NHRA Eliminations Rounds to Air Live on ESPN360.com

Fans of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will have a new opportunity to enjoy exclusive, live coverage of the sport as ESPN360.com will stream eliminations rounds from the final six events of the 2008 season. ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband television network, is providing the first-ever live streaming of NHRA eliminations rounds.

The new coverage will be in addition to ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD’s same-day coverage of qualifying and eliminations from each of the 24 events in the series. Coverage begins with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at the new zMax Dragway @ Concord, located adjacent to Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday, Sept. 14, and will include all events in the NHRA’s Countdown to 1 playoffs.

“ESPN360.com is defining itself as the home for live sports online, and a place that serves sports fans of all kinds,” said Damon Phillips, vice president, ESPN360.com. “Adding live coverage of the NHRA elimination rounds fits perfectly with that vision.”

ESPN360.com’s coverage airs from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. local time for each event and will include the same production values and camera shots as the ESPN2 coverage. Lead announcer Paul Page, analyst Mike Dunn and pit reporters Gary Gerould, John Kernan and Dave Rieff will call the action.