The NHRA teams are currently amid one of their season's busiest and most challenging stretches, the western swing. The Salinas family has opted for a different kind of adventure as they leave their race shops in the Midwest and head west for races in Colorado, Washington, and California. Top Fuel driver Mike Salinas, his daughter Jianna Evaristo, a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider, and other family members have set off on a motorcycle road trip, temporarily escaping the daily demands of their business operations.

"This ride was something that we really wanted to do as a way to not focus on the business for a few weeks, but instead focus on our time together," said Mike Salinas. "All we have is time, and we know our businesses are in good hands while we are enjoying time on the road."

Bandimere Speedway, the iconic racing track located outside of Denver, Colorado, is set to close later this year. However, the family that owns the track is determined to build a new facility on a much larger plot of land. Owner John Bandimere Jr. told the Denver Post that his family plans to take a year off in 2024 before launching a new facility near Denver International Airport in 2025 reportedly ten times the size of the current location.

Bandimere, in the same article, emphasized that the main reason for the move is the need for more space and not encroaching residential development. The current 100-acre speedway, which has been in operation for 65 years, faces parking constraints that will become increasingly problematic after 2023. To address this issue, the family is considering two potential sites near DIA, totaling approximately 1,100 acres.

"We haven't had any room for parking," Bandimere told DenverPost.com. "We've been renting our neighbors' lots for parking, and they're under contract to sell also because there's so much development happening in the valley."

Kenny Bernstein understands that one little spark can turn into a raging inferno in no time. 

Bernstein, the revered drag racing legend who has seven world championships (six NHRA, one IHRA) to his credit, isn't making a drag racing comeback but is enjoying a few minutes of nitro ecstasy as he sits behind the wheel of Antron Brown's Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster during a Friday warm-up at 2:30 PM, CST during the Dodge Mile High Nationals outside of Denver, CO.

The most difficult part of the experience, Bernstein admits, will be to remind himself, this is only a one-time deal and racing again is not in the cards.

The bitter and divisive battle between rival sanctioning bodies ANDRA and IHRA Australia for control of Australian drag racing has flared again.

The latest skirmish concerns performance limitations and restrictions for Doorslammer, Pro Mod and sedan-type body classes.

The catalyst for the latest outbreak of hostilities came after a spate of major crashes last season including the death of Sam Fenech, one of the most popular and revered Doorslammer racers in Australia, at Willowbank Raceway in January.

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rookie Chase Van Sant will be competing in the class for the first time at the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, July 14-16.

However, Van Sant is no stranger to racing at the track outside of Denver.

“I think I raced there for three or four years when I was probably 12 to 13 until I was 15,” said Van Sant, 25. “I went last year working for Jerry (Savoie) and Karen (Stoffer). So, it was my first time back, yeah, for a little while.”

When Van Sant arrives riding a Suzuki for White Alligator Racing in Morrison, Colo., it will be a farewell for the Mile-High Nationals.

Veteran chassis builder Murf McKinney described him as the voice of reason in a sport where there have always been many voices.

Motorsports safety pioneer Arnold "Arnie" Kuhns, who dedicated his career to improving the safety and reliability of motorsports parts, passed away at the age of 83 on June 1. Kuhns, inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2002 and SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Hall of Fame in 2016, was widely recognized for his contributions to the industry.

"He had multiple engineering degrees but never told anybody," McKinney said. "Arnie always played the dummy in the room. Even though he had all these degrees, he had an abundance of common sense. There's not a meeting that didn't go by that he didn't say, 'At the end of the day, what's the right thing to do?" 

Camrie Caruso, the 2022 NHRA Rookie of the Year, is gearing up for the highly anticipated NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Tequila Comisario, Caruso's primary sponsor, is all set to host a special free fan event to promote their collaboration with the rising star of the NHRA. 

Future Energy Solutions (FES) Lighting, a national "lighting-as-a-service" provider, is making its foray into sports marketing by joining the Kalitta Motorsports corporate partner family. The partnership positions FES as a primary partner on Shawn Langdon's Top Fuel dragster, marking the company's first sports marketing endeavor.

Greg Carrillo, a Top Fuel owner/driver, is ready to roll into the 2023 season.

Carrillo will make his 2023 debut at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals on July 14-16 at Bandimere Speedway in his Top Fuel dragster, sponsored by Santiago’s Mexican Restaurant, a franchise based in Colorado.

“It’s really been a great thing to have their name on our car, because the people really jump up for the Santiago’s car,” Carrillo said. 

Damien Harris and the Rapisarda Autosport International team were awarded the prestigious Stan Sainty Cup as winners of the 2022/2023 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship in Darwin last June. Harris celebrated his third national Top Fuel win, having previously clinched the 2005 ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel Championship and the 2016 400 Thunder Top Fuel Championship.