ESPN2 has complete coverage of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series beginning with this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona Feb. 11-12. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to present qualifying and eliminations from all 23 events this season. 2012 NHRA TV schedule on ESPN2 and press release below:
NHRA Drag Racing Season Kicks off on ESPN2
The 2012 season for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will kick off this weekend in Pomona, Calif., with the 12th season of exclusive coverage on ESPN networks. Qualifying and eliminations coverage from all 23 events in the series this season will air either ESPN or ESPN2 on a same-day basis, with 20 eliminations programs scheduled for prime time Sunday night airings.
All six eliminations programs in the NHRA’s “Countdown to the Championship” playoffs will have Sunday night prime time airings, and the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis will once again feature 11 hours of expanded coverage, including six hours of eliminations on Monday, Sept. 3.
Qualifying coverage from this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona will air Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 p.m. ET with eliminations airing Sunday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m., both on ESPN2.
ESPN2’s drag racing team returns in 2012 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 11th season as ESPN’s drag racing analyst. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff return as pit reporters for the full season, with John Kernan and Jamie Howe splitting duty as a third pit reporter all year.
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.
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 44.7 million homes in 169 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 207.
2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Schedule on ESPN
(all times Eastern)
Date Event Time Network
| Feb. 11 | Pomona Qualifying | 11 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Feb. 12 | Pomona Eliminations | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Feb. 18 | Phoenix Qualifying | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Feb. 19 | Phoenix Eliminations | 9 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| March 11 | Gainesville Qualifying | 4 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| March 11 | Gainesville Qualifying (re-air) | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| March 11 | Gainesville Eliminations | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| March 31 | Las Vegas Qualifying | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| April 1 | Las Vegas Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| April 14 | Charlotte Qualifying | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| April 15 | Charlotte Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| April 28 | Houston Qualifying | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| April 29 | Houston Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| May 5 | Atlanta Qualifying | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| May 6 | Atlanta Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| May 19 | Topeka Qualifying | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| May 20 | Topeka Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| June 2 | Englishtown Qualifying | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| June 3 | Englishtown Eliminations | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| June 16 | Bristol Qualifying | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| June 17 | Bristol Eliminations | 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| June 30 | Chicago Qualifying | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 1 | Chicago Qualifying | 3 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 1 | Chicago Eliminations | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 7 | Norwalk Qualifying | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 8 | Norwalk Eliminations | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 21 | Denver Qualifying | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 22 | Denver Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| July 28 | Sonoma Qualifying | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| July 29 | Sonoma Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Aug. 4 | Seattle Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Aug. 5 | Seattle Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Aug. 18 | Brainerd Qualifying | 11 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Aug. 19 | Brainerd Eliminations | 9 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 2 | Indianapolis Qualifying | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 2 | Indianapolis Qualifying | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 3 | Indianapolis Eliminations | Noon | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 15 | Charlotte Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 16 | Charlotte Eliminations | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 22 | Dallas Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 23 | Dallas Eliminations | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 29 | St. Louis Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 30 | St. Louis Eliminations | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Oct. 6 | Reading Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Oct. 7 | Reading Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Oct. 27 | Las Vegas Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Oct. 28 | Las Vegas Eliminations | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Nov. 10 | Pomona Qualifying | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Nov. 11 | Pomona Eliminations | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Photo: Credit: David Allio/Icon SMI 951/Newscom
Keep upthe good work, enjoyable.
I have had the same problems with the late starting races by softball? They do not give credit to the Best show anywhere. NHRA is very under rated, even in our knoxville newspaper you dont see much coverage. Sad, I love this sport.
I am sorry but why do the all NHRA announcers seem to think that there is only one team to talk about? John Force IS NOT the only person at these races. I was sure that you people were going to interview the BABY even if it could not talk. PLEASE-PLEASE look around there are other teams to talk about, and they are not loud and obnoxious BORES.
What really torques my bolts is the way ESPN2 has all this HYPE for the NASCAR boys and nothing for the real motor sport , Drag Racing. Then , after I’ve waited all week to see the DragRacing, they pre-empt it with girls softball. I’m getting upset just thinking about it .I’ve got to go now and take my heart medicine.
The very first time espn aired nhra, it was twenty minutes late. They have continued this practice ever since. ESPN to me, has come to be known as “every sport preempts NHRA. No respect for time, or people who don’t give a damn about stick and ball Games. A true sport, is one you pay to participate in, and hope you might get some form of return, or respect, with no guarantee of either.