WHAT: 29th annual Auto-Plus® NHRA Nationals, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Maple Grove Raceway, Mohnton, Pa. Track is located off the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Exit 298), 10 miles south of Reading, Pa.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 3-6
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying. MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 5 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations. MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 6 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Oct. 5, ESPN News will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 11:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 3:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Oct. 4, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 1C
Saturday, Oct. 5, 6 – 6:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 1C
Sunday, Oct. 6, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 1C
(3720 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.