Bandimere Speedway’s Mile High Nationals isn’t the only thing to end when the final cars cross the finish line on Sunday. When the event concludes, it will also mark the end of the longest-running race sponsorship as the Dodge/Mopar brand will also end. 

The final edition of the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals is scheduled to take place from July 14-16, 2023, at the iconic Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado.

For the past 35 years, a Stellantis brand has sponsored the Mile-High Nationals, forging a solid partnership with NHRA and the Bandimere family, the owners of Bandimere Speedway, for 65 years. With the conclusion of the 2023 racing season, this year’s event will mark the final NHRA national event at Bandimere Speedway, as the track will be closing its doors.

Over the years, Dodge and Mopar have left an indelible mark on the drag strip known as “Thunder Mountain” and have received unwavering support from the passionate racing fans in Denver. To make the last event memorable, Dodge plans to showcase its high-performance muscle cars, including the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, a behemoth with a staggering 1,025 horsepower.

Leah Pruett, the defending Top Fuel Denver event champion and recent NHRA Norwalk winner, aims to defend her title in the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge Direct Connection dragster. Matt Hagan, the current Funny Car points leader, will also vie for victory in his Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car.

Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge brand, expressed his bittersweet sentiments about the conclusion of the sponsorship. Kuniskis also hoped to create more lasting memories at Bandimere Speedway during this final event.

“For decades, the Dodge brand has made magic at Thunder Mountain, racking up race wins and revealing new Dodge muscle cars, and while it’s bittersweet to see it end, we’re going to send out the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals with as much horsepower as is humanly possible,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “With the 1,025-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 on display, the seventh and final Dodge “Last Call” special-edition model, and with Leah and Matt battling to bring home the final event trophies, we’re hoping to make a few more memories at Bandimere Speedway as we celebrate the end of an era.”

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The Bandimere family, known for their innovations and contributions to the track, will also be part of the celebrations. John Bandimere Jr. acknowledged the deep-rooted partnership between Bandimere and the Dodge and Mopar brands, describing Dodge as a loyal family. Bandimere expressed gratitude for Dodge’s unwavering commitment to drag racing and the brand’s invaluable support throughout the years.

“Bandimere and the Dodge and Mopar brands have become synonymous with each other over the past 35 years,” said John Bandimere Jr. “Logos have changed, but the partnership and relationship is as strong today as it was in 1989 when the relationship started. The commitment Dodge has made not only to us as a facility but to the sport of drag racing is unparalleled and shows the deep-rooted commitment to performance that has spanned decades. Dodge and the people that work for the brand are more than sponsors; they are family. Family goes through the good times and tough times together and builds strength along the way. If there is one word that describes Dodge, it’s loyalty, and as a family, we have been blessed beyond measure.”

Glen Cromwell, President of NHRA, commended the Bandimere family for their 65 years of commitment to drag racing. He also acknowledged Dodge’s steadfast dedication to NHRA drag racing, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the historic facility and event as this chapter comes to a close. 

“We’re thankful for the Bandimere family for the longtime commitment they’ve shown to drag racing for 65 years,” Cromwell said. “There have been so many memorable moments at this event, and to have Dodge as the race sponsor of the NHRA Mile-High Nationals for 35 years also shows their great dedication to NHRA drag racing. We’re looking forward to celebrating this historic facility and event together as we close out this chapter of racing at Bandimere Speedway, and we also remain optimistic about future opportunities to work with the Bandimere family and continue NHRA Drag Racing in the Denver area.”

The beginning of the end for the 2023 Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway will commence on July 14, with two nitro qualifying rounds scheduled in the evening. Saturday’s qualification rounds will precede the final eliminations on Sunday, July 16. FOX network coverage of the event will air from 4:00-7:00 p.m. EDT.

The milestones created by Dodge at the Mile-High Nationals were also highlighted, showcasing the brand’s memorable achievements throughout the years. From historic wins to unveiling new muscle cars, Dodge has left an extraordinary legacy at Bandimere Speedway.

Additionally, Dodge unveiled the seventh and final Dodge “Last Call” special-edition model for the 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger lineup. This model commemorates the end of the current HEMI-engine-powered forms of the Dodge Challenger and Charger. The lineup also features beloved heritage exterior colors, including B5 Blue, Plum Crazy Purple, and Sublime Green.

NHRA MILE HIGH NATIONALS HIGHLIGHTS

·       2022: Leah Pruett drives Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel dragster to victory for TSR team’s first Top Fuel NHRA national win
·       2021: After a quest of more than a decade, Matt Hagan finally hoists Wally trophy in Denver, steering his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Funny Car to victory
·       2021: Factory Stock Showdown class makes its first appearance at the Mile-High Nationals
·       2019: Tommy Johnson earns his first-ever Denver win in a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
·       2018: Leah Pruett helps Dodge unveil new Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320, races Top Fuel dragster with “Angry Bee” 1320-themed livery to her first Top Fuel win at Denver
·       2018: Mile-High Nationals marks 30th year with a Stellantis brand as title race sponsor; Dodge brand assumes race title sponsorship
·       2016: Leah Pruett makes her debut as a Dodge/Mopar Top Fuel driver at Denver
·       2016: Allen Johnson wheels NHRA Pro Stock Dodge Dart to seventh career win at Bandimere Speedway in his 10th consecutive final round at “Thunder Mountain.”
·       2016: Mopar Mile-High Nationals is the first NHRA event telecast live to a national audience on FOX
·       2015: Dodge/Mopar driver Jack Beckman captures third career Funny Car win at Denver in Dodge Charger R/T
·       2015: Next Generation Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak makes first exhibition runs, with Bandimere Speedway General Manager/drag racer “Sporty” Bandimere piloting one of the Drag Pak race cars
·       2014: Dodge/Mopar Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson rules Thunder Mountain, seizes third-straight win and sixth in eight years at Bandimere
·       2009: Ron Capps scores his first Mile-High Nationals win in Dodge Funny Car
·       2008: “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Judy “Miss Mighty Mopar” Lilly help reveal the new Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak with side-by-side runs down Bandimere Speedway
·       2007: Allen Johnson takes Dodge Stratus Pro Stock car to first victory at Bandimere Speedway, Jack Beckman scores Funny Car win in all-Dodge Charger final round
·       2006: Gary Scelzi drives his Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to his first Denver event win
·       1994: Darrell Alderman takes Mopar Dodge Daytona Pro Stock to win
·       1991: Mike Dunn drives Dodge Daytona Funny Car to Mile-High Nationals victory
·       1991: Lori Johns breaks the five-second barrier with a 4.991 run at Bandimere
·       1989: Mopar and Dodge's brands begin primary sponsorship of Mopar Mile-High Nationals
·       1983: Frank Hawley wins Mile-High Nationals in Dodge Charger
·       1979: Randy Humphrey wins Mile-High Nationals in Pro Stock with Plymouth Volare
·       1979: Bob Glidden drives his Plymouth Arrow at the Mile-High Nationals for the first time
·       1978: First Mile-High Nationals, then the Sportsnationals held at Bandimere Speedway
·       1958: Bandimere Speedway opens

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