Plot Synopsis

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series aired exclusively on ESPN networks from 2001 through 2015, its 15th season on ESPN. In July 2015, the NHRA and ESPN mutually agreed to end their television coverage agreement following the 2015 season -- one year earlier than five-year contract that took effect in 2012. Days later, NHRA and FOX Sports officials jointly announced today that starting in 2016 the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be televised by FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with four events airing on the FOX national broadcast network during each season of the long-term agreement. The agreement calls for FS1 to provide coverage of Friday and Saturday qualifying and Sunday eliminations for each NHRA Mello Yello Series event, with a minimum of 16 Sunday eliminations shows to be presented in a live coverage format, and the remainder shown either in weekend afternoon or primetime time slots. Four of those live elimination shows will air on the FOX national broadcast network. The Sunday elimination shows will consistently be presented in three-hour programs and the Friday/Saturday qualifying shows will be two-hours of coverage. In addition, FS1 and FS2 will provide multiple re-airs for all of the events. FS1 also will provide coverage of select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Sportsman Series events. In total, FOX national networks will feature more than 450 hours per year of NHRA programming.