Dodge//SRT Ready to Rumble in the Rockies at Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals Presented by Pennzoil
Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge and Mopar, is returning as title sponsor for the Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, taking place July 16-18, 2021. This marks the 41st edition of the event, highlighting a partnership that began in 1989. Notable drivers like reigning Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan will compete, aiming for victory at this iconic race. The event features interactive exhibits for fans and showcases Dodge's commitment to performance cars, including the latest SRT models.
- Longest active title sponsorship in motorsports history since 1989.
- Major participation and excitement surrounding the event, with top drivers competing.
- Interactive fan engagement through exhibits and simulators at the event.
- None.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
- Dodge//SRT and Mopar brands return to Bandimere Speedway July 16-18 as title sponsors of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series event, Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals Presented by Pennzoil, held near Denver, Colorado
- Spanning four decades, the brands' partnership with Bandimere Speedway is the longest active and continuous title sponsorship in all of motorsports and the second of five NHRA national events with Dodge//SRT and Mopar headline support in 2021
- Reigning Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan will work to earn a coveted first Wally trophy from the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals aboard his Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Funny Car
- Leah Pruett seeks to wheel her DSR Mopar Dodge//SRT Redeye Top Fuel dragster to a repeat performance of her 2018 successful run from No. 1 qualifier to winner and attempt to better her 2017 record elapsed-time pass of 3.733 seconds at Thunder Mountain
- The two Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak vehicles of Pruett and Mark Pawuk will compete in the fourth of the eight-race NHRA Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown specialty series
The familiar rumble of HEMI® power will once again reverberate through the Rocky Mountains July 16-18 as Dodge//SRT and Mopar brands return for a 32nd season as title sponsors of the Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals Presented by Pennzoil, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series event held at Thunder Mountain, otherwise known as Bandimere Speedway, near Denver, Colorado.
"Dodge//SRT is ready to get back to racing," said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer - Stellantis. "Bandimere Speedway has been a part of our Brotherhood of Muscle for more than 32 years. In fact, it's the longest standing event sponsorship in motorsports history. Our Rocky Mountain racing fans are going to get a great show. The Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil is always one of the premier racing events in the West."
While this will be the 41st edition of the NHRA event at the picturesque drag strip set 5,800 feet above sea-level, the brands' partnership with Bandimere Speedway began in 1989 after a major track renovation and, following an extension announcement earlier this year, continues to be the longest active event title sponsorship in all of motorsports. This 2021 installment is the second of five national events with Mopar and Dodge//SRT headline support for the NHRA's 70th anniversary season.
Following May's Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil in Houston and this weekend's activities, three more national events remain on the schedule this year:
- September 1-5 – Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis)
- September 10-12 – Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil (Reading, Pennsylvania)
- October 29-November 1 – Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil (Las Vegas)
A 4,800-square-foot exhibit at Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals in the NHRA's Manufacturers Midway will be open to NHRA fans with a number of interactive displays, including a pair of Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators for those with a competitive spirit wanting to test their skills in a virtual race. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see and feel the experience of drag racing from the driver's seat aboard an actual Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Funny Car simulator. The display will also feature a number of Dodge//SRT high-performance vehicles and an instructor from the Radford Racing School (formerly The Bondurant School) on site to provide driving tips and information about the SRT experience. Customers who buy a new SRT model receive one full-day session at Radford Racing School as part of the Dodge//SRT Package and have the opportunity to learn how to get the optimum performance from their new vehicles in a controlled environment.
On-track action begins Friday at Bandimere Speedway with Dodge//SRT and Mopar backed entries working to take home Wally trophies and "home-event" bragging rights in Funny Car and Top Fuel categories, as well as Sportsman class Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown (FSS).
Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan will be working to secure not only his first victory of the 2021 season aboard the signature red, silver and black DSR Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye, but also an elusive first win at the long-time Denver event.
"Some of my best memories of coming to Denver for the Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals always involve the amazing crowd of people that are really passionate about the Dodge and Mopar brands coming together to celebrate pure muscle and horsepower," said Hagan. It's been a Dodge- and Mopar-sponsored race for a really long time and it's always great to see fans coming out and support it and us.
"I've obviously raced here a lot and haven't won one yet, but I feel like I've been chasing down that win," added the three-time Funny Car World Champion. "Bandimere Speedway is always tricky, but it's time to win one for our sponsor and celebrate big. I think that we got a pretty good handle on the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat right now. I'm excited about getting there, getting qualified well, going rounds and running like a Hellcat and turning the win lights on in Denver."
DSR teammate Ron Capps has qualified in the top-five at every event so far this year, but is looking to string together four solid elimination round runs aboard his HEMI-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat on the all-concrete Bandimere dragstrip in order to take home another Wally to go with the one earned there in 2009.
Fellow Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon has two trips to the winner's circle at Denver (1993 and 2013) and is coming off the high of a win at the previous NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio, and looking to repeat quickly after seeing his Snap-on Tools Pedregon Racing team make consistent gains through the first seven national events of the season.
DSR Top Fuel pilot Leah Pruett seeks to power her sleek red, silver and black DSR Mopar Dodge//SRT Redeye Top Fuel dragster to a repeat performance of her 2018 successful run from No. 1 qualifier to winner, or perhaps even improve on her 2017 track-record elapsed time pass of 3.733 seconds.
"Hollywood is known for making movie magic, and this team has been known for making some of the greatest horsepower out of the thinnest Bandimere air, aka magic," said Pruett. "We've had a challenging start to the season gaining the proper momentum but believe our undeniable capabilities paired with our nose to the grindstone in the shop and training work ethic will produce not only the results we expect but our Mopar fans do as well.
"The Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals has always been my most enjoyable event to compete at for a variety of reasons," added Pruett. "Starting with being surrounded by dedicated like-minded Dodge//SRT and Mopar enthusiasts really brings the ultimate vibe. I am personally looking forward to our season taking a major turn for the competitive best, and believe the Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals is the perfect place to do it."
Pruett will also take the wheel of her 2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak in FSS this weekend along with DSR teammate Mark Pawuk aboard the Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger for the fourth contest of the eight-race Sportsman class specialty series. After setting the quickest and fastest speed record (7.806-second pass at 177.44 mph) aboard the most powerful drag pak ever built in the FSS season opener at the Gatornationals, the duo's goal at this event and through the remainder of the season is to get the most out of each run and battle in the top 10 against a large competitive field.
While on-track action at Bandimere Speedway will be livestreamed via NHRA.TV throughout the weekend, FS1 will provide television highlights of qualifying on Saturday from 2-3 p.m. ET and Sunday, July 18 from 3-4 p.m. ET. Coverage of Sunday's Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals Presented by Pennzoil elimination rounds will air on FS1 from 4-7 p.m. ET. The Denver-area stop kicks off the NHRA's three-race western swing, which includes Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, and Pacific Raceways in Seattle, Washington, over consecutive weeks.
DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News
Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.
@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram
The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.
Mopar
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) offers exceptional service, parts and customer care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, the Mopar brand has evolved over more than 80 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.
Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, the brand expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.
Mopar is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.
Follow Mopar and company news and video on:
Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Mopar brand: www.mopar.com
Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar
Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmopar
Twitter: @OfficialMOPAR
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA
Dodge//SRT
For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.
2021 marks the year that Dodge is distilled into a pure performance brand, offering Hellcat-powered, 700-plus-horsepower SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2021 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the new 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the new 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.
In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). The Dodge brand also ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market). These results are historic because it marks the first time a domestic brand has earned top spots in both J.D. Power studies in the same year.
Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.
Follow Dodge and company news and video on:
Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Dodge brand: www.dodge.com
DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial
Twitter: @Dodge and @StellantisNA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA
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SOURCE Stellantis
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