NHRA’s 29th edition of the Mopar Mile-High Nationals is a history maker, it is the first national event ever held to the 1000’ mark for the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. That was an interim step taken by NHRA and it’s Pro racers while a review is on for various aspects to increase overall safety for those two classes. While the move was met with some pessimism by some, the initial results from Denver are very positive indeed with close and competitive racing in the Nitro categories being the story of the event.

Funny Car eliminator produced yet another event win for Illinois-based driver Tim Wilkerson who increased his overall POWERade points margin following his 4th victory of the season. Wilkerson drove his Levi-Ray-Shoup Chevy Impala past the Valvoline-sponsored Dodge Charger of Jack Beckman in the final round taking a come-from-behind 4.398 secs 262.23 mph to 4.661 secs 205.41 mph victory.

Wilkerson’s win came also within the first race for NHRA’s new mandated regulations for both Funny Car chassis tubing size and rear slick compound.

Wilkerson, who qualified 4th showed great stuff at Denver has he knocked off three John Force Racing entries consecutively while advancing to the final round; beating Ashley Force, Mike Neff and Robert Hight.

FC qualifying was paced by defending NHRA POWERade World Champion Tony Pedregon who recorded a 4.212 secs to lead the field only to be upset in round one by Gary Scelzi when his car drifted dangerously close to the left hand guard wall.

Colorado native Melanie Troxel, driving for team owner Roger Burgess, set top speed in FC at 297.42 mph driving her Dodge Charger.

Top Fuel racing also featured very close competition but once again Tony Schumacher stood tall Sunday night after winning his amazing 6th event of the season so far.

Schumacher guided his U.S. Army dragster to a final round 4.007 secs at 304.05 mph topple the Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown who ran 4.173 secs at 276.97 mph.

Schumacher dominated during eliminations recording consecutive 1000 ft times of 4.032 secs, 4.041 secs and 4.039 secs while advancing to the final round.

Tony Schumacher’s racing teammate Cory McClenthan set low ET and top speed of the event driving the Fram-sponsored dragster, hitting 3.929 secs and 308.07 mph while taking the pole.

The Pro Stock program was run off on a traditional ¼ mile basis with wins going to Greg Anderson (car) and Matt Smith (motorcycle).

Greg Anderson ended the event title defense bid by 2007 event champion Allen Johnson in the Pro Stock final when he wheeled his Summit-sponsored Pontiac GXP past the Mopar-sponsored Dodge Stratus. Anderson prevailed in that super close confrontation, 7.024 secs 196.39 mph to 7.028 secs 195.79 mph.

Anderson, who set both ends of the Bandimere Speedway track record while qualifying #1 at 7.010 secs and 196.39 mph had, ran down V. Gaines, Jeg Coughlin and Kurt Johnson in earlier rounds.

PS car racing at Denver was a very tight affair with only .051 separating the #1 and #16 qualified cars.

POWERade World Champ Matt Smith won in Pro Stock Bike when he wheeled the Nitro Fish-sponsored Buell past the Snap-On Suzuki of Steve Johnson in that final round. Smith combined a superb .005 RT with a low ET of the meet run of 7.326 secs to handle Johnson’s very close 7.340 secs effort.

Indiana’s Eddie Krawiec, for the 2nd consecutive event, qualified #1 in PSB this time at 7.328 secs. Suzuki rider Craig Treble set top speed at 182.23 mph.

The 29th Mopar Mile-High Nationals, which helped to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Bandimere Raceway, also featured the very popular Mopar Block Party on Thursday prior to the event once again downtown nearby Golden CO. That pre-event activity drew another record turnout.

Sunday’s schedule also included the public debut for the much anticipated new 2008 Dodge Challenger factory race car package. Just prior to the final rounds, legendary drivers Don Garlits and Judy Lilly made a side-by-side demonstration run with the cars running highly impressive times of 11.24 secs 121.52 mph and 11.38 secs 101.96 mph respectively.