NHRA Carolina Nationals 2015: Start Time, Drivers, TV Schedule and More
The NHRA starts up its six-race Mello Yello Series Countdown to the Championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday for the NHRA Carolina Nationals.
Some of drag racing's best drivers from all different categories will get a chance to start the first event of the countdown on the right foot.
Let's take a look at the start times and TV schedule, and who to watch for at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.
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When: Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20
Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina
Watch: ESPN2 or ESPN3
TV Schedule
| Friday, Sept. 19 | 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. | ESPN2 | Qualifying |
| Saturday, Sept. 20 | 12 p.m.-6 p.m. | ESPN3.com | Eliminations |
| Saturday, Sept. 20 | 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. | ESPN2 | Eliminations |
Event Schedule
| Friday, Sept. 18 | 8 a.m. | Sportsman Qualifying |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | 3:15 p.m. | Pro Stock Qualifying |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | 4 p.m. | Nitro Qualifying |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | 5:30 p.m. | Pro Stock Qualifying |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | 6 p.m. | Nitro Qualifying |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | 8 a.m. | Sportsman Eliminations |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | 12:45 p.m. | Pro Stock Qualifying |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Nitro Qualifying |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | 3 p.m. | Pro Stock Qualifying |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | 3:45 p.m. | Nitro Qualifying |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | 6:15 p.m. | Sportsman Eliminations |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 12 p.m. | Nitro Eliminations- Round 1 |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 1 p.m. | Pro Stock Eliminations- Round 1 |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 2 p.m. | Nitro Eliminations- Round 2 |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Pro Stock Eliminations- Round 2 |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 2:45 p.m. | Sportsman Eliminations- Semifinals |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:35 p.m. | Pro Stock Eliminations- Semifinals |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:40 p.m. | Nitro Eliminations- Semifinals |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 4:25 p.m. | Sportsman Eliminations- Finals |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 4:40 p.m. | Pro Stock Eliminations- Finals |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 4:45 p.m. | Nitro Eliminations- Finals |
While the Sportsman category is filled with full-bodied vehicles that have 51 participants, the Fuel Funny car and Pro Stock classes will have less than 20 drivers respectively competing.
Let's take a look at the drivers set to vie for the title in those two categories:
| Erica Enders | Matt Hagan |
| Jason Line | John Force |
| Shane Gray | Tommy Johnson Jr. |
| Allen Johnson | Courtney Force |
| Jonathan Gray | Robert Hight |
| V Gaines | Tim Wilkerson |
| Chris McGaha | Ron Capps |
| Larry Morgan | Cruz Pedregon |
| John Gaydosh Jr. | Tony Pedregon |
| Kenny Delco | Dave Richards |
| Vincent Nobile | Bob Gilbertson |
| Greg Anderson | John Hale |
| Bo Butner III | Jack Beckman |
| Drew Skillman | Shane Westerfield |
| Alan Prusiensky | Del Worsham |
| Baron Stroupe | Alexis DeJoria |
| Alex Laughlin | Chad Head |
All eyes are going to be on reigning Funny Car champion Matt Hagan, who needed solid performances in the Mello Yello Countdown to take home the title in 2014. Once again, he is looking up at his teammate Jack Beckman, who has 30 points on him for first place.
But Hagan isn't panicking and knows that movement is inevitable in the countdown, as he told NHRA.com:
"The Countdown is chaotic. You have six races to make it happen, and you never know how it’s going to turn out. I know what it’s like to dig myself up to that No. 1 spot. You just have to depend on your guys and have trust in what you’re doing.
"
On the Pro Stock side, last year's champion, Erica Enders, won't have any climbing to do like Hagan. She holds a 30-point lead over Greg Anderson entering the countdown.
Enders has been on point as of late with victories in her last two events at the Traxxas Nitro Shootout and Lucas Oil Nationals.
She looks to keep the good times rolling, per Geiger Media Global:
"We want to carry that momentum. You want to start off the Countdown on the right foot. These are the six most important races of the season. You have to have as little parts failure as you can. You have to change things out more frequently than you would have before just to stay ahead of the game.
"
With tight chases in these two categories, race fans are about to be introduced to another countdown filled with white-knuckle racing and plenty of drama. Unlike many other sports, the solution to a championship is plain and simple—just be faster than the driver next to you.
Stats courtesy of NHRA.com
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