MOTOR SPORTS - Verizon IndyCar Series, NHRA Drag Racing and AMA Pro Motocross
The Verizon IndyCar Series streaks into June with race action airing from Fontana, California on ESPN and LIVE action from Texas and Toronto on ESPN2. If there was any doubt, the season opened with three different champions in three different races, proving that fans are in for another highly-competitive season. Colombia´s Juan Pablo Montoya won at the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Canada´s James Hinchcliffe at NOLA Motorsports Park and New Zealand´s Scott Dixon at Long Beach, setting a pace that promises top-flight racing all season long.
In addition to Dixon, a three-time series past champion, and Montoya, other skilled drivers back to again challenge for the series title include the Brazilian duo of Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan, France´s Simon Pagenaud and Sebastien Bourdais, U.S. talent and 2012 series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, and defending series champion Will Power of Australia.
ESPN/ESPN2 present season coverage of the Verizon IndyCar Series airing LIVE, on short-turnaround and taped.
Schedule: LIVE coverage
June 6 08:00pm Firestone 600 - Ft. Worth, TX
June 14 03:00pm Honda Indy Toronto - Toronto, ON, Canada
June 27 09:00pm MAVTV 500 - Fontana, CA (S)
(S) Short-turnaround
Lightning quick action is what it’s all about - NHRA Drag Racing continues on ESPN/ESPN2
A weekend at the races is pure adrenaline, topped off with a big dose of speed and swagger. The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues on ESPN/ESPN2 in June, as supercharged Top Fuel dragsters and multi-colored Funny Cars hit the track for some fuel-injected thrills. The 18-race regular season sets the stage for the season-ending Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoffs between the top 10 drivers in each class.
Reigning world champion Tony Schumacher is after a ninth world championship, but faces a tough lineup of Top Fuel challengers led by former champions Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon, as well as Spencer Massey and Doug Kalitta. In Funny Car, defending champion Matt Hagan knows he’ll have to race sharp if he hopes to stay ahead of Del Worsham and Robert Hight, as well as keep top rival John Force from claiming a record 17th championship.
ESPN/ESPN2’s season coverage of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series includes both qualifying (generally on Sundays) and race day action; final eliminations are featured at each stop. Races air on short-turnaround. June racing airs from New Hampshire and Tennessee on ESPN, with ESPN2 featuring the Toyota NHRA Summernationals airing from Englishtown, New Jersey on the 8th at 7:00pm
June features more AMA Pro Motocross on ESPN/ESPN2
Motocross racing continues in June on ESPN/ESPN2 with more coverage from the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the top level of professional motocross racing. Defending series champion Ken Roczen of Germany is again expected to challenge for the title, but will surely have his hands full with a lineup of serious rivals led by two-time past champion Ryan Dungey, a trio of top finishers last season – Trey Canard, Brett Metcalf and Eli Tomac - and, if he can get a questionable suspension lifted, 2008 series champion James Stewart.
Racing this month makes stops at the Tennessee National, High Point National and at one of the series most popular events, the Budds Creek National. The 12-round series continues through August with stops at Spring Creek and Unadilla, among others, before wrapping at the Indiana National on August 22.
ESPN and ESPN2 present season coverage, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround, throughout the season. One-hour highlight programs air weekly. Races from Tennessee and Pennsylvania air on ESPN this month, with ESPN2 spotlighting the Budds Creek National on June 27 at 7:00pm.