LETTER from the EDITOR
When Wes Buck told us in 2017 that we would hold a $ 100,000-to-win Pro Mod race at a track over 5,000 feet above sea level and a solid two-day drive away from most of the teams , I was a little skeptical . But after the first day of the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod at Bandimere Speedway , it all made sense . The location is one of a kind , the Bandimere family and their team are so friendly and professional , and the local racers and fans are as passionate as you ’ ll find . The place has a different atmosphere , and I ’ m not talking about the thin air .
I grew up 30 minutes from Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk , Ohio , and I always thought , “ There ’ s no topping this .” And while Norwalk will always be my favorite track , Bandimere Speedway is a close second . Both facilities are considered two of the nicest dragstrips in the world . The families that operate the two tracks – the Baders and the Bandimeres – are quick to welcome guests of all levels and make them feel at home . Similarly , the locals have adopted these facilities and will pack them out when the big shows come to town . The similarities go on and on . I ’ d even go so far as to say the mountainous landscape in the background at Bandimere rivals the cornfields of northern Ohio .
Like many others , I was saddened to read that Bandimere Speedway will close after this season . Years of rumors suggested this news was coming , but the longer those rumors went unsubstantiated ,
the less likely it seemed possible . But when the track announced in April that the 2023 season would be its last , the countdown started . Like so many others who ’ ve spent time at Bandimere – or even those who haven ’ t – I started thinking about how to sneak in one last trip out to “ Thunder Mountain .”
The NHRA Mile-High Nationals has been on my list since before we started going up to Bandimere for WSOPM , so that was the obvious choice . I flew out to Denver and met up with Wes for a few days at the 43rd and final Mile- Highs with the goal of talking to as many people as possible about what the event – and Bandimere Speedway in general – means to them . From world champions like Antron Brown and Kenny Bernstein to fans and track employees , I interviewed numerous individuals who graciously shared their perspectives .
The resulting story – one of several major features in this State of Drag Issue – is my tribute to Bandimere Speedway . In just a few trips to the track , I quickly realized it ’ s more than just a racetrack . The Bandimeres are more than just track operators . Families have grown up there . The Bandimere family and their equally passionate staff members have worked hard to make their community a better place , going all the way back to John Bandimere Sr .’ s original mission . It ’ s undoubtedly been disheartening to see dragstrips close across the country in recent months , but it ’ ll sting a little deeper when the final pair of cars go down the Bandimere quarter mile in October . To quote the one and only John Force , “ I love this hill , and I want ‘ em all to know it .” DI
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Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief
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8 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 184