The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will again be featured in 16 one-hour shows on ESPN2HD in 2014, with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events, it was announced today by the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning organization. The popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, focusing on NHRA’s Member Track network and sportsman racing programs, will be showcased as part of the race-coverage telecasts.
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series coverage will air on ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of NHRA’s relationship with ESPN, in its second decade as the exclusive home of NHRA Drag Racing. All 16 telecasts will air on Saturday or Sunday. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series has a long-standing tradition of serving as a highly-competitive developmental arena for the future stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Returning as anchor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts will be long-time NHRA announcer Dave Rieff. Rieff has been involved for many years with NHRA coverage on ESPN and ESPN2HD. The color analyst role for the shows will be filled by Alan Reinhart whose announcing career spans more than two decades. Reinhart has been the lead public address announcer of Lucas Oil Series racing at national events and brings extensive knowledge of the series and its competitors.
The popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlight segments will continue in 2014. The segments will showcase unique and interesting stories from NHRA Member Tracks in each of the sanctioning body’s seven divisions as well as focus on the different racing programs available for the weekly NHRA enthusiast. Lewis Bloom, currently involved in the NHRA Mello Yello telecasts on ESPN and best known as “Stat Guy,” will split duties with Reinhart, as they return for their second year with these segments. They will visit the member tracks and share their reports with viewers during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts on ESPN2.
2014 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Television Schedule
Event Air Date, Time
Circle K NHRA Winternationals Sunday, Feb. 16; Noon-1 p.m.
Pomona, Calif.
Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals Saturday, March 29; 10-11 a.m.
Gainesville, Fla.
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals Sunday, April 6; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Las Vegas
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sunday, April 20; 11 a.m.-Noon
Charlotte, N.C.
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals Sunday, May 4; 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Houston
NHRA Kansas Nationals Sunday, June 1; 3-4 p.m.
Topeka, Kan.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals Saturday, July 5; 1-2 p.m.
Chicago
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Saturday, July 12; 6-7 p.m.
Norwalk, Ohio
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals Sunday, Aug. 10; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Seattle
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Saturday, Aug. 23: Noon-1 p.m.
Brainerd, Minn.
Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Sunday, Sept. 7; 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Indianapolis
NHRA Carolina Nationals Sunday, Sept. 28; 11 p.m.-Midnight
Charlotte, N.C.
AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals Sunday, Oct. 5; 11 p.m.-Midnight
Dallas
NHRA Nationals Sunday, Oct. 12: 6-7 p.m.
Reading, Pa.
NHRA Toyota Nationals Sunday, Nov. 9; 1-2 p.m.
Las Vegas
Auto Club NHRA Finals Sunday, Nov. 23; 1-2 p.m.
Pomona, Calif.
* All times Eastern. Schedule subject to change. Please check local listings.
This story was originally published on February 7, 2014. 
