Most surprising performance
Tony Schumacher’s 331.45 mph final-round winning run in 2005. That’s just 5 mph slower than the world record, set by Schumacher in Columbus, Ohio, in May 2005. They aren’t supposed to come close to world-record speeds at Bandimere, but Schumacher did it that day in the final race of the event.
Worst accident
Don Gay Jr. in 1989. The young funny-car driver, running in the left lane, lost consciousness after pancaking the left wall. His car glided through the finish line in unspectacular fashion, but then his car drifted into the right lane in the shut-off area, caught fire and exploded, tearing most of the car’s body away. Gay was rescued and suffered only minor burns.
Most successful drivers or riders
Top fuel – Joe Amato (six wins)
Funny car – John Force (five)
Pro stock – Bob Glidden (seven)
Pro stock bike – Matt Hines (four)
Did you know?
The junior dragster program for children ages 8-17 at Bandimere has created three local racers who will be competing in this year’s sportsman events. They are Gery Lockman and Danny Grunninger in competition eliminator and Cody Crispe in super street. Also, defending top-fuel event champion J.R. Todd and pro stock drivers Erica Enders and Ritchie Stevens went through various junior dragster programs and raced at Bandimere.
Why is Bandimere among the NHRA’s top events?
It’s old, but racing is unique because of Colorado’s thin air – and the track’s landscape is beautiful, with its infrastructure built into a rock formation known as “Thunder Mountain.” The track will celebrate its 50th anniversary at next year’s 29th Mile-Highs.
By the numbers:
4 – Generations of Bandimeres that have worked at the track
4.58 – Joe Amato’s 1999 track-record run in seconds
7 – Women competing in the four professional classes (Melanie Troxel and Hillary Will in top fuel; Ashley Force in funny car; Erica Enders in pro stock; Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer and Peggy Llewellyn in pro stock bike)
130 – Track temperature when the air is 90 degrees
7,000 – Horsepower top fuel and funny cars are capable of producing
Mile-High time
The 28th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals, the 13th of 23 events in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series.
Where: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison. The track is 10 miles west of Denver.
When: Friday through Sunday.
Purse: $1.2 million.
Schedule: Top fuel, funny car, pro stock, pro stock motorcycle. Friday: 4:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Saturday: 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Sunday: Eliminations begin at noon.
Tickets: Order tickets by phone at 800-664-UWIN. Tickets also are available online at.
Reserved seats: Includes pit pass. Friday: adult, $37-$47; junior (12 and under), $15-$20. Saturday: adult, $37-$47; junior, $15-$20. Sunday: adult, $45-$55; junior, $20-$25.
Last year
Winners: J.R. Todd, top fuel; Gary Scelzi, funny car; Dave Connolly, pro stock; Andrew Hines, pro stock motorcycle.
Track records
Top fuel: 4.584 seconds, Joe Amato, July 1999; 331.45 mph, Tony Schumacher, July 2005.
Funny car: 4.796 seconds, Robert Hight, July 2005; 322.58 mph, Hight, July 2005.
Pro stock: 7.062 seconds, Jason Line, July 2006; 195.65 mph, Line, July 2006.
Pro stock motorcycle: 7.332 seconds, Chip Ellis, July 2006; 186.54 mph, Ryan Schnitz, July 2005
National records
Top fuel: 4.428 seconds by Tony Schumacher, November 2006, Pomona, Calif.; 336.15 mph, Schumacher, May 2005, Columbus, Ohio
Funny car: 4.659 seconds, Tony Pedregon, February 2007, Chandler, Ariz.; 333.66 mph, Jack Beckman, November 2006, Pomona, Calif.
Pro stock: 6.536 seconds, Greg Anderson, March 2007, Gainesville, Fla.; 211.69 mph,
Jason Line, March 2007, Gainesville, Fla.
Pro stock motorcycle: 6.901 seconds, Matt Smith, May 2007, Madison, Ill.; 197.45 mph, Andrew Hines, March 2005, Gainesville, Fla.
