Race teams are always challenged by the high altitudes and tricky track conditions when NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series unloads at Bandimere Speedway for the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals. As the opening event for the NHRA Western Swing, crews have to battle an overall lack of downforce as well as reduced performance as engines try to make power in thinner air.
John Bandimere Sr. purchased a parcel of land to the west of Denver in the Hogback that leads up to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains back in 1958. His family had an auto parts business in the area and felt that a drag strip would boost sales and augment their income. Situated at 5800-feet above sea level, the track is one of three NHRA national dragstrips that feature an all-concrete racing surface.
Thunder Mountain has a proprietary track cooling system that is unique to the drag racing industry. The system at Bandimere lies in the concrete launch pad and circulates chilled water from a pair of 12k gallon underground tanks through over 15,000 foot of lines in the launch pad area. Recent upgrades have included lighting on both sides of the track to create one of the best lit pieces of pavement on the circuit.
Leah Pruett Scores First Top Fuel Win for TSR
The Mile-High Nationals are famous for upsets, especially in Top Fuel Nitro. With that said, one of the sport’s most popular NHRA drivers has been getting a little closer each national weekend to providing her husband and team boss of Tony Stewart Racing the team’s first ever Top Fuel win. Missing in action for a couple of days, TSR team owner Tony Stewart arrived in Denver late Saturday night after winning the SRX event at I-55 Raceway in Missouri.
Leah Pruett finished Saturday’s qualifying in third place behind Justin Ashley and Number One qualifier Brittany Force. Enroute to her final round matchup with Shawn Langdon, Pruett outpaced Antron Brown, Clay Millican, and Justin Ashley. On the other side of the ladder, Langdon eliminated Greg Carrillo, points-leader Mike Salinas, and Josh Hart. Driving the Dodge Power Brokers dragster, Pruett posted a 3.844 ET at 316.38 mph to claim her first win of the season and tenth of her career.
Robert Hight Claims Fifth Victory of 2022 Season
Defending Mile High Nationals Funny Car champion Matt Hagan showed up race ready at Bandimere Speedway. Hagan topped the field on Friday and Saturday in qualifying to earn Number One qualifier entering the elimination rounds. After Hagan drew a favorable round one matchup against Jack Wyatt, the TSR driver nailed the tree but almost immediately had to pedal his Dodge Power Brokers ride. However, Hagan could never get hooked up with the track.
Robert Hight, another main contender and the Number Two qualifier at Denver, reached the final round for the seventh time in 2022 by eliminating Terry Haddock, JR Todd, and teammate John Force. Bob Tasca III had defeated Chad Green, Ron Capps, and Jack Wyatt to reach his second straight final round. Continuing his incredible season Hight posted a 4.065 ET at 311.92 mph in his Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS. The win extends Hight’s point lead to 95 points.
UP COMING:
DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series continues the West Coast Swing next weekend when teams return to action on July 22-24 with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway in California.
