NHRA Sport Compact telecasts announced

NHRA XPLÔD SPORT COMPACT RACING SERIES TELECASTS TO BE SHOWN DURING ESPN2 GARAGE

GLENDORA, Calif. (March 30, 2006) -- The NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series will be returning to ESPN2 for the 2007 season with a dynamic programming package that will comprise part of the motorsports-oriented ESPN2 Garage.

The season will be showcased in eight race telecasts and eight Stylefest telecasts that will air back-to-back on ESPN2, during its ESPN2 Garage, a block of 19 different shows dedicated to the automotive and motorsports world. Two of the shows will be "King of the Strip," a reality drag racing game show hosted by NHRA POWERade Series husband and wife racers Melanie Troxel and Tommy Johnson, Jr., and also "P.I.P.E.S," which involves sport-tuner cars. ESPN2 is available in 91 million homes.

This full hour of NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series telecasts will provide the enthusiast of the series with prime-time viewing. The telecasts will be shown during three consecutive Tuesdays in July and five consecutive Tuesdays in October.

"The 2007 TV schedule offers consistent airing during the months of July and October for fans to capture the exciting on and off track action," said Josh Peterson, general manager of the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series. "We want to thank ESPN2 for inviting us to join the ESPN2 Garage programming. This shows that we are making great progress in recognition within the world of motorsports."

Eight NHRA Xplôd series races will be shown in one-half hour telecasts. The telecasts will include the pro-category eliminations (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Hot Rod, Modified, and Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor). Included in the racing telecasts will be the finals of the sportsman categories (Urbanracer.com Sport FWD, Sport RWD, BFGoodrich Tires Street Stock, and Quick 16).

"We believe that a consistent schedule at this part of the day will allow young fans to find and enjoy this exciting style of racing," said Frantz Cayo, ESPN director of motor sports programming. "We recognize the interest that exists in all forms of drag racing and are pleased to present this programming for out viewers."

In addition to the Xplôd Sport Compact Racing telecasts, ESPN2 will be dedicating eight separate original telecasts for the NHRA Xplôd Stylefest. The Stylefest will include NHRA Tuner Car Show, which offers the best sport compact show cars, the Modified Magazine NHRA Bikini Xhibition, concerts by today's hottest artists and other extreme sports exhibitions.

Each of the eight NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series telecasts and the eight NHRA Xplôd Stylefest telecasts will be produced by Zboy Entertainment. Within these telecasts Zboy Entertainment will be emphasizing the stars of the series and developing coverage that builds upon years of motorsports production.

Returning to the announcing booth will be Kenny Sargent, co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show "SpeedFreaks," and experienced drag racing announcer Bruno Massel. Joining Sargent and Massel in the booth in 2007 is Amanda Amann. She has been a producer and writer on various shows for BET, CNN and MTV. Amann says she is looking forward to her new experience with the NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series because she has a deep love and interest in cars.

The NHRA is the premier sanctioning body for sport compact drag racing. It is presenting the 11-race, $2.5 million NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series at nine tracks across the country from March through October. The series features the largest guaranteed sport compact event purse of more than $27,000 paid out per event. In addition, the series offers a year-end championship fund of $144,000, along with more than $2.1 million in contingency payouts.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Xplôd Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, and the NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

-credit: nhra