CLOSE RACE ENDS DAY FOR BERNSTEIN AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 19) – There are many tracks where second generation NHRA driver Brandon Bernstein’s success has followed that of his legendary father, six-time champion Kenny.

Kenny Bernstein won more races at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (seven) than at any other track.

Unfortunately, Brandon’s woes at this facility continued over the weekend at the K & N Filters Supernationals.

Once again, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team’s hopes were elevated after Saturday’s qualifying sessions when the team clocked two consistent runs, including low elapsed time of the first session that day (4.505/331.12), seeding them in the No. 4 spot for Sunday’s eliminations.

In a side-by-side opening round battle between Bernstein and Scott Weis, it was Weis to the stripe first with a 4.621/318.92, narrowly edging Bernstein’s 4.642/321.73 for the victory.

“We were trying to be very cautious on our tune-up so we could be sure to get by first round,” said Bernstein. “I guess we were overly cautious, and the car slowed a bit more than we anticipated. We just got nicked.”

Bernstein remains seventh in NHRA POWERade point standings.

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BERNSTEIN WOULD LIKE TO TURN ENGLISHTOWN NIGHTMARE INTO A HOME RUN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- It’s been two years and subconsciously the memories are still there, but there also isn’t a day that Brandon Bernstein doesn’t wake up excited about the opportunity to drive his 330-mile-per-hour Top Fuel dragster. Perhaps for Budweiser/Lucas Oil driver Brandon Bernstein, the instinct to tame the track that tabled the majority of his rookie season, is at the top of his “to do” list.

Bernstein, who will be competing June 17-19 at the K & N Filters Supernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, vividly recalls rehabilitating for nine months after the first round incident in 2003 that basically broke his back.

“Not even for one second,” said Bernstein “did I think I did not want to drive a race car again.

“When my father was standing over me while I was lying in the hospital, I told him I wanted to get back in the race car as soon as I was healthy. It was not even an issue.”

Bernstein, who won Rookie of the Year honors in ’03 based on three wins in his first nine events, and had the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history, is looking for his first win of the ’05 season.

“When you’re in the race car and focused on the task at hand, you can be at any racetrack. All you think about is watching the lights come down on The Christmas Tree, racing your lane and getting to the finish line before your opponent. It takes intense focus. I don’t have the desire or the time to focus on past events.

“The ultimate goal, of course, would be to win, and in the end, I guess victory at this particular track would taste a bit sweeter.

“There’s no doubt that this season hasn’t shaped up to be exactly as we would have liked it to be, but we’re headed in the right direction. We’ve had some flashes of brilliance, but just haven’t been able to put four rounds together. There have been a couple of races in the last three events leading into Englishtown, that I was convinced we were going to the finals, but it didn’t happen. We got stopped in the semifinals.

“We are so overdue for a win and we’re so close.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the K & N Filters Supernationals begins Friday, June 17 at 5 p.m. with a second session at 7:30 p.m. There are two rounds of qualifying scheduled Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m.

K & N FILTERS SUPERNATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 18 – ESPN2
8 – 10 p.m. ET

Eliminations – June 19 – ESPN2
4 – 7 p.m. ET