Time is indeed a relative term. An equal length of time can seem like a bolt of lightning or an endless period of tedium. In this instance, three weeks will go from a languid, unhurried stretch of 21 days to a grinding, frenzied, seemingly non-stop blur of time for the professional racers heading into the portion of the NHRA schedule nicknamed the Western Swing.

The series has had a much-needed three-week respite, but this weekend racing resumes at Bandimere Speedway just outside Denver, which officially kicks of the Western Swing -- three consecutive national events on three consecutive weekends in the western half of the country at Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.

Here's a preview of the Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals at Bandimere this weekend.

Top Fuel

	Dixon

How far-reaching an effect will Larry Dixon's failure to qualify in Madison, Ill., at the last race have in Denver? That's the most profound question that will dominate the category as qualifying begins Friday. Dixon has suffered just four DNQs in his entire Top Fuel career and has never had the kind of season he is currently enjoying, leading the points by 157 over Kenny Bernstein.

Don't expect the Miller Lite team to stumble again soon. Dixon returns to Denver as the defending champion, and the treacherous conditions that derailed Dick Lahaie and Co. in Madison are not expected in Denver, although the forecast does call for 90-degree temperatures. But there will almost certainly be some cloud cover in the mountainous suburbs of Denver and that will help to keep track temperatures manageable.

For Bernstein, he can only hope he encounters the same good fortune that came his way in Madison, winning the race after Dixon missed the field. Bernstein is canny enough to know that lightning usually doesn't strike twice, but trailing Dixon by a race-and-a-half has certainly reignited his championship intentions. Bernstein has but a single win on Thunder Mountain, his Top Fuel victory in 1992, but here's the most telling statistic: His tuner, Tim Richards, led Joe Amato to four straight Denver wins in Top Fuel in 1987, 1989, 1990, and 1991 (there was no Denver race in 1988) and four Funny Car runner-up finishes with Chuck Etchells' operation.

It's still a two-car race and is expected to remain so. At least heading into the Swing, which car will be the one to watch has once again become a fair question.

Funny Car

	Force

John Force's gall bladder has taken center stage. The 11-time champ and defending Denver titlist will be undergoing surgery following the Swing, but in the meantime will be racing this weekend and hoping to solidify his lead in the points.

His Madison win was unlike the typical Force exhibits of sheer domination but, like Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan in his later years, Force no longer relies strictly on his fastball to win. His team's remarkable ability to read the track, adjust to conditions and get inside the heads of opponents, has given Force a finesse game that can't be duplicated.

Whit Bazemore has had several tough outings of late, Ron Capps' win in Columbus, Ohio, hasn't touched off a string of wins nor has Del Worsham built upon his Joliet, Ill., victory with any more wins. But maybe Scotty Cannon is preparing to step up after two final-round appearances in the last three races.

Cannon went to his first career final in Denver two years ago, losing to the driver who has become his teammate, Bazemore. Could he finally break through this weekend?

Unless somebody does, the 1-2-3 Force monopoly will be unchallenged, aching gall bladder or not.

Pro Stock
Last year, Warren Johnson moved past Bob Glidden for the all-time lead in Pro Stock victories when he won his 86th national event in Denver. At the same race, Mopar unveiled its long-awaited Hemi-powered Neons and saw Darrell Alderman run well in the fresh machinery.

But this year, the most compelling story in the class is centered on who might finally slip from the pack in the points and establish themselves in the role of championship favorite. Nobody is expecting that to happen anytime soon.

Especially in Denver, where the oxygen-starved atmosphere will be making the usual Pro Stock setups useless. At Bandimere, whatever horsepower advantages a team enjoys at sea level are wiped out in the 5800 foot altitude.

Jim Yates almost swept the Swing in 1997, except for a dead-heat loss to Mike Edwards in the Seattle final. Yates has had great performances at the Mile High Nationals, especially when engine guru Richard Maskin was in charge. Maskin was the secret behind the Coughlin brothers' steady string of Denver successes when tuning for the Jeg's team. But Yates can't live in the past, nor can the Coughlins.

Jeg's Madison win was long overdue and after running the quickest and fastest times during last week's Bandimere testing, the yellow-and-black will be ready to rock in Denver.

But when will Yates have his breakout victory? He's leading the points without a win and could be that missing frontrunner who has yet to emerge if he can go the distance on raceday -- if not in Denver, then in Seattle or Sonoma. Greg Anderson is skyrocketing up the standings and is now second. Johnson can never be counted out, nor can his son, Kurt. All three tested in Denver after the race in Madison, which means, the Pro Stock picture will be just as hazy this weekend as it has been all year.

Pro Stock Motorcycle
The story here is simple. Who can beat Angelle Savoie? And, who can do it regularly? Craig Treble looked like he was going to be the big challenge early in 2002, but let the points lead slip away when Savoie won in Madison.

Antron Brown has lacked the consistency necessary to apply real pressure to Savoie and Star Racing while he continues to look for a sponsor.

Savoie has won in Denver the past two years, made her debut there in 1996, and loves to race on Thunder Mountain. Matt Hines has won here three times, but lately has been playing catch-up. His brother, Andrew, will make his debut this weekend on a second Vance & Hines Suzuki and whether that will be a distraction to the three-time champ is unknown.

Savoie has matured as a rider and has made few mistakes over the past season-and-a-half. Unless a rider like Treble, Brown, Hines or even Shawn Gann can force Savoie into losing rounds, everyone in the category may be looking at another game of catch-up until November.