Owners of family-owned track selling the current property near Denver that houses the facility, considering building a new facility.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule will have a new look to its schedule next year after it was announced on Friday that the 2023 Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals will be the last event at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., near Denver.
Bandimere Speedway opened in 1958. The Bandimere family is selling the current property and is working with investors on a possible new track and facility location, and one day returning to the NHRA calendar.
The last Mile-High event at Bandimere is slated for July 14-16. The event will mark the NHRA’s 43rd Mile-High Nationals.
The loss of Bandimere coupled with the loss of Phoenix from next year’s schedule means that the NHRA will be looking at other venues for 2024 or the possibility of reducing the number of races on next year’s calendar.
“Our family has been involved in the automotive business for the past three generations through parts sales and machining, individual racing competition, industry innovations and the operation of our speedway in the beautiful Colorado foothills,” said John Bandimere Jr., second-generation owner and operator, in a press release. “We have been blessed to occupy one of the most unique places in our state and feel that our commitment to the sport is not done yet. It’s part of the fabric of our family’s life and we’re hopeful that another equally unique location can be found to continue the legacy that was started by my parents over six decades ago.”
As for the 2024 schedule, the NHRA is still hopeful of replacing Bandimere and Phoenix.
The NHRA confirmed to Autoweek that its leadership team continues to have conversations with current NHRA member tracks not on the Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit to host future national events, including replacing the Denver date on the 2024 schedule.
“We at the NHRA want to thank the Bandimere family for their remarkable commitment to drag racing over the past 65 years,” NHRA president Glen Cromwell said. “NHRA drag racing at Bandimere Speedway has provided so many incredible moments for our drivers, race teams, fans and partners. We look forward to celebrating the 65th anniversary this year to close out this chapter at Bandimere Speedway and remain optimistic about future opportunities to have NHRA drag racing stay in the Denver area and to continue to work with the Bandimere family in the future.”
The Bandimere family has been a strong NHRA partner, making several improvements to the track, including a renovation in 1988. Before the 2008 season, the entire track was also redone, creating an all-concrete surface and the installation of the track cooling system for the first 330 feet which greatly improved racing action at the facility.
“This year’s Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals will be a memorable celebration of more than 40 years of NHRA drag racing at a historic facility,” Cromwell said.
Mike Pryson Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011.
Keyword: NHRA Camping World Series Leaving Bandimere Speedway in Colorado after 2023 Race Weekend