Dunn Added to NHRA Broadcast Team
for 2002 ESPN Telecasts
By NHRA Communications
GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2002) - Veteran NHRA driver Mike Dunn will join the National Hot Rod Association's (NHRA) broadcast team in presenting the 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series on ESPN, it was announced today. Dunn, who has 22 NHRA national event victories to his credit during a career that has included stints in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, fills the vacancy left by departing race analyst Cruz Pedregon, who will return to Funny Car competition this season.
Dunn, 45, will join lead play-by-play announcer Marty Reid in the booth as the NHRA heads into the second year of a five-year partnership with ESPN. All 23 national events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2.
"We're pleased to have Mike join our broadcast team," said NHRA President Tom Compton. "Mike has a tremendous ability to relate his expansive knowledge about the sport to our viewers so that they can better understand the sport of drag racing. We're certain that Mike and Marty will compliment each other very well in the booth."
Dunn drove Funny Cars from 1981-'91 before moving to the Top Fuel ranks in 1992, where he spent the last eight seasons driving for Darrell Gwynn. Dunn showed his prowess early on claiming his first national event victory at Fremont, Calif. during his rookie campaign. Of his 22 career victories, he's earned 12 in Top Fuel and 10 in Funny Car. Last season he piloted the Yankees dragster to two victories en route to a fourth place finish in the points standings. Dunn routinely drove the fastest car on the circuit, recording the first pass in NHRA history at more than 331-mph. He also clocked six of the 10 fastest runs in NHRA history.
"I never thought I'd be doing television in 2002," said Dunn, who made several guest appearances as a race analyst during the 2000 season. "I'm just glad I can still be involved with the sport of drag racing. I've been around it all my life and I love the sport."
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 more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 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 Sportsman Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.
NHRA Communications
