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Last NHRA national event at facility will be Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals on July 14-16 during track’s 65th anniversary season
MORRISON, CO – April 21, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – NHRA and the Bandimere family have jointly announced that the 2023 Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals on July 14-16 at Bandimere Speedway will be the last NHRA national event at the historic track just outside of Denver.
For the past several years, the Bandimere family has also been proactive in their efforts to locate another possible location in the Denver area where a new facility could be built. They’ve worked with investors on a possible new track and facility location, with the goal being a short hiatus in the area and the continuation of NHRA drag racing in Denver.
First opened in 1958, the Bandimere family has agreed to sell the current property and land, with the 2023 racing season marking the end of drag racing at the Morrison, Colo. location.
“Our family has been involved in the automotive business for the past three generations through parts sales and machining, individual racing competition, industry innovations and the operation of our speedway in the beautiful Colorado foothills,” states John Bandimere Jr., second-generation owner and operator. “We have been blessed to occupy one of the most unique places in our state and feel that our commitment to the sport is not done yet. It’s part of the fabric of our family’s life and we’re hopeful that another equally unique location can be found to continue the legacy that was started by my parents over six decades ago.”
The 2023 season is the 65th anniversary of Bandimere Speedway, with a special celebration set to take place during the 43rd and final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals on July 14-16.
As this chapter of drag racing history ends at the legendary facility, NHRA and the Bandimere family invites racers and fans to be part of the last NHRA Mile-High Nationals.
The NHRA leadership team also continues to have conversations with current NHRA member tracks not on the Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit to host future national events, including replacing the Denver date on the 2024 schedule.
“We at the NHRA want to thank the Bandimere family for their remarkable commitment to drag racing over the past 65 years,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “NHRA drag racing at Bandimere Speedway has provided so many incredible moments for our drivers, race teams, fans and partners. We look forward to celebrating the 65th anniversary this year to close out this chapter at Bandimere Speedway and remain optimistic about future opportunities to have NHRA drag racing stay in the Denver area and to continue to work with the Bandimere family in the future.”
For more than four decades, the place affectionately known as “Thunder Mountain” has offered one of the biggest and most unique challenges on the NHRA tour. With competitors racing at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet, it affects everything from engine tune-ups to aerodynamics, posing a major test each year for drivers and race teams. Racing in the Rocky Mountains has also provided some of the biggest thrills of the season, with the standout fanbase annually packing Bandimere Speedway to see all the top NHRA stars over the years.
The Bandimere family has also been dedicated to providing a memorable experience for race teams and fans on Thunder Mountain, making several improvements to the track, including a renovation in 1988. Before the 2008 season, the entire track was also redone, creating an all-concrete surface and the installation of the track cooling system for the first 330 feet which greatly improved racing action at the facility.
John Force’s eight wins in Denver is the most for all drivers, while Bob Glidden and Allen Johnson’s seven wins lead the way in Pro Stock. Joe Amato’s six wins are the top in the Top Fuel ranks at Denver, and Andrew Hines’ five Pro Stock Motorcycle victories are the most for the class in Denver. Last year’s NHRA Mile-High Nationals winners were Leah Pruett (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
“This year’s Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals will be a memorable celebration of more than 40 years of NHRA drag racing at a historic facility,” Cromwell said. “We know the race weekend in July will be filled with amazing moments and will be an event fans won’t want to miss.”
To purchase tickets to the 43rd and final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals on July 14-16 at Bandimere Speedway, fans can visit www.bandimere.com. For more information on the NHRA, please visit www.nhra.com.
About Camping World Holdings, Inc.
Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy, and our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of associates serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 42 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destinations for everything RV. For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com
About NHRA
Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Source: National Hot Rod Association
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