2012 NHRA Television Schedule Announced
NHRA announced Feb. 3, that the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will again be showcased on ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports television, in 2012.
The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series television schedule features Sunday night prime-time slots on ESPN2 or ESPN for nearly every event. All six of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoff events are scheduled to offer eliminations coverage in prime time. The NHRA works with ESPN each year to provide qualifying and finals programming with the best possible air times. The prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 29 – Sept. 3, will again feature 11 hours of wall-to-wall coverage, including complete coverage of final eliminations on Monday, Sept. 3, from noon to 6 p.m. ET.
In all, the network will dedicate more than 100 hours of original programming to the world’s quickest, fastest and most intense motorsport, with live or same-day coverage of qualifying on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. All telecasts will be aired in high definition on ESPN2HD or ESPNHD. ESPN2/ESP2NHD and ESPN/ESPNHD are available in nearly 100 million households nationwide.
The shows are developed by the production team at ESPN, which has been producing NHRA programming since 2001. Paul Page returns to call the action as host, alongside former drag racer Mike Dunn, who will provide expert analysis and insight. Each show will feature three pit reporters in 2012. Dave Rieff and Gary Gerould will return as pit reporters at all 23 events. Veteran announcer John Kernan, who joined the NHRA telecast team in 2007, will split duties as the third pit reporter with Jamie Howe. A familiar face in the NHRA pit area, Howe served as a pit reporter on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts on ESPN2 in 2011.
The telecasts will feature competition from all four classes in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
In addition to coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN, NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing will be aired and distributed internationally through ESPN International. ESPN International is available to more than 35.6 million homes in 161 countries and territories around the world. The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series also is broadcast in Canada on TSN.
In addition, U.S. troops and their families serving around the world in 175 countries and Navy vessels at sea can watch NHRA through the American Forces Network.
2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing TV Schedule
Event, Location
Air Time, Date
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries; Pomona, CA
Qualifying, 11 p.m.–1 a.m., Sat., Feb. 11
Eliminations, 7–10:30 p.m., Sun., Feb. 12
NHRA Arizona Nationals; Phoenix, AZ
Qualifying, 8 – 10 p.m., Sat., Feb. 18
Eliminations, 9 p.m. – Midnight, Sun., Feb. 19
Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals; Gainesville, FL
Qualifying, 4-5 a.m., Sun., March 11
Qualifying re-air, 5 – 6 p.m., Sun., March 11
Eliminations, 6–9 p.m., Sun., March 11
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals; Las Vegas, NV
Qualifying, 7:30–9:30 p.m., Sat., March 31
Eliminations, 7 – 10 p.m., Sun., April 1
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals; Charlotte, NC
Qualifying, 5–7:30 p.m., Sat., April 14
Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sun., April 15
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries; Baytown, TX
Qualifying, 6–8 p.m., Sat., April 28
Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sun., April 29
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals; Commerce, GA
Qualifying, 8-10 p.m., Sat., May 5
Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sun., May 6
Dollar General NHRA Summernationals; Topeka, KS
Qualifying, 5 – 7 p.m., Sat., May 19
Eliminations, 7 – 10 p.m., Sun., May 20
Toyota NHRA SuperNationals; Englishtown, NJ
Qualifying, 4:30-6 p.m., Sat., June 2 (ESPN)
Eliminations, 4:30–7 p.m., Sun., June 3
Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers; Bristol, TN
Qualifying, 7:30 –9:30 p.m., Sat., June 16
Eliminations, 5 – 7 p.m., Sun., June 17 (ESPN)
O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries; Chicago, IL
Qualifying, 6-7:30 p.m., Sat., June 30
Qualifying, 3 – 4 a.m., Sun., July 1
Qualifying, re-air, 11 a.m. – Noon, Sun., July 1
Eliminations, 6 – 9 p.m., Sun., July 1
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals; Norwalk, OH
Qualifying, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Sat., July 7
Eliminations, 7 – 10 p.m., Sun., July 8
Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals; Denver, CO
Qualifying, 5 – 7 p.m., Sat., July 21
Eliminations, 7 – 9 p.m., Sun., July 22
NHRA Sonoma Nationals; Sonoma, CA
Qualifying, 7 – 9 p.m., Sat., July 28 (ESPN)
Eliminations, 7 – 10 p.m., Sun., July 29
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries; Seattle, WA
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m. – Midnight, Sat., Aug. 4
Eliminations, 7 – 10 p.m., Sun., Aug. 5
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals; Brainerd, MN
Qualifying, 11 p.m.–1a.m., Sat., Aug. 18
Eliminations, 9 p.m. – Midnight, Sun., Aug. 19
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals; Indianapolis, IN
Qualifying, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Sun., Sept. 2
Qualifying, 5–7 p.m., Sun., Sept. 2
Eliminations, Noon–6 p.m., Mon., Sept. 3
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries; Charlotte, NC
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m.–Midnight, Sat., Sept. 15
Eliminations, 8:30–11:30 p.m., Sun., Sept. 16
AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Ennis, TX
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m.–Midnight, Sat., Sept. 22
Eliminations, 8:30 –11:30 p.m., Sun., Sept. 23
NHRA Midwest Nationals; St. Louis, MO
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m. – Midnight, Sat., Sept. 29
Eliminations, 8 – 11 p.m., Sun., Sept. 30
Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals; Reading, PA
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m.–Midnight, Sat., Oct. 6
Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sun., Oct. 7
Big O Tires NHRA Nationals; Las Vegas, NV
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m.–Midnight, Sat., Oct. 27
Eliminations, 8 – 11 p.m., Sun., Oct. 28
Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals; Pomona, CA
Qualifying, 10:30 p.m.–Midnight, Sat., Nov. 10
Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sat., Nov. 11
* All times Eastern. Schedule subject to change. Please check local listings.
So ESPN, how many will be pre-empted by the Spelling bee or the Cheerleading competition? No chance of replacing Paul with someone who has knowledge of the sport!
FORMER P/M CREW CHIEF, I DON'T THINK IT IS WRIGHT THAT DRAG RACING TAKES A BACK SEAT FOR TV TIME. MOST OF THE TIME IT COMES ON TO LATE OR BECAUSE OF SOME BALL GAME THAT RUNS OVER. I'LL BET IF THE DRAGS WHERE ON FIRST THEY WOULD CUT YOU OFF EARLY TO B/BALL (WITCH SUCKS). I ALSO THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE SHOWING PRO/ MOD ALONG WITH THE PRO CLASSES. I WAS RACING MYSELF BACK IN THE LATE 60'S AND EARLY 70'S. GOT TO HELPING PRO MOD TEAM IN THE 90'S. I HELP 2 DIFFERNT TEAMS FOR ABOUT 15YRS. I HAVE RAN 1/8 MILE, 1/4MILE IHRA AND ONE OF FIRST TEAMS TO RUN NHRA. NOW MOST EVERYONE RUNS ADRL . WISH I COULD KEEP RACING BUT ALL THE UP AND DOWN WORK AT THE SHOP AND AT THE TRACK WAS GETTING TO MY BACK & LEGS. I MIS ALL THE SUPER NICE PEOPLE I HAVE MET WITH OTHER TEAMS AND FANS AROUND THE COUNTRY. HOPE NHRA CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THERE TV TIME.
if you have games that you think could run over scheduled air time i would rather see drag racing come on at midnight than have a game cut into starting time. i do appreciate seeing you carry nhra drag racing and would also like to see full coverage of time trials instead of the diluted ones you show now
thankyou jon stuart