For one of the first times in the 13-year exclusive relationship between ESPN and the NHRA, ESPN2 will showcase live coverage from both Saturday qualifying and Sunday eliminations. The live programming will feature action from this weekend’s NHRA SpringNationals near Houston, TX.
Television coverage will begin with a live show on Saturday, April 27 from 3-5 pm (ET), showcasing the final round of qualifying from the event. On Sunday, April 28, the ESPN2 telecast will begin at 2 pm (ET). Highlighting the three-hour Sunday telecast will be live coverage of both semifinal and final rounds from the event. The first two sessions will be featured on a very short tape-delayed basis, but ESPN2 intends to catch the race day action live, beginning with semifinal action in Pro Stock Motorcycle. From there, the ESPN2 cameras will stay with the racing action as teams advancing to the final round will be on a short-turnaround time.
The time between rounds will make the pit stops between semi- and final rounds among the most intense and exciting in all of motorsports as teams service their race vehicles and return to the starting line. According to NHRA officials, ESPN and NHRA will work together to evaluate the success of this weekend’s live telecasts and consider additional live telecasts in the future.
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