Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Top Fuel drag racer Leah Pritchett, celebrates her victory on stage at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Pritchett won the championship with an ET of 3.831 at 316.45 mph.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostCrew for Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett celebrate Pritchett's victory over Doug Kalitta, winning the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Pritchett won with an ET 0f 3.831 and a speed of 316.45.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson during his burnout at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostJohn Force's NHRA Funny Car crew celebrates after Force defeated Ron Capps to the win Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Top Fuel drag racer Leah Pritchett, right, and Funny Car driver John Force, left, celebrate their victories on stage at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Pritchett won the championship with an ET of 3.831 at 316.45 mph, Force defeated Ron Capps with an ET of 4.075 and at 315.42 mph.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Pro Stock drivers Greg Anderson, bottom, and Jason Line, top, charge of the start line in the final of the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Anderson won with an ET of 6.943 and a speed of 196.53
Andy Cross, The Denver PostMORRISON, CO - JULY 22: Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Hector Arana Jr., bottom, and Jerry Savoie, top, head up the quarter mile for the final of the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Arana Jr. won with an ET of 7.170 and a speed of 185.89. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Funny Car drivers John Force, bottom, and Ron Capps charge of the start line in the Funny Car final of the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Force won with an ET of 4.075 and a speed of 315.42 mph.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop Fuel drag racer Leah Pritchett, bottom, and Doug Kalitta, top, launch off the start line in the Top Fuel final at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Pritchett won the championship with an ET of 3.831 at 316.45 mph.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostDrag racing fans look down track during the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Top Fuel drag racer Blake Alexander and crew in the staging lanes during prayer and National Anthem at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostA track worker uses a mop to clean up the quarter mile at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostDrag racing fans head down the quarter mile for the traditional Track Walk before racing began at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop Fuel drag racer Brittany Force greets fans during pre-race ceremonies at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostNHRA Funny Car driver Jonnie Lindberg climbs into his race car in the staging lanes at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostDrag racing fans wait for NHRA Funny Car driver Robert Hight to pass down the staging lanes at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostCrew members for NHRA Top Fuel dragster Blake Alexander in the staging lanes at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop Fuel dragsters stage and head down track during the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop Fuel drag racer and crew pause for the National Anthem at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018.
MORRISON, CO - JULY 22: Top Fuel drag racer Leah Pritchett, right, high-fives a crew member during pre-race ceremonies at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver PostFunny car drivers Ron Capps, left, and Courtney Force got head to head off the start line during qualifying for the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostPro stock motorcycle rider Karen Stouffer during her burnout at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostPro stock motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. heads down track at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostA crew member for stock driver Mathew Hartford hops out of the way during Hartford's burnout at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostFunny Cars line up in the staging lanes at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver PostFunny car driver John Force takes off the start line during Friday night qualifying for the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop fuel drag racer Leah Pritchett during her burnout on her second run. Pritchett took the top qualifying spot with an ET of 3.806 and speed of 317.19 at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostFans enjoy the first day of the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop fuel driver Brittany Force launches off the start line during qualifying at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostFunny car driver Tim Wilkerson takes off from the start line at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostSafety crews carry funny car driver Cruz Pedregon's fiberglass top to his car off the track after it blew off following an engine explosion at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018. Both driver and fans were uninjured in the incident.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostFunny Car driver John Force heads down track during qualifying at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway on July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostPro stock motorcycle rider Angie Smith takes off during the first round of qualifying at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostFunny Car driver Cruz Pedregon's fiberglass top to his car blew off after an engine explosion at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018. Both driver and fans were uninjured in the incident.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostTop fuel driver Brittany Force launches off the start line during qualifying at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway on July 20, 2018.
Top fuel driver Terry McMillen's engine blew up at the start line racing Mike Salinas during qualifying at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 20, 2018. McMillen was not injured in the incident. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
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NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Leah Pritchett, celebrates her victory on stage at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2018. Pritchett won the championship with an ET of 3.831 at 316.45 mph.
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By Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The 39th annual Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals kick off at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison Friday, July 20, 2018. The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues through the weekend, concluding with the finals on Sunday.
