. 2); O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (Sept. 19: Div. 3); No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La. (March 21: Div. 4); Oahe Speedway in Pierre, S.D. (Aug. 1: Div. 5); Mission Raceway in Mission B.C., Canada (May 23: Div. 6); and Speedworld Dragstrip in Arizona (Feb. 14: Div. 7).   A location for Division 5, as well as scheduled air dates for all sportsman spotlight segments on Inside Drag Racing will be announced at a later date.


2009 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Television Schedule

Event                                                                    Air Date/Time

Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals             Sun., Feb. 15: 11 a.m. – noon
Pomona, Calif.                                                    

ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals                          Sat., March 21: 10 – 11 a.m.
Gainesville, Fla.                                                  

O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals                        Sun., April 4: 10 – 11 a.m.
Houston                                                              

SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals                  Sun., April 12: 10 – 11 a.m.
Las Vegas                                                           

O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals                     Sat., June 7: 3 – 4 p.m.
Topeka, Kan.                                                       

NHRA Route 66 Nationals                                  Sat., June 14: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Chicago                                                               

NHRA SuperNationals                                         Sun., June 21: 11 a.m. - noon
Englishtown, N.J.                                               

Summit Racing NHRA Nationals                        Sun., July 4: 11 a.m. - noon
Norwalk, Ohio                                                    

NHRA Northwest Nationals                                Sun., July 26: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Seattle                                                                 

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals                                  Sun., Aug. 23: Noon – 1 p.m.
Brainerd, Minn.                                                   

Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals                                Sun., Aug. 30: 11 a.m. - noon
Reading, Pa.                                                        

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals                                     Sun., Sept. 13: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Indianapolis                                                        

NHRA Nationals                                                  Sun., Sept. 27: 1 – 2 p.m.
Charlotte, N.C.                                                   

O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals         Sun., Oct. 4: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Dallas                                                                  

NHRA Las Vegas Nationals                                Sun., Nov. 8: 11 a.m. - noon
Las Vegas                                                           

Auto Club NHRA Finals                                      Sun., Nov. 22: 11 a.m. - noon
Pomona, Calif.                                                    

* All times Eastern. Schedule subject to change. Please check local listings.