Wed, 10 Feb 2010, 04:26 AM NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series to Call ESPN2 and ESPN2HD Home in 2010

Courtesy of NHRA Communications NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, Showcasing NHRA Member Track Network, to Air on ESPN2

GLENDORA, Calif. -- The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will once again be televised in 16 one-hour shows on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD, with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events. In addition, the popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, focusing on NHRA's member track network, will air on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD as part of the race coverage.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will air on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of NHRA's relationship with ESPN, which enters its 10th year as the exclusive home of NHRA Drag Racing. All 16 telecasts will air on Saturday or Sunday. The NHRA Lucas Oil Series has a long-standing tradition of serving as a highly-competitive developmental arena for the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

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. ESPN2 is now available in 98.7 million households.

In addition to his race coverage duties in the booth, Frey also will host the popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlight segments, which will be featured within the race broadcasts on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. The segments will showcase unique and interesting stories from NHRA Member Tracks in each of the sanctioning body's seven divisions. Frey's schedule of appearances include: Atco Dragway in Atco, N.J. (Aug. 4: Division 1); Orlando Speed World Dragway in Orlando, Fla. (March 6: Division 2); The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (April 24: Division 3): The JEGS Sportsnationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La. (March 20: Division 4); Cedar Falls Raceway, Cedar Falls, Iowa (July 31: Division 5); Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore. (Aug. 28: Division 6); and Kauai Raceway in Kapaa, Hawaii (July 4: Division 7).

2010 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Television Schedule

Event                                                   Air Date/Time

Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals                    Saturday, Feb. 27: 10 - 11 a.m.
Pomona, Calif.                                                      

NHRA Gatornationals                                     Sunday, March 21: 10 - 11 a.m.
Gainesville, Fla.                                                    

O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals                          Sunday, April 18: 11 a.m. - Noon
Houston                                                                

SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals                         Sunday, April 25: 10 - 11 a.m.
Las Vegas                                                             

O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals                          Sunday, May 30: 10 - 11 a.m.
Topeka, Kan.                                                         

United Association NHRA Route 66 Nationals              Saturday, June 12: 12 - 1 p.m.
Chicago                                                                 

NHRA SuperNationals                                     Saturday, June 19: 2 - 3 p.m.
Englishtown, N.J.                                                 

Summit Racing NHRA Nationals                            Sunday, July 4: 11 a.m. - Noon
Norwalk, Ohio                                                      

NHRA Northwest Nationals                                Saturday, July 17: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Seattle                                                                   

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals                                Sunday, August 22: 11 a.m. - Noon
Brainerd, Minn.                                                     

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals                                Sunday, Sept. 12: 10 - 11 a.m.
Indianapolis                                                          

NHRA Carolinas Nationals                                Sunday, Sept. 26: 11 a.m. - Noon 
Charlotte, N.C.                                                     

O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals      Sunday, Oct. 3: 10 - 11 a.m.
Dallas                                                                    

Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals                               Sunday, Oct. 17: 10 -11 a.m.
Reading, Pa.

NHRA Las Vegas Nationals                                Sunday, Nov. 7: 10 - 11 a.m.
Las Vegas                                                             

Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals      Sunday, Nov. 21: 10 - 11 a.m.
Pomona, Calif.                                                      

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