NHRA schedule 2013 on ESPN2 and ESPN

NHRA schedule 2013 on ESPN2 and ESPN begins with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 14-17.

From ESPN’s press release:

Dave Rieff Named to Anchor Role for ESPN NHRA Drag Racing Coverage

When the newly re-named NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series begins its 13th season on ESPN later this month, a name and voice familiar to fans of the series will be in a new role on ESPN’s television coverage team.

Dave Rieff, who has been a pit reporter since ESPN began its NHRA coverage in 2001, will move into the anchor announcer position for the 2013 season. Rieff will host ESPN’s telecasts of both the Mello Yello Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The season begins with the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 14-17. ESPN2 will air same-day coverage of qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 10 p.m. ET and same-day coverage of eliminations on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. In addition, ESPN3, ESPN’s multi-screen live sports network, will have live coverage of Friday qualifying at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, with the full day of eliminations live on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. All of ESPN’s NHRA coverage can also be seen on computers, smartphones and tablets through WatchESPN and the free WatchESPN app for those who receive their video service from an affiliated provider.

Rieff will call the action from the booth with analyst Mike Dunn, who is beginning his 12th year with ESPN. The former racer is one of only three drivers in NHRA history to win more than 10 times in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes. Gary Gerould, John Kernan and Jamie Howe will report from the pits and trackside.

“I’ve been very lucky during the 17 years I’ve been involved with the NHRA to be around many of the greats of the sport, both television personalities and public address announcers,” said Rieff. “People like Dave McClelland, Steve Evans, Bob Frey, Marty Reid and Paul Page.

“Little did I know all those years ago I’d end up getting to know these great people and would be able to work with them and glean as much knowledge as I could. I’m very grateful for this new opportunity and hope to be able to take the best of the best from each of these men and bring it to the forefront.”

Rieff and Dunn have previously worked together in the booth on some ESPN3 qualifying shows as well as co-hosting some other drag racing programs on ESPN.

“It’s always a great opportunity just to get to sit next to Mike and talk about drag racing,” said Rieff, “It’s like one of those sitting around at home on the sofa situations, two guys that really love their sport and come at it from different sides of the fence, so to speak, and we’re able to bring that energy and passion to the viewers.

“There’s so much anticipation for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to get started.”

The NHRA will be televised on ESPN networks in 182 countries and territories to more than 56.5 million homes, including coverage in Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, Mexico, New Zealand and South America. In addition, U.S. troops and their families serving around the world in 175 countries and on Navy vessels at sea can watch NHRA through the American Forces Network.

2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Schedule on ESPN

(all times Eastern)

Date                 Event                                                   Time                Network

Feb. 16 Pomona Qualifying 10 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 17 Pomona Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 24 Phoenix Qualifying 1 a.m. ESPN2
Feb. 24 Phoenix Qualifying (re-air) 8 a.m. ESPN2
Feb. 24 Phoenix Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
March 17 Gainesville Qualifying 1:30 a.m. ESPN2
March 17 Gainesville Qualifying (re-air) 8 a.m. ESPN2
March 17 Gainesville Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
April 6 Las Vegas Qualifying 10 p.m. ESPN2
April 7 Las Vegas Eliminations 11 p.m. ESPN2
April 20 Charlotte Qualifying 5 p.m. ESPN2
April 21 Charlotte Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
April 27 Houston Qualifying 3 p.m. ESPN2
April 28 Houston Eliminations 2 p.m. ESPN2
May 4 Atlanta Qualifying 8 p.m. ESPN2
May 5 Atlanta Eliminations 6:30 p.m. ESPN2
May 18 Topeka Qualifying 5 p.m. ESPN2
May 19 Topeka Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
June 1 Englishtown Qualifying (Part 1) 5 p.m. ESPN
June 2 Englishtown Qualifying (Part 2) 1 a.m. ESPN2
June 2 Englishtown Eliminations 4:30 p.m. ESPN2
June 15 Bristol Qualifying 7 p.m. ESPN2
June 16 Bristol Eliminations (Part 1) 1 p.m. ESPN2
June 16 Bristol Eliminations (Part 2) 11 p.m. ESPN2
June 22 New England Qualifying 8 p.m. ESPN2
June 23 New England Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
June 29 Chicago Qualifying (Part 1) 5 p.m. ESPN2
June 30 Chicago Qualifying (Part 2) 11 p.m. ESPN2
June 30 Chicago Eliminations 9 p.m. ESPN2
July 6 Norwalk Qualifying 6 p.m. ESPN2
July 7 Norwalk Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
July 20 Denver Qualifying 10 p.m. ESPN2
July 21 Denver Eliminations 6 p.m. ESPN2
July 27 Sonoma Qualifying 7 p.m. ESPN
July 28 Sonoma Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 3 Seattle Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 4 Seattle Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 17 Brainerd Qualifying 11 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 18 Brainerd Eliminations 9 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 1 Indianapolis Qualifying (Part 1) 11 a.m. ESPN2
Sept. 1 Indianapolis Qualifying (Part 2) 5 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 2 Indianapolis Eliminations Noon ESPN2
Sept. 14 Charlotte Qualifying TBD ESPN2
Sept. 15 Charlotte Eliminations 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 21 Dallas Qualifying TBD ESPN2
Sept. 22 Dallas Eliminations 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 28 St. Louis Qualifying TBD ESPN2
Sept. 29 St. Louis Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Oct. 5 Reading Qualifying TBD ESPN2
Oct. 6 Reading Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Oct. 26 Las Vegas Qualifying TBD ESPN2
Oct. 28 Las Vegas Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Nov. 9 Pomona Qualifying TBD ESPN2
Nov. 10 Pomona Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2

 

Do you like ESPN’s Dave Rieff moving from pit reporter to race anchor?

20 Comments

  1. ESPN really makes drag racing a second rate sport.
    I lost count of how many times it was pre-empted by little league or volley ball or whatever. I’m a die hard fan and this really blows my super charger.

  2. WELL HERE IT IS THE END OF THE DRAG RACING SEASON! ONE RACE TO GO AT PAMONA AND WE WAIT FOR THE WINTERNATIONALS IN FEBRUARY. I’M SURE THAT WE ALL CANT WAIT TO SEE IF ESPN 2 GETS ANOTHER SEASON OF LATE LATE LATE NIGHT QUALIFYING AND BUMPED COVERAGE; LAST MINUTE CHANNEL CHANGES; LAST MINUTE DELAYS; AND FINALS COVERAGE THAT WONT BE ON OUR DVRs BECAUSE OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE PROBLEMS! MAYBE WE CAN GET RERUNS OF SPORTSCENTER TO PRE-EMPT THE COVERAGE ENTIRELY!!!!! HEY NHRA—–DO YOU REALIZE THAT ITS THE FANS THAT ARE SENDING IN THESE MESSAGES…..WE ARE THE ONES BUYING TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE THA ARE BEING RIPPED OFF BY POOR COVERAGE. HELP US OUT!!!!!!

  3. ya i set my dvd player so i can watch qaulifying cause it comes on at midnite or later some of us work & cant stay up that late just 2 hope its on on time.

  4. I was watching the Carolina Nationals Finals on ESPN2 at 5:30pm PST. All of a sudden before 7pm PST, the ticker at the bottom said coverage was moving to ESPNews.com, that NASCAR Racing the GEICO 400 was coming on.
    According to the TV schedule in the newspaper, that wasn’t scheduled to be on until 10:30pm PST.
    ESPNews.com had nothing. I went to NHRA.com and found the results. I really wanted to watch the finals!
    Earlier today, I watched the qualifying that my husband recorded for me, since it was on at 12:30 AM PST!
    I am really sick and tired of us NHRA fans getting “JACKED AROUND!”
    ESPN OR 2 need to be responsible programmers. Put NHRA on when it is scheduled, at a reasonable time and hour. We get pre-empted by hours of SportsCenter, tennis, X-Games, etc.
    NHRA IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS NASCAR. WE ARE NOT 2ND CLASS CITIZENS!
    THE WAY NHRA FANS ARE BEING TREATED IS INEXCUSABLE AND DISRESPECTFUL.
    ESPN AND 2, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!

    • I didn’t even see the ticker. NHRA goes to commercial and comes back as NASCAR? Did I accidentally change channels? I’m already setting my DVR to record 2 hours post since every week the coverage start time is pushed back 20-45 minutes for what seems like any sport with a ball in it no matter how obscure the teams.
      My friend in AZ confirmed it was per-empted for him as well so it seems like the whole nation got shafted on what was likely the most exciting racing of the year. What happened yesterday should be a contract voiding event, NHRA go find a new home!

  5. why is NHRA always prempted by other half a–ed junk.
    I think they should find another network that will appreciate them like the fans do. Maybe MAVTV.

  6. Whats up with “ESPN-1-2-3-U”… This is about the @#^*&@$#% poor job ESPN2 is doing on the (DRAG RACING) coverage… Cut back on the “WHO CARES interviews”… More action-Less Talk…TRY to have NHRA when it;s scheduled, not after the Girls softball or one of the 10K other &%$##&* events… TRY to think about the 100K of us who go to and like NHRA…I have over 60years of NHRA history… LESS TALK…AND… You can cut back the engine trash after every race-SHOW so other style of vehicles-other classes- CUT back on some of the (ALL LOOK JUST LIKE THE LAST PAIR)***ONE LAST COMPLAINT!!! TRY TO MOVE (MY) NHRA TO A TIME WHEN I’M AWAKE>>>NO MORE 10-11-PM- 1-2-3AM “ONE OF THESE DAYS-I’LL BE GONE!!! (FER)

    ,

  7. Your coverage suck’s. Race is over when you show it, seldom you nshow the burnout’s for the next round, the interview’s are boring, keep it exciting for the fan’s, show the burnout’s an going to next round. Coverage is a soap opera.

  8. I’ve been a drag racing fan since the age of 14 and i’m now 52, i had the opertunity to meet Antron Brown, Greg Anderson, John Force, Vince Nobile and Allen Johnson, it would be nice to catch drag racing at a earlier hr to enjoy qualifing rounds and elimination rounds.

    • LAS VEGAS QUALIFYING AT 10PM ON APRIL 6 AND ELIMINATIONS AT 11PM ON APRIL 7???????? YOU GUYS ON ESPN CANT BE SERIOUS!! THIS IS WHY NHRA RACES ARE NOT GETTING RATINGS THAT OTHER SPORTS GET. I HOPE NHRA CAN FIND A NETWORK THAT CARES ABOUT US FANS! THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT!

  9. I AGREE WITH MOST OTHERS; WHY IS NHRA ALWAYS PUSHED BACK ? AND WHY DO YOU NEVER GET DECENT TIME SLOTS? LATLEY THEIR TALKING SOUND HAS BEEN REAL BAD. IF ESPN CAN NOT GIVE YOU DECENT TIME SLOTS; FIND ANOTHER CHANEL TO COVER YOU,,,THE DRAGS ARE A GREAT SPORT, AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SO, AND DAVE ANNOUNCING IS GREAT;;;

  10. MAYBE THE NHRA SHOULD VOID THERE CONTRSCT WITH ESPN AND FIND A NETWORK THAT WILL IT RIGTH . GET A LIFE ESPN.

  11. I think NHRA would get better coverage, promote the sport better if SPEED NETWORK would cover the races. Look what it has done for other motor sports…

  12. would be nice to see the qualifying and the eliminations at a reasonable time….not 10,11,12am,1am, 2am. & sorry to see races backed up to whatever runs over in time for even an hour or more!!!!!

  13. ESPN has been doing the same thing ever since they got the contract with NHRA. I would think that NHRA would feel like a step child because take Nascar for instance if they get rained out the time slot will be filled with commercials and BS the whole time but with NHRA no way jose!!!!

  14. So many times we stay up to watch Nhra races to later find out that the time has been delayed because some other sport intervien the drag racing schedule.we plan our week ends to watch the drag racing and later find out that it has been delayed. It would be nice to see the the drags start before 9pm .there is a big fan club to all Nhra catigories that would like to watch the races on time.This could improve TV ratings for ESPN

  15. Its frustrating to make plans to be home to watch Qualifing only to find out that the program has been pushed back to 12am or 1am. I pay to see these programs and dont feel its right that ESPN OR 2 can just change things to what ever they want, its disrespectful.

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About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.