CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 27) – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team progressed to the semifinals at the NHRA Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals, finishing third, and setting a track speed record in qualifying. Their dream of becoming the first Top Fuel team to win three events in Phoenix, however, evaporated in the semifinals.

Bernstein qualified fifth with an elapsed time of 4.508 seconds at a track record speed of 333.74 mph. The speed was Bernstein’s career best and the fastest run ever recorded at Firebird International Raceway.

In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein clocked a very competitive 4.544/330.80 to defeat Scott Weis’ 5.380/182.82.

“That run was nice and smooth,” said Bernstein. “It’s just what we wanted for first round.”

The quarterfinals matched Bernstein with Scott Kalitta. Both drivers hazed the tires and were off and on the throttle. Bernstein legged it to the finish line first with a 5.244/257.48 to eliminate Kalitta’s 6.661/134.15 effort.

“That was too close for comfort,” said Bernstein. “When you get into those situations you’re so busy in the cockpit trying to get the power to the ground, you just hold your breath and hope that the other guy doesn’t drive by you.”

The semifinals were a face off between Bernstein and Tony Schumacher. Though the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team ran a strong 4.561/299.66, they were outdistanced by Schumacher’s 4.498/327.35.

Bernstein remains sixth in NHRA POWERade standings, and is now 48 points out of the lead.

BRANDON BERNSTEIN LOOKING FOR THREE-PEAT AT FIREBIRD RACEWAY

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Like his father, six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein, Brandon celebrated his first career Top Fuel victory at Firebird International Raceway. Brandon, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, won the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals in his second outing in his 2003 rookie year. He repeated last year (his fourth career victory) and is hoping that his streak at the Phoenix facility will hold when he returns Feb. 25-27.

“Our team did some pre-season testing at this facility and we were pretty happy with our numbers,” said Brandon. “We ran 330 and 331 mph, the fastest passes ever made at Firebird.

“It’s important to show well early in the season so we need to stay competitive in the points from the beginning. This season every team is playing hardball and if you get behind early on it’s going to be really difficult to play catch-up.”

Brandon had the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history, having won five of his first 13 starts. With six career event wins to date, the second generation driver knows to win championships you must go rounds.

“The strategy doesn’t change from year to year,” said Brandon. “The guy standing on the podium with the big check and the big trophy at the end of the year is the guy that’s gone the most rounds. There are at least eight very competitive teams out there so that means if you’re lucky enough to get by first round, you’re going to meet a tough competitor beginning in the second round. Then comes the crew chief struggle about where you can maximize your tune-up without going over the edge and smoking the tires.

“Another big challenge for all the teams this year is trying to shorten the learning curve on the new MSD ignition. The new electronic technology will react and respond differently than the air systems we’ve used through the years. Tim (Richards, crew chief) feels that the new system will be great once we learn all of its intricacies.

“Many people don’t understand how many elements go into a tune-up, maybe 100 or more, and if one of those is slightly off, you’re toast. There are no pit stops in this sport to fix a problem. You’re either in or out.

“The driver has to be on his game as well. It’s a high-stress situation for the whole team. Everybody has to put in 100 percent effort.”

Bernstein is tied for sixth place in POWERade championship standings going into the second event of the season and is 62 points out of the lead.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals begins Friday, Feb. 25 at 3:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 6:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m.

Kenny Bernstein nominated for American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Newsmaker of the Half-Century Award: Bernstein is one of 12 nominees for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association’s Newsmaker of the Half-Century Award. The other nominees include: Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, John Force, A.J. Foyt, the France family, Jeff Gordon, Dan Gurney, the Hulman-George family, Wally Parks, Roger Penske and Richard Petty. Nominees were selected by AARWBA’s Board of Directors from an original list of 50 “who’s who in motorsports.” The full AARWBA membership will vote for one of the 12 nominees and the winner will be announced at a public ceremony this May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“This is a fabulous honor,” said Bernstein. “I’m still pinching myself to make sure I heard this correctly. To be whittled down to the final 12 from the mega hit list of motorsports’ greatest newsmakers is unbelievable. And it’s very noteworthy that the drag racing side makes up 25 percent of the final nominees. We’re thrilled not only for ourselves, but for the recognition for our sport.”

CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – Feb. 26 – ESPN2
9 – 11 p.m. ET

Eliminations – Feb. 27 – ESPN2
7-10 p.m. ET

BRANDON BERNSTEIN JOINS QUICKEST TOP FUEL FIELD IN NHRA HISTORY

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 13) – Though the Kenny Bernstein –owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil team was hoping for a better showing in the NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals season opener, the team’s performance was definitely in the range of the Top Fuel competitors they know they’ll have to hunt down if they want to capture the POWERade championship this season.

At Pomona Raceway, Brandon Bernstein drove to the No. 5 qualifying spot in the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history with a 4.474-second elapsed time at 326.40 miles per hour.

In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein defeated Brady Kalivoda with a solid 4.500/328.62 to Kalivoda’s 4.727/241.32.

In the quarterfinals against Morgan Lucas, the aggressive tune-up on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster turned into an outbreak of tire smoke. Lucas took the round win with a 4.498/319.14.

“The tire smoke surprised us a little bit,” said Bernstein. “We thought the track could hold what we were putting into the tune-up, but I guess not. Though we were sidelined earlier than we had hoped, we weren’t the only team surprised by out-guessing the conditions. Several of the big dogs went down in that round bitten by tire smoke.

“So in terms of championship points, we’re all kind of rolled in there together. It will make it interesting for the next event in Phoenix in two weeks.

“We’re undefeated there and have won the last two races, so hopefully our good fortune will hold at Phoenix.”

In POWERade championship standings, Bernstein is tied for sixth place and is 62 points out of the lead.

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