FW: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series 2005 TV Schedule
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES TO BE FEATURED EXCLUSIVELY ON ESPN2 IN 2005 GLENDORA, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2005) - NHRA announced it will continue to produce 16 one-hour shows with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events in 2005. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series shows will be showcased on ESPN2 on a taped-delay basis as part of NHRA's exclusive relationship with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports. In addition, each of the 41 half-hour episodes of NHRA 2Day, NHRA's weekly news magazine show that airs each Sunday on ESPN2, will feature a Sportsman Spotlight segment focusing on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA's member track network. Veteran motorsports announcer Marty Reid will continue to anchor the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts and will be joined in the booth by Bob Frey, with David Reiff in the field. ESPN Regional Television will produce the telecasts. ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU (launching March 2005), ESPN Today), ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD (launching January 2005), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN Broadband, ESPN Wireless, ESPN Video-on-Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 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 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17. NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series 2005 Television Schedule* (original air dates/times) EVENT NETWORK TIME/ AIR DATE CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals ESPN2 Original Air, 8 - 9 p.m. (ET), Feb. 20 Pomona, Calif. ESPN2 Repeat, 3:30 - 4:30 a.m. (ET), March 7 Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals ESPN2 Original Air, 7 - 8 p.m. (ET), March 26 Gainesville, Fla. ESPN2 Repeat, 4 - 5 a.m. (ET), April 6 O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals ESPN2 Original, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (ET), April 17 Houston ESPN2 Repeat, 2:30 - 3:30 a.m. (ET), April 23 NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 1 - 2 p.m. (ET), April 24 Las Vegas ESPN2 Repeat, 3 - 4 p.m. (ET), April 28 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals ESPN2 Original, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (ET), May 22 Atlanta ESPN2 Repeat, 3:30 - 4:30 a.m. (ET), May 29 Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 5 - 6 p.m. (ET), May 28 Columbus, Ohio ESPN2 Repeat, 3:30 - 4:30 a.m. (ET), June 4 O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 6 - 7 p.m. (ET), June 5 Topeka, Kan. ESPN2 Repeat, 2:30 - 3:30 a.m. (ET), June 12 K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals ESPN2 Original Air, 1 - 2 p.m. (ET), July 3 Englishtown, N.J. ESPN2 Repeat, 4 - 5 a.m. (ET), July 10 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals ESPN Original Air, Midnight - 1 a.m. (ET), Aug. 1 Seattle ESPN2 Repeat, 3 - 4 p.m. (ET), Aug. 4 FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 5 - 6 p.m. (ET), Aug. 7 Sonoma, Calif. ESPN2 Repeat, 2 - 3 p.m. (ET, Aug. 8 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, Midnight - 1 a.m. (ET), Aug. 22 Brainerd, Minn. ESPN2 Repeat, 3 - 4 a.m. (ET), Aug. 29 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 6 - 7 p.m. (ET), Sept. 11 Indianapolis ESPN2 Repeat, 4 -5 a.m. (ET), Sept. 16 NHRA Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 11 p.m.-Midnight (ET), Sept. 23 Reading, Pa. ESPN2 Repeat, 4 - 5 p.m. (ET), Sept. 29 O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 11 p.m.-Midnight (ET), Oct. 2 Dallas ESPN2 Repeat, 1 - 2 a.m. (ET), Oct. 9 NHRA Route 66 Nationals ESPN2 Original Air, 1 - 2 p.m. (ET), Oct. 9 Chicago ESPN2 Repeat, 4 -5 a.m. (ET), Oct. 15 Auto Club NHRA Finals ESPN2 Original Air, 9 - 10 p.m. (ET), Nov. 11 Pomona, Calif. ESPN2 Repeat, 2 - 3 p.m. (ET), Nov. 17 *times subject to change/check local listings -30-