Thu, 9 Nov 2006, 01:35 PM ESPN2 to Have 5 Hours of Coverage from NHRA Finale

Courtesy of NHRA communications Championships In 3 Classes On The Line at Pomona

POMONA, Calif. -- ESPN2 will capture all the drama of the season-ending NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event this weekend with more than five hours of coverage from Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.

Championships in three of the NHRA's POWERade Series categories will be decided, including Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"Some of the best drivers and personalities in the sport are involved in the championship battles," said Marty Reid, ESPN2 anchor. "It's really neat that it's going down to the wire this way."

ESPN2 begins its Pomona programming Saturday, Nov. 11, with two hours of qualifying coverage starting at 10 p.m. ET. A live version of the popular NHRA Today kicks off final day coverage at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, followed by three hours of eliminations action starting at 7 p.m. ET.

NHRA will wrap up its 2006 season with an awards banquet that can be seen on ESPN2 at noon ET on Sunday, Nov. 26.

"In Top Fuel, we could see history this weekend," said Reid, referring to Tony Schumacher's attempt to complete the greatest comeback in NHRA POWERade history. "Tony was 336 points behind after the first 10 races, and that's almost off the edge of the world. Now he's only 45 points behind Doug Kalitta."

Schumacher, trying for his third straight NHRA Top Fuel championship and fourth overall, has already announced plans of going for a national record in event qualifying this weekend, an accomplishment that would add 20 much-needed points to his season.

"That's a pretty bold statement to make in this sport," said Reid. "The weather will be the key factor. If the conditions are cool with low humidity, they will certainly have a shot at a record."

In addition to the drama of Schumacher chasing the elapsed time record, Reid said that ESPN2's qualifying coverage will follow 13-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force's attempt to add to his own record by qualifying for what would be his 392nd consecutive race.

"That record is almost going to be untouchable," said Reid. "To put it in perspective, if you started a qualifying streak at the start of next season, come and see me in the year 2025. That's how long it would take to break Force's record."

Force is seeking to regain the championship he lost last year to Gary Scelzi and holds a 71-point lead entering Pomona action. "At times it looked like he wasn't going to be able to bounce back this year," said Reid. "But from the standpoint of the competition, it's amazing that he could win his 14th title."

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Andrew Hines took a 37-point championship lead in the most recent event at Las Vegas due to a red light by previous leader Antron Brown.

Reid will be joined on the ESPN2 coverage by analyst Mike Dunn and pit reporters Gary Gerould and David Reiff.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 12- 75th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"
Jan 28- Top Fuel All-Star Callout Returns to Open NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season at Gatornationals