CHEVROLET AT DENVER
What: Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals
When: Friday, July 19-Sunday, July 21
Where: Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado
TV: FOX will telecast eliminations and finals live at 3 p.m. ET July 21
Chevrolet drivers go to great heights in search of more wins
Team Chevy drivers head to ‘Thunder Mountain’ to kick off Western Swing
DETROIT (July 17, 2019) – On July 22, 2018, John Force claimed his National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) record-extending 149th victory at Bandimere Speedway. Though he’s come close to reaching another milestone, No. 150 has eluded the hall of fame driver.
The 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion returns this weekend to the racetrack in Morrison, Colorado, with both eyes on the prize in the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
Force, driver of the PEAK High Mileage Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, has eight Funny Car wins and owns the Funny Car speed record of 328.30 mph at the racetrack that has hosted drag racing for 40 years.
“I missed that shot at 150 in Epping (New Hampshire, two weeks ago) but we’re headed to Denver this weekend and I’m excited to get back,” said Force, who has one runner-up finish and seven semifinal appearances in the 13 races this season. “I have a great race car, a great team and it’s coming. Now, I just have to do my job in the driver’s seat but I’m confident and ready.”
He is second to teammate Robert Hight (Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS) in the championship standings. Hight has posted four wins and a pair of second-place finishes.
The event kicks off the Western Swing, which also includes Sonoma Raceway in California (July 28) and Pacific Raceways in Seattle (August 4). Only five races remain in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season, so every point is important in the drive to a high seed or just to qualify for the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
“The Auto Club team has been working really hard all season long and I’m looking forward to showing what we’re made of heading into this three in a row,” Hight said. “The Countdown isn’t far now.”
At 5,816 feet above sea level, Bandimere Speedway annually gives teams and drivers an altitude adjustment. The high elevation affects engine tuning, aerodynamic set-up and car handling in addition to its mental impact on drivers.
The Pro Stock category rejoins the Mello Yello campaign for the next three races. Bo Butner, winner of four of the seven events in the Jim Butner Auto Chevrolet Camaro SS, is the runaway points leader. KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) is the defending race winner, and the four-time Pro Stock champion has three victories overall at “Thunder Mountain.”
Entered in Super Stock this weekend in their Chevrolet COPO Camaros are Todd Patterson of Augusta, Kansas, and Richard Bierie of Acworth, Georgia. Dan Fletcher of Churchville, New York, will drive his COPO Camaro in Stock Eliminator competition.
FOX will telecast eliminations and finals live at 3 p.m. ET July 21.
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, CARQUEST BRAKES CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (2017 class champion; four-time No. 1 qualifier; won at Houston; runner-up at Las Vegas and Atlanta; fourth in points): “Epping was a tough weekend for this Advance Auto Parts team but we’re halfway through the season and I know we’re headed in the right direction. We had last weekend off and we’re ready to get after the Western Swing. These next three races are important. The three in a row gives us the chance to move up in points, build good momentum and keep our head in the game. I like jumping right back into the seat. The Countdown is right around the corner and we’re looking for another championship. I’ll be running new colors and a new look with Carquest this weekend, so I’m excited about that too.””
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (Making 13th start; No. 3 qualifier at Kansas, a career best, and advanced to semifinals for first time): “We didn’t have the outcome we were looking for in Epping and got beat in the first-round again. The last two events before that we were beaten too but we’ve had good enough numbers to beat any other competitor in those rounds. The past couple weekends haven’t shown our potential, but our car has been putting up competitive numbers, so I know we’ll get things figured out. I’m looking forward to this next race in Denver and seeing what we can do.”
FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (2017 class champion; class points leader; has won four races and has six No. 1 qualifier honors): “We didn’t end our weekend in Epping like we wanted to but we kept the points lead so I’m happy with that. You know, it’s tough, we have a new car, my guys built a new chassis before heading to New England, so there’s some things we need to figure out but I’m more than confident in this team and I know we’ll get things turned around for Denver and this Western Swing. We had another week off and everyone has been hard at work. I was in Indy at the shop and I’m just really impressed with everyone. I’m excited to see what we can do and to get Auto Club back in the winner’s circle.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK HIGH MILEAGE MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 149 class victories; two-time No. 1 qualifier this season; seven-time semifinalist; eight-time winner at track; holds track Funny Car speed record, set in 2017): “We’re all ready to start the Western Swing and get to Denver. Bandimere has always been a good track to me. I’ve won there a few times and last year got my 149th win, so maybe 150 will come this weekend, we’ll see. All of our sponsors have been great and I’m hoping we can get them in the winner’s circle this weekend.”
PRO STOCK:
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has won four of the seven races and two-time No. 1 qualifier; 2017 series champion; first in points): “Denver will be different, it always is, but I look for us to be better on the Western Swing than we were in Norwalk a few weeks ago. Our Pro Stock Chevy Camaro got better along the way, but it wasn’t quite where it should be, and that’s going to change. We’ve got some cool racing ventures still ahead of us this season, but I’d like to get back to the momentum we had going in Pro Stock.”
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has been to 100 Pro Stock final rounds; 2018 runner-up at track; third in points): “The season really starts now for us, and it’s time to get it done. I’m excited about going back to racing again, and I love going to Denver. It’s a great racetrack, the Bandimeres run the facility really well, and it’s just a fun place to go. We’ll take our Summit Racing Chevy Camaros up there and try to rub on the tune-up as best we can. The key will be paying attention to details. Hopefully, that will put us up front.”
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (2018 winner and three-time winner overall at track; fourth in points): “We left Norwalk a few weeks ago knowing our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros were fast. Unfortunately, things haven’t happened as we thought they would yet, but our focus is on performing at this next three races and coming home with a great reward. We all want that trophy, and this is a three-in-a-row opportunity to do it. Denver is a tough nut to crack, but we’ve done it before, and we have every reason to believe we can do it again. We’ve had some time to prepare for this stretch out West. Hopefully, we start the second half of the season even stronger than we started the first.”
JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Phoenix; two-time winner and three-time runner-up at track): “I’m excited to resume the title chase with my Elite teammates. What better place to get back into the swing of things than Bandimere Speedway? It’s one of my favorite tracks on the NHRA tour and definitely one of the most picturesque of them all. Plus, we have a long relationship with the Bandimere family and just love coming here.”