DENVER – Boasting one of the most unique challenges in motorsports, legendary Bandimere Speedway once again plays host to the upcoming 42nd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals as the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to Thunder Mountain on July 15-17.
It is the 11th of 22 races during the 2022 season, as the NHRA reaches the halfway mark of the year and kicks off the famed three-race NHRA Western Swing that also includes stops at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and Pacific Raceways in Seattle.
The race at Bandimere Speedway has been considered a special event for more than four decades, with competitors racing at an elevation of nearly 6,000-feet in front of a packed house in Denver. The elevation affects everything from engine tune-ups to aerodynamics, posing one of the biggest challenges of the year, but racing in the Rocky Mountains also provides some of the biggest thrills of the racing season. This year, fans will get to enjoy the excitement of 330-mph racing under the lights on Thunder Mountain, four rounds of qualifying and then final eliminations on Sunday.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the 2021 event, and this year’s race be broadcast on both the FOX broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including live eliminations coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 17 on FOX.
Torrence has won the last two Top Fuel races in Denver, showing his skills on Thunder Mountain with victories in 2021 and 2019. The four-time defending world champ will look to continue his dominant Denver run with yet another victory, which would give him his first win of the season. Everyone is currently chasing Mike Salinas, who took over the points lead in Norwalk and has rattled off four wins in 2022. He has championship aspirations, as does Brittany Force, who has three wins this year, three-time race winner Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, 2018 winner Leah Pruett, veteran Doug Kalitta, Justin Ashley, who has two wins this year, Josh Hart, and Clay Millican.
Funny Car’s Hagan finally cashed in at Denver a year ago, winning a race that had been on his bucket list for years. The three-time world champ has been impressive this year as well, winning three races and holding the points lead for the bulk of the season. But Robert Hight took over the lead with a win in Norwalk, his fourth of the season, and the standout will aim for a fifth Denver victory. Others to watch include eight-time race winner John Force, defending world champ Ron Capps, Alexis DeJoria, Bob Tasca III, two-time race winner Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, and J.R. Todd.
Pro Stock returns to Denver and Bandimere Speedway for the first time since 2019 and everyone is chasing points leader Erica Enders, who has been on a dominant run to open the 2022 season. The four-time world champ has five wins thus far and will look for her first career win on Thunder Mountain. Trying to prevent that are a host of title contenders, including reigning world champ Greg Anderson, who is after career win No. 100, Aaron Stanfield, who has two wins this season, Gainesville winner Dallas Glenn, Kyle Koretsky, rookie Camrie Caruso, local resident Deric Kramer and Bo Butner.
Smith went 13 years between Denver wins, but the defending world champ in Pro Stock Motorcycle impressed last year with his victory. He’ll look to keep rolling on Thunder Mountain and pick up his second win of 2022. But Smith will have his hands full against a loaded lineup that includes rival and points leader Steve Johnson, who has never won in Denver, Norwalk winner Angelle Sampey, Angie Smith, four-time race winner Eddie Krawiec, Joey Gladstone, Jerry Savoie, and Gainesville winner Karen Stoffer.
The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the Mile High No Time Big Tire Shootout. After nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday, fans can enjoy a spectacular jet car racing exhibition featuring the Team “Muy Caliente” Jet Cars and the Earthflight Jet Dragster. There will be a special fireworks display after racing on Friday and Saturday as well. The race also features the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League shootout, with eight young drivers competing for the win.