WHAT: 13th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn. From Interstate 81 North, take Hwy. 11E. Take the Virginia Exit 3 and Hwy. 11E will take you directly to the dragway. From the I-81 South, take Tennessee exit 69 and go south on Hwy 394 directly to the dragway.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 14-16
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying, PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 5 and 7 p.m. and MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations, PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 2 p.m.; First round of eliminations at 4 p.m. and MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 16 – Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. and MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at noon.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 15, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours and 30 minutes of qualifying highlights at 7 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 16, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of coverage starting at 1 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 16, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of coverage starting at 11 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, June 14, 10 – 10:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 03C
Saturday, June 15, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 03C
Sunday, June 16, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 03C
(3760 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.