Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Features

Rieff Named NHRA TV Anchor; Dunn Returning as Analyst

espn (1)NHRA will enter the 2013 season with a new anchor on its ESPN telecasts and a fresh approach to the television coverage of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.  The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season opens Feb. 14-17, with the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Dave Rieff (far left), who has been a pit reporter since ESPN began its NHRA coverage in 2001 and a staple of NHRA television for 17 years, will move into the anchor announcer position for the 2013 season. In addition to hosting coverage of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Rieff will continue his lead role on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts.

Joining Rieff in calling the action from the booth will be former NHRA racer Mike Dunn (above right), who is beginning his 12th year with ESPN as a color analyst for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Gary Gerould will return as a pit reporter at all 24 events. Veteran announcer John Kernan, who joined the NHRA telecast team in 2007, will split pit reporter and trackside duties with Jamie Howe. Howe has served as a pit reporter for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts since 2011 and this year she will increase her presence in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series telecasts.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series viewers can anticipate a fresh approach to the telecasts in 2013. As ESPN and NHRA constantly work together to bring viewers the highest-quality coverage, programs will capture even more of the drama of NHRA, showcase the stars of the sport, and incorporate new format changes to both the qualifying and race day telecasts.

ESPN will look to deliver more stories and analysis on the strategy of the sport, a stronger focus on head-to-head matchups and more technical pieces.  The stars of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing will be showcased with all-access wired segments, features on the drivers and the development of power rankings in the categories. ESPN and NHRA also will work to make more use of social media platforms during the telecasts.

In all, ESPN will dedicate more than 110 hours of original programming to the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the world’s quickest, fastest and most intense motorsport, on a same-day basis.

NHRA and ESPN will experiment with live coverage of qualifying and finals during the year. The first weekend to feature live racing action is the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals from Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, April 27-28. The final session of qualifying will air live on Saturday, April 27, from 3-5 p.m. (ET).  In addition, NHRA and ESPN will telecast live on Sunday, joining the racing action beginning with the semifinals in the professional categories. The Sunday telecast will be begin at 2 p.m. (ET) on April 28.

The prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 28 – Sept. 2, will again feature 11 hours of wall-to-wall coverage including complete coverage of final eliminations on Monday, Sept. 2, from noon to 6 p.m. ET.

All telecasts will air in high definition on ESPN2HD or ESPNHD.  ESPN2/ESP2NHD and ESPN/ESPNHD are available in nearly 100 million households nationwide. The telecasts will feature competition from all four classes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The NHRA will be televised on NHRA 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 on the American Forces Network.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

(Photo courtesy NHRA.com/National Dragster)

 

2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Television Schedule

 

Event                                                                                                    Air Time (ET), Date

 

O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals              Qualifying, 10 p.m.– Midnight, Sat., Feb. 16

presented by Super Start Batteries                                Eliminations, 8–11 p.m., Sun., Feb. 17

Pomona, CA

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

NHRA Arizona Nationals                                                                Qualifying, 1-2:30 a.m., Sun., Feb. 24

Phoenix, AZ                                                                            Qualifying re-air, 8-9 a.m., Sun., Feb. 24

Eliminations, 8-11 p.m., Sun., Feb. 24

 

 

Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals                                             Qualifying, 1:30-3 a.m., Sun., March 17

Gainesville, FL                                                                        Qualifying re-air, 8-9 a.m., Sun., March 17

Eliminations, 7-10 p.m., Sun., March 17

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

 

 

SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals                                        Qualifying, 10 p.m. – Midnight, Sat., April 6

Las Vegas                                                                                            Eliminations, 11 p.m. – 2 a.m., Sun., April 7

 

 

NHRA Four-Wide Nationals                                                         Qualifying, 5–7 p.m., Sat., April 20

Charlotte, N.C.                                                                                  Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sun., April 21

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

 

 

O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals                             Qualifying, 3-5 p.m., Sat., April 27

presented by Super Start Batteries                                          Eliminations, 2-5 p.m., Sun., April 28

Houston

 

 

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals      Qualifying, 8-10 p.m., Sat., May 4

Atlanta                                                                                                 Eliminations, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Sun., May 5

 

 

 

NHRA Kansas Nationals                                                                 Qualifying, 5 – 7 p.m., Sat., May 18

Topeka, Kan.                                                                                      Eliminations, 8-11 p.m., Sun., May 19

 

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

Toyota NHRA Summernationals                                                Qualifying, 5-6 p.m., Sat., June 1 (ESPN)

Englishtown, N.J.                                                                             Qualifying, 1-2 a.m., Sun., June 2

Eliminations, 4:30–7 p.m., Sun., June 2

 

 

 

Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals                                     Qualifying, 7–9 p.m., Sat., June 15

presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers                             Eliminations, 1-3 p.m., Sun., June 16

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Bristol, Tenn.                                                                                     Eliminations, 11 p.m. – Midnight, Sun., June 16

 

 

 

NHRA New England Nationals                                                    Qualifying, 8-10 p.m., Sat., June 22

Epping, N.H.                                                                                       Eliminations, 7-10 p.m., Sun., June 23

 

 

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals                      Qualifying, 5-7 p.m., Sat., June 29

presented by Super Start Batteries                                          Qualifying, 11 p.m. – Midnight, Sat., June 29

Chicago                                                                                                Eliminations, 9 p.m. – Midnight, Sun., June 30

 

 

 

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals                          Qualifying, 6 – 8 p.m., Sat., July 6

Norwalk, Ohio                                                                                   Eliminations, 7 – 10 p.m., Sun., July 7

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals                                             Qualifying, 10 p.m. – Midnight., Sat., July 20

Denver                                                                                                 Eliminations, 6 – 9 p.m., Sun., July 21

 

 

 

NHRA Sonoma Nationals                                                              Qualifying, 7 – 9 p.m., Sat., July 27 (ESPN)

Sonoma, Calif.                                                                                   Eliminations, 8 – 11 p.m., Sun., July 28

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

 

O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals                  Qualifying, 10:30 p.m. – Midnight, Sat., Aug. 3

presented by Super Start Batteries                                          Eliminations, 8 – 11 p.m., Sun., Aug. 4

Seattle

 

 

 

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals                                                              Qualifying, 11 p.m.–1 a.m., Sat., Aug. 17

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Brainerd, Minn.                                                                                Eliminations, 9 p.m. – Midnight, Sun., Aug. 18

 

 

 

NHRA U.S. Nationals                                                                       Qualifying, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Sun., Sept. 1

Indianapolis                                                                                        Qualifying, 5–7 p.m., Sun., Sept. 1

Eliminations, Noon–6 p.m., Mon., Sept. 2

 

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

NHRA Nationals                                                                                Qualifying, TBD

Charlotte, N.C.                                                                                  Eliminations, 8:30–11:30 p.m., Sun., Sept. 15

 

 

 

AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals                                                   Qualifying, TBD

Dallas                                                                                                    Eliminations, 8:30 –11:30 p.m., Sun., Sept. 22

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

 

AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals                              Qualifying, TBD

St. Louis                                                                                               Eliminations, 8 – 11 p.m., Sun., Sept. 29

 

 

 

Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals                                                           Qualifying, TBD

Reading, Pa.                                                                                       Eliminations, 8 -11 p.m., Sun., Oct. 6

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

 

 

 

NHRA Nationals                                                                                Qualifying, TBD

Las Vegas                                                                                            Eliminations, 8 – 11 p.m., Sun., Oct. 27

 

 

 

Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals       Qualifying, TBD

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Pomona, Calif.                                                                                   Eliminations, 7–10 p.m., Sat., Nov. 10

 

 

 

* All telecasts on ESPN2 except where noted.  All times Eastern.  Schedule subject to change, please check local listings.

This story was originally published on February 6, 2013. Drag Illustrated

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

News

The star-studded STREET OUTLAWS: No Prep Kings series is set to return for its 6th season in the summer of 2023. Fans can expect to...

News

Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings star and renowned engine builder Pat Musi joined the recent episode of The Wes Buck Show and provided an update...

News

Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings star Lizzy Musi announced today that she has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer via her Youtube channel....

News

Tony Christian, one of the pioneering drivers of the Pro Street movement, passed away Thursday, June 9. Christian was infamous for his battles with...

Since 2005, DI has informed, inspired and educated drag racers from every walk of the racing life - weekend warrior and street/strip enthusiasts to pro-level doorslammer and Top Fuel racers. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-worthy videos to electric live events, DI meets hundreds of thousands of racers where they live, creating the moments that create conversations.