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KNAC (96.9 FM) and KHDR (94.9 FM) are radio stations licensed toLenwood and Baker, California. Owned by The Drive, LLC, a joint venture between Heftel Broadcasting Company and Point Broadcasting, they broadcast an active rock format branded as Pure Rock KNAC. Similarly to sister station KRXV, the stations serve the Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 corridors, targeting travelers from California to Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada.
Both stations signed on in 2002 as "The Drive", with the call signs KHDR on 96.9 and KHRQ on 94.9. In 2004, KHWZ (100.1 FM) in Ludlow, California, which had previously carried Highway Country, switched to "The Drive". KHWZ went silent on February 25, 2011.
In early 2017, parent company KHWY, Inc. filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the Highway Stations — KHDR and KHRQ, plus The Highway Vibe (KRXV, KHWY, KHYZ) and Highway Country (KIXW-FM, KIXF) — were put up for auction. Heftel Broadcasting won the auction with a $620,000 bid, with Educational Media Foundation having offered $525,000 for just KRXV and KHYZ. Point Broadcasting would maintain a 32.3% minority stake in the stations.[3]
In 2018, the Drive stations switched formats from mainstream rock to adult hits. On December 26, 2020, the stations returned to rock.[4]
Syndicated programming on KHDR and KHRQ included, by February 8, 2021, The Woody Show weekday mornings.[5] The Drive stations are affiliates of the Vegas Golden Knights radio network.[6] One of KHDR's syndicated shows (by March 2024) was Highway Rock, hosted by former KNAC DJ Gonzo Greg. Similar to KNAC, it broadcast musical genres ranging from classic rock to hard rock and heavy metal music.[5][7]
2025年2月12日、KHDRとKHRQは「ハイウェイロック」にブランド名を変更し、KHYZのHD3サブチャンネルでの同時放送を開始した。この期間のブランディングでは、ラスベガス地域をカバーするサブチャンネルが強調された。[ 8 ]
2025年8月6日、KHRQはロサンゼルスのオリジナルKNACに敬意を表してコールサインをKNACに変更し、変更を宣伝するためにレイバーデーの祝日に1980年代と1990年代のクラシックロックの「ピュアロックリワインド」ウィークエンドを開催した。[ 9 ] [ 10 ] 1か月後、KNACとKHDRのコールサインが交換された。2025年10月、両局は2025年10月31日に「ピュアロックKNAC」としてリブランディングすると発表した。[ 11 ]