MILE-HIGH NATIONALS
COVID-19 pandemic prevented the track from hosting its annual NHRA national event . Things finally worked out for this edition .
“ When we had this opportunity here , I really wanted to come ,” DeFlorian says . “ I ’ ve been here before as a spectator , but to be up here as a participant is altogether different . I want to experience what that ’ s like , to go down the racetrack at the last there ever will be of the Mile-High race . I ’ m actually honored and humbled that we did get the opportunity to do this .”
Following Mountain Motor Pro Stock Q1 , as well as the first session for Pro Stock Motorcycle and 500-cubic-inch Pro Stock , Top Fuel rolls down the staging lanes for the first nitro session of the weekend . In the first pair , Colorado ’ s own Greg Carrillo throws down a 3.832 at a career-best 324.75 MPH . This gets the crowd roaring , and they give his crew a standing ovation as they head down the return road . The pass stands for the provisional No . 1 spot after the 14 other Top Fuel drivers made their first attempts to navigate the challenging track .
“ I ’ ll tell you what , it means a lot ,” Carrillo says of his performance and the crowd ’ s reaction as he signs autographs at his pit area after the run . “ I ’ ve won the Mile-High Nationals and divisional races here before in Super Comp and Super Gas when I raced in the sportsman classes . The guys are excited and we ’ re coming here to win . Last year , we were No . 2 on Friday night . This team ’ s not a fluke . This team ’ s here to stand our own ground .”
While Carrillo settled into the No . 8 spot by the time all four qualifying sessions were completed , his moment in the sun on Friday gave the part-timer a meaningful jolt of enthusiasm . With Santiago ’ s , a local Mexican restaurant chain , on board his car , which also featured Bandimere Speedway signage , Carrillo was a fan favorite
MATT HAGAN
all weekend . His pit area was a popular spot as fans came by to get autographs and ask his crew about their program .
“ Each guy individually here is great ,” Carrillo says . “ Glenn Mikres is our crew chief . Rip Reynolds came on board . Really , it ’ s Aaron Brooks who elevated our program . We owe everything to him . Without him , we ’ re not successful . To me , he ’ s the best out there and his influence is very deep on this team .”
Carrillo ’ s provisional No . 1 spot was later taken by Brown , perhaps influenced by “ The King of Speed ” warming up his Matco Tools entry earlier in the day . Brown was joined by provisional low qualifiers Matt Hagan in Funny Cars , Erica Enders in Pro Stock , Hector Arana Jr . in Pro Stock Motorcycle , and Freeman in Mountain Motor Pro Stock .
AS IMPRESSIVE as Friday ’ s crowd was , the Saturday turnout tops it . Bandimere Speedway announced a Saturday sellout days before the event even started . Traffic control signs posted up along the routes to get into the track declare tickets will not be available at the gate – a true sellout . Hours before nitro cars are due to hit the track , cars sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic waiting to get into the track ’ s numerous parking lots , some of which had to be rented from local property owners .
“ The three days of complete sellouts – like literally not selling anymore tickets days ahead of the end of the race – speaks to the people in this area , but the other thing to remember is this track always has been very strong on the crowds ,” points out Lohnes , who first announced at the Mile-High Nationals in 2014 . “ This was a great sendoff for this place because of the fact that it ’ s always been good , but this becomes this all-time story of a grand hug from everybody that loves the sport , and this area is showing up and doing the best they can to enjoy the weekend .”
Once fans make it into the facility and find their seats , many of them stop by one of numerous souvenir stands located throughout the property . The track ’ s Competitive Threads flagship location behind the pit-side grandstands has multiple lines wrapped around it all weekend , while auxiliary trailers in other locations also sell T-shirts , hoodies , tank tops , hats , stickers , hat pins , metal signs , and a number of other Bandimere souvenirs .
Janet Arnold , who estimates she ’ s been coming to the Mile-High Nationals in some capacity for the last 30 of her 41 years , slings merch out of the Competitive Threads trailer located in the staging lanes . She ’ s worked the trailer for the last eight Mile-High Nationals , giving her a direct connection to the fans who attend this event .
“ It ’ s kind of bittersweet ,” Arnold says . “ You can definitely tell that it ’ s hitting home that it ’ s the end . A lot of people are telling me stories of , ‘ We
AFTER SCORING A LONG-AWAITED FIRST DENVER WIN IN 2021 , MATT HAGAN SCORED ONE LAST
BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY VICTORY FOR DODGE AND TEAM OWNER TONY STEWART IN HIS DODGE DIRECT
CONNECTION CHARGER SRT HELLCAT FUNNY CAR .
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