This year’s Rocky Mountain Race Week showcased some of the fiercest competition in what is one of the toughest drag and drive events to complete. Simply making it to the finish line on the final day is an achievement all on its own.
Rocky Mountain Race Week combines the adrenaline-pumping action of drag racing with the adventure of a long-distance road trip. Held annually, it has become a celebrated gathering for drag racing enthusiasts and car aficionados from across the United States. The seven-day event stands out for its challenging format, pushing both drivers and their vehicles to the limit in a competition of speed and skill. It attracts a diverse array of vehicles, ranging from purpose-built racecars to heavily modified street machines, each striving for victory in their respective classes.
Participants in Rocky Mountain Race Week embark on a challenging journey that spans multiple days and covers a series of racetracks situated amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Competitors not only have to demonstrate their speed and performance on the drag strip, but they must also prove their endurance by driving their race cars from one track to the next on public roads. Throughout the week-long event, participants and their machines are put to the test, facing varying weather conditions, altitudes, and road challenges. This dynamic environment fosters camaraderie among participants, as they share in the triumphs and challenges of the journey.
This year, the racers started Rocky Mountain Race Week off in Pueblo, Colorado for tech inspection. With the first challenge down, 288 eligible competitors hit the drag strip at the Pueblo Motorsports Park and ran until the sun set over the Rocky Mountains. The excitement lingered, setting the stage for an unforgettable week.
Day two took racers 400-miles to Kearney Nebraska, where, on day three, competitors were greeted with favorable weather, an excited crowd, and a well-prepped track at Kearney Raceway Park. The roar of engines echoed through the cornfields as participants prepared to give it their all. Jason Hurley, driving his 1985 Pontiac Firebird, held his place as fastest overall and first in the Unlimited class with an average of 7.283. As the convoy of racers embarked on the journey from Kearney to Denver, the skies had other plans, unleashing a torrential downpour that painted the asphalt with a treacherous sheen. Those running drag radials or slicks found themselves at the mercy of the rains, but everyone eventually made it to Denver, Colorado to race at the famed Bandimere Speedway, amidst a picturesque Rocky Mountain backdrop.
At over 5,800 feet above sea level, the thin mountain air presented a distinct challenge, causing racecars to perform several tenths slower when compared to dragstrips that sit closer to sea level. Despite the altitude-induced slowdowns, the atmosphere at Bandimere Speedway was electric. The cooler climate provided a welcome respite from the scorching sun. In the gasser class, Rob Lepenske emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Piloting a twin-turbo LS-powered 1954 Chevy, Lepenske’s consistent and impressive runs throughout the week pushed him into the first-place position.
The fifth day of Rocky Mountain Race Week brought a change of pace as racers transitioned from the high-octane intensity of the Bandimere Speedway to the winding roads of the Rockies. As the convoys of racers wound their way through Golden, Colorado, the small town welcomed the group with big smiles and thumbs-ups. Despite a few roadside breakdowns along the way, fellow racers rallied together, eager to lend a helping hand to get everyone to the final destination in Central City, Colorado.
On the final day, the air was charged as racers and enthusiasts gathered for what would be their last hurrah at the beloved Pueblo Motorsports Park track before its doors closed for good. Each run down the strip carried an extra weight of significance, as racers pushed their vehicles with a mixture of determination and reverence. Jason Hurley achieved his first 200 mph pass with his quickest time of 7.02.
2023 Rocky Mountain Race Week Photo Gallery:
The 2024 Rocky Mountain Race Week class winners are as follows:
14.0 Index Class: Martin Ranker in a 1965 Ford Mustang, 14.022-second average time
13.0 Index Class: Curtis Tanke in a 2005 Pontiac GTO, 13.03-second average time
12.0 Index Class: Josh Rahm in a 2011 Chevrolet Corvette, 12.02- second average time
11.0 Index Class: Cameron Thorpe in a Volvo Wagon, 11.01-second average time
10.0 Index Class: Travis Urbach in a 2000 Chevrolet Camaro,10.02-second average time
9.0 Index Class: Vince Ruhe in a 1962 ChevroletNova, 9.09-second average time
N/A Small Block Class: Dave Berry in a 1964 Chevrolet Nova, 10.61-second average tim
N/A Big Block Class: Carlos Astor in a 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 9.72-second average time
Stick Shift Class: Chris Hein in a 1933 Ford Coupe, 8.72-second average time
Gasser Class: Rob Lepenske in a 1954 Chevrolet 150 sedan, 9.75-second average time
Ultimate Radial Class: Brad Theissen in a 1970 Chevrolet Nova, 7.96-second average time
Hot Rod Class: Corey Thompson in a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle, 8.07-second average time
Rowdy Radial Class: Vince Murphy in a 2000 Chevrolet S10, 5.42-second average time
Limited Street Class: Brady Matysek in a 1994 Chevrolet Camaro, 8.53-second average time
Pro Street Class: Ben Neal in a Toyota Cresta, 8.58-second average time
Outlaw Street Class: Will Carter in a 1977 Chevrolet Vega, 7.95-second average time
Ultimate Class: Jason Hurley in his 1985 Firebird, 7.21-second average time
Junior Street Class: Ari Myers in a Ford F-150, averaging just .218 off her dial in time
Moto Class: Chris Baker with a 2008 Hayabusa, 8.70-second average time
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