There aren’t too many drag-racing facilities that live to see 50, but Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, the only track remaining in Colorado that hosts top-level races, has found a way to survive.
As the state’s lone remaining big national event, this weekend’s Mile- High Nationals has kept Colorado in the American motorsports spotlight.
Thousands of drag-racing fans, many of whom have sped down the strip that the pros will be using, will fill the bleachers at Bandimere for the annual National Hot Rod Association event.
Four years ago, elite-level auto racing on the Front Range was in the fast lane, and up-and-coming drivers had opportunities.
In 2004, Colorado was one of the few states that hosted annual Champ Car and Indy Racing League events, plus NASCAR’s No. 2 national series, the best of American motorcycle road racing and the world’s top dirt-track series.
All are gone — as are the numerous support-series events they attracted, ones filled with locals — after the 2005 closures of Pikes Peak International Raceway and Rocky Mountain National Speedway, as well as the folding in 2006 of the Grand Prix of Denver.
“What we try to do is be very diversified,” said executive vice president and general manager John Bandi- mere III. “You know this week we have the national event. Next week is a truck event. The week after that is a junior event for kids ages 8 to 17.”
“Better chance of survival”
“We have things that cater to different markets, . . . which gives you a lot better chance of survival,” he said.
Trying to survive is a challenge for any racetrack. A year ago, owner John Bandimere Jr. was concerned about the need to expand his facility to meet industry standards. Also, he feared that the track’s future neighbors wouldn’t like the noise associated with drag racing.
However, Bandimere III, a third-generation manager, said the idea didn’t take off. Instead, the family remains content to improve the grounds and facilities.
“This is the only racetrack (on the tour) named after a family. I think just the fact it’s called Bandimere speaks volumes for what a family environment it is,” funny-car driver Jack Beckman said. “The flavor here is totally unique.”
Racing is all in the family
Grand Lake resident Tim Stensvad, his wife and two children all race at Bandimere, making the 180-mile round trip at least once a week, sometimes more.
Because of fuel costs, Stensvad said he has rented storage space at Bandimere for his race cars, eliminating the need to drive his diesel-fueled transport to the track.
Also, the family will make just one out-of-state race, after entering four last summer.
“To be honest, most of the racers we hang out with are private-business owners and stuff, so I guess we’re a little more well-off,” Stensvad said. “We definitely feel the pinch, but we’re not going without meals to race.”
The economy figures to slow down International Speedway Corp.’s attempt to build a NASCAR- style superspeedway near Denver International Airport. ISC bought and then closed PPIR to build the bigger track closer to Denver.
But as it is, the publicly owned company only took away one of the state’s top motorsports venues.
People “are missing out”
“All the big names don’t come in anymore, and you kind of overlook what we do have,” said Roger Avants, a five-time late-models champion at Colorado National Speedway, north of Denver. Avants, 56, and many of his peers at the speedway used to compete in smaller events at PPIR.
“It’s too bad. Auto racing is a really good program,” he said. “It brings a lot of money in, a lot of jobs. People around here are missing out.”
The Indy Racing League was scheduled to stop racing at PPIR in 2006, but the track still would have hosted its NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly Busch Series), the AMA superbikes and minor-league events.
“Any races we lose out nationally is like losing out on Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies or Avalanche playoff games,” Colorado National Speedway operator Scotty Backman said. “Racing, in general, loses out. It weakens the popularity of the sport.”
From a driver’s perspective, “you have to get noticed, get your name out there,” Backman said. “I know very little about the ISC track they’re trying to get built, but obviously if they get that built, it’s going to help guys like me.
“If you want to get noticed, you gotta race with the big boys.”
Fuel costs and travel budgets
Chris Eggleston is a young race-car driver at Colorado National Speedway looking to ascend to a national NASCAR series. But in a time of high fuel costs, a tighter travel budget to race out of state and diminishing opportunities to be noticed on the Front Range, Eggleston’s journey is akin to becoming an Eskimo in Hawaii.
The 19-year-old Colorado State University freshman dreams of making a name for himself in NASCAR, but the closest he gets to one of his idols is via television, and the only type of fuel he can put in his race car is nearly $8 a gallon.
“It’s a tough time right now, and it looks like it could get worse,” he said.
Before Eggleston developed his passion, popular Front Range tracks were shut down and nationally known drivers such as Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sebastien Bourdais and Steve Kinser quit passing through.
Fans lost the opportunity to attend elite races, and local drivers lost the chance to compete in events that coincide with the larger races and share the stage with the stars.
Also gone was the opportunity to mingle with the owners and sponsors looking for the next hotshot driver.
“Nobody looks at little tracks like (Colorado National Speedway) with no big tracks in the vicinity,” Eggleston said. “If a sponsor or scout is out looking, they’re out of town on the big tracks. We need one here.”
Sponsorships a challenge
Staying afloat in racing requires a sponsor, and that can be another challenge.
For the past 20 years, Mopar has remained a sponsor of Bandimere Speedway. The contract expires after this year, and Bandimere III said they are close to a deal to extend the contract through 2011.
“That speaks volumes, not only to the sport and the unique nature of that event in Denver, but Bandimere and how they treated the sponsor over the years,” NHRA vice president Jerry Archambeault said. “The sponsor wants to come back year after year and really wants to establish its name alongside that event.”
When the Grand Prix of Denver folded, one of the main reasons cited by organizers was it could not keep a title sponsor.
“When companies get involved — whether it’s a race car or event — they’re looking for a return on their investment,” Bandimere III said. “Obviously, from a Mopar standpoint, they’re looking to sell parts and cars. And so it’s very important that we work hard to have good promotions where you can retain those kinds of sponsors.”
Location, location, location
Location is important when it comes to running a successful racetrack, and that is another reason Bandimere III said he thinks the Grand Prix of Denver went under.
“You know, being downtown is tough,” he said. “It became an inconvenience for a lot of the business owners and things going on downtown, and people don’t like that.”
Backman is concerned about the fans at Colorado National Speedway as much as his racers, but he has not seen a decline in attendance at the Dacono track.
An adult grandstand seat for regular shows is $10 — “cheaper than it costs for a movie,” he said — but the cost for his racers continues to escalate, while the opportunity to advance is fading.
“This is about fun. Nobody makes any money, as far as racers go, at this level,” Backman said. “We’re looking out for the fans, but the racers too. I’ve been in this for 25 years, and I’ve seen the ups and downs of both sides.”
Yvette Lanier: 303-954-1033 or ylanier@denverpost.com
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Full-throttle weekend at speedway
Where: Bandimere Speedway
When: Today through Sunday
TODAY
Gates open: 9 a.m.; sportsman qualifying 10 a.m.; pro stock car/bike 4:45 and 7:15 p.m.; nitro funny car/top fuel 5:30 and 8 p.m.
SATURDAY
Pro qualifying, sportsman eliminations
Gates open: 8:30 a.m.; sportsman qualifying 9 a.m.; pro stock car/bike 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.; nitro funny car/top fuel 2 and 5 p.m.
SUNDAY
Final eliminations
Gates open: 8:30 a.m.; pre-race ceremonies 11 a.m.; final eliminations noon
Tickets: or 800-664-8946
