DESPITE LOW ELAPSED TIME OF THE FIRST ROUND OF ACDELCO NATIONALS COMPETITION, TROUBLES CONTINUE TO PLAGUE BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 23) – There was one bright spot in the doubleheader weekend in Las Vegas, the next to last race in the 2005 NHRA POWERade season. The Kenny Bernstein-owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster captured a jaw-dropping low elapsed time of Sunday’s first round of competition, but suffered early defeats in the Budweiser Shootout and the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals.

Driver Brandon Bernstein qualified seventh for Sunday’s event with a 4.544/325.14.

In Saturday’s prestigious Budweiser Shootout competition between eight of the NHRA series’ best Top Fuel drivers, Bernstein was defeated in round one by Cory McClenathan in a close duel, 4.555/327.35 vs. 4.590/320.43.

“We burned a piston at the end of the run,” said Bernstein. “We really wanted to do well for Budweiser in this race, but I guess we’ll have to wait another year.”

In the opening round of ACDelco Nationals competition, Bernstein ran low elapsed time of the first sixteen, with a spectacular 4.489/327.11 to defeat Doug Kalitta’s tire-smoking 5.390/242.80.

Announcer Bob Frey summed it up best, “That was a monster run!”

"That was awesome,” said Bernstein. “When I saw the two cars in front of us lose traction and smoke the tires, I was hoping that wasn't going to happen to us. But I was ready for it, and was hoping I'd be on top of it if we did smoke the tires. It turned out we just had a great run! What a fantastic job by Tim (Richards), Kim (Richards), and the team."

The second round was a marquis match between the two quickest cars driven by Bernstein and Tony Schumacher. In a pedal fest with both drivers on and off the throttle trying to get traction to the ground, Schumacher crossed the finish line first, 5.046/275.96 vs. Bernstein’s 7.426/125.16.

Bernstein remains seventh in NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings with one race remaining to wrap the season.

BERNSTEIN WILL TAKE A SWING AT DOUBLE VICTORIES IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS – Brandon Bernstein prepares for a doubleheader at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Oct. 21-23. Bernstein will be driving his father’s Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster in Sunday’s AC Delco Las Vegas Nationals and the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday.

The Budweiser Shootout is a Top Fuel specialty race where eight Top Fuel drivers compete for the $100,000 winner’s share. Drivers accumulate points in qualifying through the year, and the top seven are seeded in the field, while those qualified 8 through 15 draw for the No. 8 wild card starting spot. Bernstein is fifth in the Bud Shootout qualifying order.

“We’re really excited about the Bud Shootout,” said Bernstein. “It’s one of the most prestigious races to win and all Top Fuel drivers want a Bud Shootout victory on their resume. Because Budweiser’s our sponsor, it takes on an even more special meaning for our team. Plus you get a special bonus if you win the Bud Shootout on Saturday and the ACDelco race on Sunday.

“Our team works hard and we come out each week to win the race. We’ve had too many weekends with weird parts breakage or we’ll be low elapsed time of one round and then have an unexpected loss the next round. I’d like to get off the rollercoaster and have some smooth sailing.

“There’s no question this team is capable of winning the trophies in Las Vegas. We have been running strong, competitive numbers. We need consistency and some luck.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) Qualifying and Budweiser Shootout schedule: Nitro qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. followed by a second session at 4:30 p.m. Budweiser Shootout introductions begin Saturday at 1 p.m. with first round of the Top Fuel specialty race at 1:30 p.m. A second round of nitro qualifying, excluding first round Bud Shootout participants is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Round 2 of the Budweiser Shootout is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. and the finals at 4:50 p.m. A second round of nitro qualifying, again excluding the Top Fuel participants still competing in the Bud Shootout, is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Budweiser Shootout Fan Fest and Draw Party: 2005 marks Budweiser’s second year to host the Budweiser Shootout, a Top Fuel specialty race, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, from noon to 7 p.m., there will be a Budweiser NHRA Fan Fest in the parking area of the Hard Rock Casino. It is free and open to the public. Fans can enjoy the POWERade and AC Delco interactive displays as well as demonstrations of the Oakley MP3 Thumps. Vehicles on display will include Whit Bazemore’s Vegas Centennial Funny Car, Kurt and Warren Johnson’s Pro Stock cars and Craig Treble’s Pro Motorcycle. The famous Budweiser Clydesdales will be at the Fan Zone from 4-6 p.m. and there will be live music at 2 and 4 p.m. Many NHRA drivers will be signing autographs from 5- 6:30 p.m. and KKLZ will be on-site giving away ticket and prize packages.

The top 15 NHRA Top Fuel drivers, based on cumulative qualifying points for the past year, will be participating in a Budweiser Shootout Draw Party from 7 – 9 p.m. at The Joint at the Hard Rock. This party will be attended by race teams and their sponsors. Drivers who have qualified 1 through 7 in cumulative qualifying points are guaranteed a starting position in Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout field.

Qualifiers 8 through 15 will draw for one wild card starting position. Drivers who are guaranteed to be seeded into the field are: Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta, Larry Dixon, Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein, Cory McClenathan, and Scott Kalitta. Last year’s winner, David Grubnic, will be among those who will draw for the wild card position.

ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NATIONALS AND BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT

TELEVISION ADVISORY

Budweiser Shootout – Oct. 22 – ESPN2
10:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET

Qualifying – Oct. 22 – ESPN2
11 p.m. – 2 a.m. ET

Eliminations – Oct. 23 – ESPN2
8 – 11 p.m. ET