ESPN2 Finals at?? 1 or 1:30am

[DLB]

earlier broadcast = more expensive, better viewership(better sponsor exposure)
harder to pre-empt scheduled shows before or after nhra race because those shows have all the same reasons to be on that the nhra show does; not
to mention which direction the money is moving between espn and show.

later broadcast = less expensive, less viewership(exposure), easier to
pre-empt as network may have 'repeat' broadcasts scheduled allowing for
easier manipulation of schedule (i.e. live final rnds. a couple of weeks ago)

just my best guesses at what might be happening at espn

Makes sense to me.
Honestly - for reasons that you (Mike) mentioned that's why I like to see the 7:00pm shows rather than the better time slots. Sure, it doesn't really help our sport get exposure, but it makes a better broadcast for us. Catch-22.

Hard to complain when you want it both ways and just aren't going to get it, right now.

DLB