- Jim Sassorossi, Director, Global Parts Sales & Marketing - Mopar Parts, on the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, scheduled for this weekend, July 10-12, at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

The Mopar Big Block Party, the "Official Starter" of the Mopar Mile-High Nationals, will once again pack the streets of downtown Golden, Colo. The Big Block Party is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. MDT.

Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's Parts division, is ready to bring the "boom" back to Thunder Mountain. The ultimate Mopar Nation celebration is set to blast off this weekend at the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, the longest continuous running sponsorship in the NHRA. The event is scheduled for July 10-12 at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

Mopar's headline event has become an iconic stop on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Fans, professional racers and grassroots racers alike have flocked to Mopar's "home track" for more than 50 years to watch and compete in no-holds-barred racing action at the quarter-mile built by John Bandimere Sr. The drag strip, set 5,800 feet high in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, presents a unique challenge to racers and crews as they work to make power in the thin-air environment.

Mopar HEMIR-powered drivers have proven especially adept at solving the challenges presented by Thunder Mountain. Team Mopar NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson has advanced to the finals in each of the last two years, claiming a Mopar Mile-High victory in 2007. Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman matched Johnson's feat, triumphing in 2007 with a runner-up finish in 2008.

"Bandimere Speedway is very pleased that Mopar is continuing in its role as sponsor of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals," said John Bandimere, Jr. "We are thankful of the long-standing relationship we have with all of the people at Mopar, Dodge and Chrysler Group LLC, and are proud to be the 'home track' for Team Mopar."

Mopar will once again get the party started in style with the eighth annual Mopar Big Block Party, scheduled for Thursday, July 9, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. MDT on the streets of downtown Golden, Colo. The Mopar Big Block Party, the "Official Starter" of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, will feature a driver autograph session with Mopar-powered drivers including Allen Johnson, Johnny Gray, Rickie Jones, V. Gaines and Mopar racing legend Judy Lilly, plus many more. Fans can also check out Mopar race cars and NHRA drag race machines while local band Rated M Rocks kicks out the jams from the Mopar Stage.

SpeedFreaks TV and radio hosts Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, Statt Mann Caruthers and Chris Jacobs will be on hand to emcee the Big Block Party proceedings. Admission to the event is free, with local Golden restaurants and eateries providing food and drinks available for purchase.

Victory at 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is High on Team Mopar Driver Allen Johnson's Checklist
Something about the thin air at Mopar's "home track" of Bandimere Speedeway in Morrison, Colo., must appeal to Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson. The NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock pilot has advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in each of the last two years, capturing the No. 1 Qualifier Award and the win in the 2007 event. Johnson hopes to make the Mopar faithful happy with his second win in three years this weekend in the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, scheduled for July 10-12.

Johnson just missed scoring back-to-back wins at his primary sponsor Mopar's headline event, losing in the 2008 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals finals by a mere six feet. The Greeneville, Tenn., native is aware of the significance of the race to the Mopar Nation and says he takes a special joy in his visits to Thunder Mountain.

"It's always huge just to go there and race and be around all the Mopar folks," said Johnson, currently fifth in the Pro Stock point standings, with one win on the year, at the NHRA Topeka event. "To qualify well and do well at the Mopar Mile-Highs is one of the big checkmarks on our list. It's a must-do each year."

Johnson's success may have less to do with the atmosphere at Bandimere than the hard work of his J&J Racing team and Mopar HEMIR power. Johnson and his J&J squad, as in previous years, trekked to Bandimere last week for two days of test sessions prior to the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, putting the Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T-and Johnson-through their paces. The annual pre-event preparation has paid off, according to A.J.

"I think we've just tested so much at Bandimere that we've just hit on a couple of things," said Johnson. "The time we've spent working on the setup on our Mopar Dodge out there has probably been the biggest reason for our success."

The 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is scheduled to take place July 10-12 at Bandimere Speedway. Two hours of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, July 11 beginning at 10 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, July 12 beginning at 7 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more info on the NHRA, visit http://www.nhra.com.

"It's more than fun taking part in the Big Block Party each year. It's just a lot of camaraderie with a lot of true blue Mopar folks. It shows Mopar's dedication to the sport. You get a huge crowd of fans and sportsman racers who come out to the event. It's a great feeling, to know that I'm acting as one of the ambassadors for Mopar and helping to reach out to fans and enthusiasts."

- Team Mopar NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, shown above, and below in action, on taking part in the annual Mopar Big Block Party, which kicks off the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals. Johnson has excelled at Bandimere Speedway in recent visits, claiming a Mopar Mile-Highs victory in 2007 and a runner-up showing in 2008.

Courtesy of Darren Jacobs