Courtesy: ESPN/NHRA
The NHRA has announced a change in its on-air lineup for the upcoming season of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Long-time pit reporter Dave Rieff has been named as the series newest anchor as it begins its thirteenth season on ESPN. He will host both broadcasts of the newly re-named Mello Yello series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
The NHRA’s new season begins with the 53rd running of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Winter Nationals next Thursday, February 14th – Sunday, February 17th. Qualifying will be aired same-day on ESPN2 at 10pm EST. Eliminations will be run same-day February 17th at 8pm EST. Those with ESPN3 will get to see qualifying and eliminations live via the network’s multi-screen live sports network. And anyone with a smartphone and/or tablet wil be able to catch all the coverage too on WatchESPN and the network’s WatchESPN app. Rieff will be joined in the broadcast by longtime NHRA analyst Mike Dunn, who is now in his twelfth year with ESPN. Also returning this season are fellow NHRA veteran broadcasters Gary Gerould, John Kernan, and Jamie Howe. Rieff commented on his new appointment, expressing his experience in working with his co-workers and with ESPN. “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,” he said. “People like Dave McClelland, Steve Evans, Bob Frey, Marty Reid, and Paul Page.”
Rieff went on to describe his appreciation and respect for those with whom he has worked. “Little did I know all those years ago I’d end up getting to know these great people and would get to work with them and glean as much knowledge as I could. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and hope to be able to take the best of the best from each of these men and bring it to the forefront,” he said of his co-workers. He went on to comment on fellow broadcaster Mike Dunn saying, “It’s always a great opportunity just to get to sit next to Mike and talk about drag racing”, he said. “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.”
A full listing of this season’s NHRA Mello Yello schedule is listed below.
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 |
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