{"id":997784,"date":"2023-07-18T03:06:02","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T10:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=997784"},"modified":"2023-07-18T20:24:26","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T03:24:26","slug":"nhra-drag-racing-photos-bandimere-speedways-nhra-mile-high-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/bangshift1320\/nhra-drag-racing-photos-bandimere-speedways-nhra-mile-high-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"NHRA Drag Racing Photos: HAGAN, MILLICAN, COUGHLIN JR. & HERRERA WIN IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD AT FINAL EVENT AT BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY’S NHRA MILE-HIGH NATIONALS"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Photos by Kim Fuller) This weekend was the final Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway and thanks to Kim Fuller we’ve got a few galleries of photos from this iconic event. We race at Bandimere each year for Rocky Mountain Race Week, and this place will always have a special place in my heart because of it. Below you’ll find full results from the race along with our first gallery. Check them out.<\/p>\n

DENVER (July 16, 2023) \u2013\u00a0Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan picked up the victory for Tony Stewart Racing at the final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series race at Bandimere Speedway, powering past Alexis DeJoria in the final round on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd at the 43rd Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals.<\/p>\n

Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the 10th of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. It was also the third straight sellout crowd to close out racing at Bandimere Speedway.<\/p>\n

After winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge specialty race on Saturday, Hagan made it a memorable clean sweep on Thunder Mountain, going 4.135-seconds at 304.25 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Dodge Direct Connections Charger SRT Hellcat to defeat DeJoria. It is Hagan\u2019s fourth victory this season and 47th in his career, as well as his second career win at Bandimere Speedway.<\/p>\n

Hagan knocked off Chris King and defending world champ Ron Capps to reach the final round, getting past DeJoria \u2013 which was the same string of opponents he beat in Denver in 2021 \u2013 to finish off a truly incredible weekend for the points leader. At his sponsor\u2019s race, Hagan picked up his 50th No. 1 qualifier, won the specialty race on Saturday and made the final winning run down Thunder Mountain on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I need to go buy a lottery ticket honestly, it’s one of those weekends that’s just magical,\u201d said Hagan, whose points lead grew to 45 over Capps. \u201cI’ve been up here close to 15 years racing a fuel Funny Car, and to think that you’re not going to come back here \u2013 and then walk away with the Wally and the extra special trophy from the Bandimere family, to have the #2Fast2Tasty check, my 50th No. 1 qualifier. Just so many milestones and things to remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing and such an emotional weekend. Just being here and seeing all these fans every time we make a run, it\u2019s something I\u2019ll never forget. It\u2019s just a super special weekend and just incredible. I\u2019m very, very blessed to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeJoria reached her third final in 2023 and 15th in her career by defeating Chad Green, Cruz Pedregon and J.R. Todd.<\/p>\n

In Top Fuel, Millican held off Doug Kalitta in the final round, earning his second victory of the season in his 11,000-horsepower Parts Plus\/Rick Ware Racing dragster with a run of 3.872 at 299.60 in the final round. Sunday was only the second time Millican advanced out of the first round this season, but the veteran has won both races he\u2019s done so, picking up his first win earlier this season in Chicago. He replicated that in Denver in front of a massive crowd during eliminations, starting the Western Swing off with his first career victory at Bandimere Speedway.<\/p>\n

Millican got past Tony Schumacher, Mike Salinas and Shawn Langdon to reach the final round, scoring his fifth career victory and one that will stand with him for a long time. He also moved to 10th in points.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you race Doug Kalitta, you can’t leave anything on the table,\u201d Millican said. \u201cMan oh man, what this group has done. We had not won a single round until Chicago. What do we do, we win the race. So when we won first round here, I’m like, we’re winning the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s pretty amazing what (crew chief Jim Oberhofer) has done. When he gets it, he just does it over and over and over. I just can’t believe how good this was. It was exactly like Chicago \u2013 the only way for me to lose this race was for me to do something wrong. Thank the man upstairs, I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just incredible what happens when the first-round win light comes on. You hold a Wally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalitta, who was seeking his 50th career win, reached his first final round of the year thanks to round wins against Terry Totten, Josh Hart and Steve Torrence. Justin Ashley stayed in the points lead with a 54-point advantage over Torrence.<\/p>\n

Like Hagan, Coughlin also swept the final weekend in Pro Stock at Bandimere Speedway, thrilling the capacity crowd on Sunday and defeating points leader Dallas Glenn in the final round with a pass of 6.933 at 196.64 in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro. Coughlin won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, following it up with a dynamic performance in eliminations, defeating Aaron Stanfield, Greg Anderson and reigning world champ Erica Enders to reach the finals.<\/p>\n

He posted an impressive .015 reaction time against Glenn, slipping past him for his second win this season and fourth in Coughlin\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an exciting day to come out here and get a win,\u201d Coughlin said. \u201cYou just take it one run at a time. We\u2019ve got the best people in the industry at Elite Motorsports. They all work together and we have excellent power. I just had to stay focused. This is one of my favorite facilities and it\u2019s an absolute honor just to be here.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fun part of NHRA championship drag racing is the excitement level like that final, that’s what packs the stands and makes you come back. You hope for situations like that and you practice all the time and it’s an obsession, you love it and you can’t stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glenn reached his sixth final round this year by driving past Chris McGaha, Kyle Koretsky and Camrie Caruso. His points lead stands at 202 over Matt Hartford.<\/p>\n

Herrera returned to form on Sunday in Pro Stock Motorcycle, picking up his fourth win of the year on his Vance & Hines\/Mission Foods Suzuki with a run of 7.103 at 187.73 to beat Angie Smith in the championship round. After struggling on Friday, Herrera performed at a high level the rest of the weekend, beating Chris Bostick, defending world champ Matt Smith and rookie Chase Van Sant to reach the final round. A. Smith went red in the finals, but Herrera would have been difficult to beat with his second straight run of 7.10 on Sunday.<\/p>\n

After a dominant start to the season, the points leader struggled \u2013 at least by his standards \u2013 in back-to-back races. But Herrera made another strong statement in his first race ever at a packed Bandimere Speedway.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad we bounced back here, especially in front of all these fans at Bandimere Speedway,\u201d said Herrera, who now leads Arana Jr. by 219 points. \u201cThese fans are incredible and this whole weekend has been amazing. I\u2019m glad I\u2019m able to add my name to the list of people from Vance & Hines who have won here. It was an adjustment for sure, but the bike was running good all weekend. It makes my job a little easier when you have a bike like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to bounce back from (the last two races) here, of all places, it’s an amazing feeling. It’s a shame to see it go but I’m just glad to put my name as part of the last to ever win here in Pro Stock Motorcycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

A. Smith reached the finals for the second time this year and seventh overall by defeating Jianna Evaristo, Eddie Krawiec and No. 1 qualifier Hector Arana Jr.<\/p>\n

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action July 21-23 with the second race of the famed Western Swing, the Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

DENVER — Final finish order (1-16) at the 43rd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.\u00a0The race is the 10th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.<\/p>\n

TOP FUEL:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Clay Millican; 2.\u00a0Doug Kalitta; 3.\u00a0Steve Torrence; 4.\u00a0Shawn Langdon; 5.\u00a0Josh Hart; 6.\u00a0Antron Brown; 7.\u00a0Rob Passey; 8.\u00a0Mike Salinas; 9.\u00a0Tony Schumacher; 10.\u00a0Leah Pruett; 11.\u00a0Austin Prock; 12.\u00a0Buddy Hull; 13.\u00a0Terry Totten; 14.\u00a0Justin Ashley; 15.\u00a0Brittany Force; 16.\u00a0Greg Carrillo.<\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Matt Hagan; 2.\u00a0Alexis DeJoria; 3.\u00a0Ron Capps; 4.\u00a0J.R. Todd; 5.\u00a0John Force; 6.\u00a0Robert Hight; 7.\u00a0Cruz Pedregon; 8.\u00a0Terry Haddock; 9.\u00a0Chad Green; 10.\u00a0Tim Wilkerson; 11.\u00a0Alex Laughlin; 12. Steven Densham; 13. Bob Tasca III; 14.\u00a0Chris King.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Troy Coughlin Jr.; 2.\u00a0Dallas Glenn; 3.\u00a0Camrie Caruso; 4.\u00a0Erica Enders; 5.\u00a0Kyle Koretsky; 6. Jerry Tucker; 7.\u00a0Matt Hartford; 8.\u00a0Greg Anderson; 9.\u00a0Aaron Stanfield; 10.\u00a0Chris McGaha; 11.\u00a0Bo Butner; 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 13.\u00a0Cristian Cuadra; 14.\u00a0Fernando Cuadra; 15.\u00a0Deric Kramer; 16.\u00a0Mason McGaha.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Gaige Herrera; 2.\u00a0Angie Smith; 3.\u00a0Chase Van Sant; 4.\u00a0Hector Arana Jr; 5.\u00a0Eddie Krawiec; 6. Matt Smith; 7.\u00a0Marc Ingwersen; 8.\u00a0Ryan Oehler; 9.\u00a0Chris Bostick; 10.\u00a0Steve Johnson; 11.\u00a0Lance Bonham; 12. Kelly Clontz; 13.\u00a0Jianna Evaristo.<\/p>\n

TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Justin Ashley; 2.\u00a0Austin Prock; 3.\u00a0Brittany Force; 4.\u00a0Leah Pruett.<\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Matt Hagan; 2.\u00a0Bob Tasca III; 3.\u00a0Ron Capps; 4.\u00a0J.R. Todd.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Troy Coughlin Jr.; 2.\u00a0Aaron Stanfield; 3.\u00a0Dallas Glenn; 4.\u00a0Matt Hartford.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Matt Smith; 2.\u00a0Steve Johnson; 3.\u00a0Hector Arana Jr; 4.\u00a0Jianna Evaristo.<\/p>\n

MORRISON, Colo. — Sunday’s final results from the 43rd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. The race is the 10th of 21 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:<\/p>\n

Top Fuel — Clay Millican, 3.872 seconds, 299.60 mph\u00a0def. Doug Kalitta, 4.454 seconds, 211.23 mph.<\/p>\n

Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.135, 304.25\u00a0def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 4.217, 251.34.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock — Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.933, 196.64\u00a0def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.949, 195.62.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 7.103, 187.73\u00a0def. Angie Smith, EBR, Foul – Red Light.<\/p>\n

Super Stock — Scott Burton, Pontiac Firebird, 10.043, 125.42\u00a0def. Jay Storey, Chevy Camaro, 9.502, 143.22.<\/p>\n

Stock Eliminator — John Brimer, Ford Mustang, 9.561, 141.24\u00a0def. Norman Warling, Pontiac Catalina, 11.646, 113.05.<\/p>\n

Super Comp — Dale Maher, Dragster, 9.485, 167.99\u00a0def. Luke Shumard, Dragster, 9.471, 167.97.<\/p>\n

Super Gas — Norman Brungardt, Chevy Camaro, 10.502, 159.63\u00a0def. Mark Price, Ford, Foul – Red Light.<\/p>\n

Super Street — Dan Smith, Chevy Camaro, 11.505, 142.82\u00a0def. Richard Larson, Chevy Corvette, 11.481,<\/p>\n

145.70.<\/p>\n

Top Sportsman — Bri Bergh, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.125, 195.68\u00a0def. Kelly Land, Chevy Corvette, 7.304, 187.76.<\/p>\n

Top Dragster — Josh Herman, Dragster, 7.925, 169.66\u00a0def. Kevin Burnett, Dragster, 7.441, 177.60.<\/p>\n

Mountain Motor Pro Stock — Chris Vang, Chevy Camaro, 6.690, 207.08\u00a0def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.739, 206.83.<\/p>\n

MORRISON, Colo. — Final round-by-round results from the 43rd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 10th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:<\/p>\n

TOP FUEL:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Josh Hart, 3.905, 302.69 def. Leah Pruett, 3.905, 321.65; Antron Brown, 3.823, 322.65 def. Buddy Hull, 4.006, 299.53; Rob Passey, 4.128, 280.19 def. Brittany Force, 5.080, 141.62; Doug Kalitta, 3.876, 307.44 def. Terry Totten, 4.043, 292.52; Mike Salinas, 3.850, 320.13 def. Austin Prock, 3.912, 313.51; Clay Millican, 3.840, 322.65 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.889, 309.13; Steve Torrence, 3.817, 325.69 def. Justin Ashley, 4.431, 244.34; Shawn Langdon, 3.891, 307.37 def. Greg Carrillo, 5.081, 150.77; QUARTERFINALS — Langdon, 4.041, 304.25 def. Passey, 4.127, 271.95; Kalitta,<\/p>\n

3.860, 315.64 def. Hart, 3.878, 317.49; Millican, 3.868, 312.06 def. Salinas, 6.321, 99.66; Torrence, 3.903, 292.14 def. Brown, 3.943, 292.84;<\/p>\n

SEMIFINALS — Millican, 3.859, 314.39 def. Langdon, 4.009, 268.76; Kalitta, 3.861, 318.77 def. Torrence, 3.885, 301.81;<\/p>\n

FINAL — Millican, 3.872, 299.60 def. Kalitta, 4.454, 211.23.<\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 4.571, 204.32 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 5.689, 122.87; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.026, 320.20 def. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.731, 180.62; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.041, 312.35 def. Chris King, Charger, Broke; Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.086, 305.91 def. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.596, 212.19; Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 4.029, 303.84 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.174,<\/p>\n

292.58; Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 4.089, 314.61 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.201, 305.36; J.R. Todd, Supra, 4.051, 316.82 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.462, 206.01;<\/p>\n

QUARTERFINALS — DeJoria, 4.818, 224.06 def. Pedregon, 5.887, 120.44; Todd, 4.037, 320.05 def. Force, 4.073, 304.12; Capps, 4.066, 314.61 def. Hight, 4.931, 178.64; Hagan, 4.280, 232.39 was unopposed;<\/p>\n

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 4.107, 303.64 def. Capps, 4.057, 308.85; DeJoria, 4.245, 301.67 def. Todd, 4.383, 209.82;<\/p>\n

FINAL — Hagan, 4.135, 304.25 def. DeJoria, 4.217, 251.34.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Jerry Tucker, Chevy Camaro, 7.038, 195.76 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 7.040, 195.48; Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.969, 196.24 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.998, 196.33; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.931, 196.62 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 7.005, 195.08; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.922, 195.14 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 7.249, 195.53; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.950, 196.04 def. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 7.036, 195.11; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.931, 196.76 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.949, 196.93; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.925, 195.62 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.955, 196.73; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.915, 196.93 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 7.004, 195.39; QUARTERFINALS — Caruso, 6.962, 196.02 def. Hartford, 6.989, 195.68; Glenn, 6.934, 195.56 def. Koretsky, 6.941, 196.70; Coughlin Jr., 6.937, 197.28 def. Anderson, 10.315, 88.22; Enders, 6.946, 196.53 def. Tucker, 6.948, 196.70;<\/p>\n

SEMIFINALS — Coughlin Jr., 6.944, 197.05 def. Enders, 6.972, 195.96; Glenn, 6.930, 195.59 def. Caruso, 6.958, 195.96;<\/p>\n

FINAL — Coughlin Jr., 6.933, 196.64 def. Glenn, 6.949, 195.62.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Angie Smith, 7.187, 187.11 def. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, Broke; Marc Ingwersen, 7.217, 185.51 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.176, 186.43 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 13.590, 57.50; Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 7.148, 188.12 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.309, 182.50; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 7.135, 187.13 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Hector Arana Jr, 9.554, 91.82 was unopposed; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 7.098, 187.91 def. Chris Bostick, Foul – Red Light;<\/p>\n

QUARTERFINALS — Arana Jr, 7.159, 187.21 def. Ingwersen, 7.235, 183.89; A. Smith, 7.217, 186.10 def. Krawiec, 7.176, 187.94; Van Sant, 7.192, 185.84 was unopposed; Herrera, 7.143, 186.72 def. M. Smith, 7.190, 186.43;<\/p>\n

SEMIFINALS — A. Smith, 7.217, 187.03 def. Arana Jr, 11.259, 74.94; Herrera, 7.109, 187.73 def. Van Sant, 7.166, 187.73;<\/p>\n

FINAL — Herrera, 7.103, 187.73 def. A. Smith, Foul – Red Light.<\/p>\n

MORRISON, Colo. — Point standings (top 10) following the 43rd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 10th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series –<\/p>\n

Top Fuel<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Justin Ashley, 758; 2.\u00a0Steve Torrence, 704; 3.\u00a0Leah Pruett, 653; 4.\u00a0Brittany Force, 632; 5. Austin Prock, 619; 6.\u00a0Antron Brown, 591; 7.\u00a0Mike Salinas, 560; 8.\u00a0Josh Hart, 539; 9.\u00a0Doug Kalitta, 537; 10.\u00a0Clay Millican, 490.<\/p>\n

Funny Car<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Matt Hagan, 800; 2.\u00a0Ron Capps, 755; 3.\u00a0Alexis DeJoria, 679; 4.\u00a0Robert Hight, 668; 5.\u00a0Chad Green, 629; 6.\u00a0Bob Tasca III, 618; 7.\u00a0Tim Wilkerson, 544; 8.\u00a0John Force, 542; 9.\u00a0J.R. Todd, 482; 10.\u00a0Cruz Pedregon, 456.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Dallas Glenn, 831; 2.\u00a0Matt Hartford, 629; 3.\u00a0Troy Coughlin Jr., 627; 4.\u00a0Deric Kramer, 584; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 532; 6.\u00a0Erica Enders, 516; 7.\u00a0Greg Anderson, 498; 8.\u00a0Camrie Caruso, 492; 9.\u00a0Cristian Cuadra, 437; 10.\u00a0Kyle Koretsky, 425.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Gaige Herrera, 672; 2.\u00a0Hector Arana Jr, 453; 3.\u00a0Steve Johnson, 390; 4.\u00a0Angie Smith, 388; 5. Eddie Krawiec, 384; 6.\u00a0Matt Smith, 375; 7.\u00a0Chase Van Sant, 335; 8.\u00a0Jianna Evaristo, 273; 9.\u00a0Marc Ingwersen, 258; 10.\u00a0Ryan Oehler, 229.<\/p>\n

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