February 23, 2011

NHRA 60^th Anniversary Season Kicks Off at Pomona

As the National Hot Rod Association begins its 60^th anniversary season this weekend in Pomona, Calif., ESPN’s 11^th season of exclusive NHRA coverage will include a new element with live eliminations action for all 22 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events on ESPN3.com, ESPN’s live sports broadband network.

On television, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will continue to air qualifying and eliminations for all events on a same-day basis, starting with this weekend’s Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona. Qualifying airs Saturday, Feb. 26, at 11 p.m. ET and eliminations air Sunday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.

Live eliminations air from Pomona starting at 2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN3.com. While the broadband sports network has carried live eliminations for the past several years for events in the NHRA’s Countdown playoffs, this season will mark the first time that the coverage will include the full season.

“For the dedicated drag racing fan, the opportunity now exists to watch everything unfold as it happens, all day,” said Shawn Murphy, ESPN senior coordinating producer, who oversees production of NHRA telecasts. “Not only the professional classes with the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, but the Lucas Oil Series, the Pro Mod Series and every car that goes down the track on the final day.”

ESPN2’s drag racing coverage team returns in 2011 led by Paul Page, who became lead announcer in 2006. The award-winning Page has worked in motorsports broadcasting since 1974 and served as lap-by-lap 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 10th season as ESPN’s drag racing analyst. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff return as pit reporters for the full season, with John Kernan joining them as a third reporter for select events.

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will be featured on ESPN through 2016 as part of a five-year, multimedia rights agreement extension forged between the NHRA and ESPN in 2009. The NHRA has appeared exclusively on the ESPN networks since 2001. By the end of the extended agreement, the partnership will have been in place for 16 years.

ESPN2 also will continue its coverage of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the premier sportsman series in drag racing and, for many aspiring racers, a stepping stone for the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. And for the second season, the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series will appear on ESPN2. Both the Lucas Oil and Pro Mod series will air on a tape-delay schedule.

ESPN International is one of the world’s leading syndicators of sports programming and its relationship with the NHRA is helping maximize coverage and providing a solid base of distribution. Through a combination of sales and ESPN network programming, NHRA is available to more than 35.9 million homes in 127 countries and territories around the world. In addition, U.S. troops and their families serving around the world and Navy vessels at sea can watch NHRA through American Forces Network bringing total countries/territories to 206.

About ESPN3.com

ESPN3.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination that delivers thousands of live, global sports events annually. It is available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or cable TV video subscription from an affiliated service provider, and is currently available in more than 65 million homes.  It is available via dozens of affiliated service providers nationwide, including Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Cox, Charter, Windstream, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Schedule on ESPN

(all times Eastern)

Date                 Event                                                   Time                Network

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

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Media Contact: Andy Hall, 386-492-2246 or [email protected]