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It was a huge event for Dodge at the final Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals event in Morrison, Colorado, over the weekend. Matt Hagan called it a “Magical Weekend” as he powered his Tony Stewart Racing Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car to victory at the Bandimere Speedway. Bandimere is closing its legendary racetrack and selling the land.
Hagan, the No. 1 qualifier in the Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals for the third consecutive year at “Thunder Mountain,” defeated Alexis DeJoria in the final round with a 4.135-second run at 304.25 miles per hour, to DeJoria’s 4.217 effort. The victory was Hagan’s fourth in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and his 47th career NHRA national event win. It was the final race at Bandimere after 43 years.
“This was a magical weekend for me and very emotional,” said Hagan. “It was my mom’s birthday and she passed away six months ago, so I was thinking about that throughout the weekend. But I also knew this is the last time I’d race at Bandimere Speedway and it was a Dodge-sponsored race. I’ve been on fire here before and we’ve blown up a lot of things on the ‘Mountain,’ so getting the quick qualifying time three years in a row and winning in 2021 and now today is very special. I don’t think it will sink in for a few months. Wow, I took the final win light at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals. That’s something they can never take away from me.”
Hagan said even team owner Tony Stewart pitched in to make the win happen.
“(Crew chief) Dickie Venables, Mike Knudsen, Alex Conaway and the rest of the crew were phenomenal this weekend. We were down one crew member (Josh Munoz) due to a car incident back in Indy, but everyone pitched in all weekend here. Heck, even the Bossman (Tony Stewart) was helping with fuel and preparing the equipment for the final round. It was a thrash getting everything ready. Leahs (Pruett, Hagan’s TSR teammate) crew helped us too. I still can’t believe this is the last one at Bandimere Speedway.”
Dodge Dragster Edged Out in Close Race
Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster pilot Leah Pruett, Hagan’s TSR teammate, was edged out at the finish in incredibly close loss in round one, despite matching her opponent’s 3.905-second pass.
Pruett, who is married to team owner Tony Stewart, had a great time of 0.036 at the starting line but lost by inches at the finish. Pruett remains in the third position in the current NHRA Top Fuel point standings.
“The conclusion to our final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway was less than ideal with the first-round exit, but there is still a lot of value in it for us for us as a unit,” said Pruett, who won her first NHRA “Wally” trophy at age eight at Bandimere Speedway in Junior Dragsters. “You can't curb the heartbreak. Unfortunately, our competitor, Josh Hart, had an insane .021 light to my .036, which were both low of the round. I knew when I hit the gas that I had a good reaction time and I thought I had him.
“We know that we have a good race car and a car that’s capable of winning races and preparing for championship contention. I would've loved more than anything to win again at Bandimere, with such an emotional connection. For us, the TSR team and Dodge, this is a chapter in our life that's just beginning, and I couldn't be more proud of the progress that we have made given our challenges this weekend.”
Team owner Tony Stewart was excited for Hagan's historic win, which marked the final NHRA race at Bandimere Speedway.
“The Dodge Power Brokers and Direct Connection Funny Car team won the race and had a great weekend,” said Stewart. “Leah cut a .036 light, which was awesome. Unfortunately, her opponent guessed and beat her off the line, so she went out the first round. For Matt to win the last race at Bandimere Speedway, it is so special. The Funny Cars were the last pair to go down the track. It’s an epic event. It’s the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals.
“To be able to finish it off for our partners is a great day. I appreciate everything they do for our Funny Car and Top Fuel teams. This is the first stop on the Western Swing with us going to Seattle and Sonoma after this. You can’t win them all if you don’t win the first one. Dickie and the whole team are very excited. Leah and her crew are excited also. They had some challenging moments, but we made big gains and learned from it. I feel like we’re in a good spot. I’m really proud of our team.”
It was a spectacular finish to Bandimere Speedway’s 43 years as the top raceway in Colorado. The family says it will look for another place to reopen but nothing has been announced at this point.
You can follow the rest of the NHRA season at DodgeGarage.com
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Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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