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NHRA Announces 2001 Television Schedule on ESPN and ESPN2

11 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Exclusive five-year agreement features NHRA Winston Drag Racing National Events on ESPN and ESPN2; NHRA Heat expanded to 41 shows

GLENDORA, Calif. - The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) unveiled, today, its 2001 television schedule representing 196 hours of original programming and highlighting its new five-year exclusive agreement with ESPN and ESPN2.

All 24-national events that encompass the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series will air on ESPN and/or ESPN2 on a same-day basis. In addition, the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body announced it has expanded its popular magazine show, NHRA Heat, to 41 episodes, which represents a show each week throughout the season. NHRA also announced it will expand its NHRA Federal Mogul Drag Racing Series on ESPN2 to 15 one-hour shows on ESPN2 on a tape-delayed basis.

"Clearly this represents the best television package in the 50-year history of the sport," said Tom Compton, NHRA president. "Now, fans across the nation will be able to find our exciting form of racing exclusively on ESPN and ESPN2 and on a same-day basis. We couldn't be happier partnering with the worldwide leader in sports broadcasting and are confident that this new package will bring the fans, the racing community and NHRA what they have been craving for years."

NHRA Heat will air each week on Thursday on ESPN2 as a lead-in to the popular RPM2Night weekly show. NHRA Heat 2001 will debut on Thursday, Feb. 1 prior to the 41st AutoZone Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. and conclude on Nov. 8 leading up to the 37th Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Last year, NHRA Heat aired 24 times, prior to each national event.

Each of the 24-events representing the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series will receive four hours of same-day coverage each weekend, with six hours of coverage scheduled for the 47th running of the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.

"Sponsors and race teams can now point to our television package as a strength and know where NHRA Winston Drag Racing will be for the next five years," said Compton.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 85,000 racers and members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series
Television Schedule

41st annual AutoZone Winternationals
Pomona Raceway, Pomona, Calif.

Qualifying Rounds, 2/3 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Early) 2/4 8 - 9 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Final Round (Late) 2/4 11 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2



17th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals presented by Pennzoil
Firebird International Raceway, Phoenix

Qualifying Rounds 2/17 11 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Early) 2/18 2 - 3 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Final Round (Late) 2/18 6 - 8 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



32nd annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.

Qualifying Rounds 3/17 3 - 5 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Final Round 3/18 5 - 7 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



14th annual O'Reilly Nationals presented by Pennzoil
Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas

Qualifying Rounds 3/24 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 3/25 6 - 9 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



Second annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas

Qualifying Rounds 4/7 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 4/8 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



Mac Tools NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.

Qualifying Rounds 4/28 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 4/29 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2

21st annual Advance Auto Parts NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga.

Qualifying Rounds 5/5 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 5/6 5 - 7 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



32nd annual Matco Tools Spring SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J.

Qualifying Rounds 5/19 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 5/20 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



13th annual Advance Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kan.

Qualifying Rounds 5/26 8 - 9:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 5/27 3:30 - 6 p.m. (ET) ESPN1



Fourth annual Prestone Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway, Joilet, Ill.

Qualifying Rounds 6/2 9 - 11 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 6/3 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



37th annual Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals presented by Summit Racing
National Trail Raceway, Columbus, Ohio

Qualifying Rounds 6/16 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 6/17 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



Fifth annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals
Gateway International Raceway, St. Louis

Qualifying Rounds 6/23 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 6/24 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2

To Be Announced

Qualifying Rounds 7/7 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 7/8 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2

22nd annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals
Bandimere Speedway, Denver

Qualifying Rounds 7/21 6 - 8 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 7/22 6 - 8 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



14th annual Northwest NHRA Nationals
Seattle International Raceway, Kent, Wash.

Qualifying Rounds 7/28 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 7/29 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



14th annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals
Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.

Qualifying Rounds 8/4 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Early) 8/5 4 - 6 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Final Round (Late) 8/5 11 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2



20th annual Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals
The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.

Qualifying Rounds 8/18 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 8/19 5 - 7 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



47th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Ind.

Qualifying Rounds 9/1 5 - 6 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Qualifying Rounds 9/2 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Budweiser Shootout 9/2 8:30 - 11 p.m (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Early) 9/3 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Late) 9/3 10 - 11 p.m. (ET) ESPN2




17th annual Keystone NHRA Nationals
Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.

Qualifying Rounds 9/15 4 - 5:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 9/16 8:30 - 11 p.m. (ET) ESPN2

14th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil
Memphis Motorsports Park, Millington, Tenn.

Qualifying Rounds 9/23 1:30 - 2:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Early) 9/23 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Late) 9/23 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



Inaugural NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.

Qualifying Rounds 9/30 1:30 - 2:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Qualifying Rounds 9/30 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 9/30 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. ESPN2



16th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec
Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas

Qualifying Rounds 10/20 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round (Early) 10/21 4 - 6 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Final Round (Late) 10/21 9 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



Inaugural NHRA Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas

Qualifying Rounds 10/27 10 p.m. - Midnight (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 10/28 7 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2



37th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals
Pomona Raceway, Pomona, Calif.

Qualifying Rounds 11/11 1:30 - 2:30 a.m. (ET) ESPN2
Budweiser Shootout 11/11 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN2
Final Round 11/11 8 - 10 p.m. (ET) ESPN2

*All Times Subject To Change

Text Provided By Anthony Vestal

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.