KENNY BERNSTEIN NAMES TOMMY JOHNSON, JR. TO DRIVE
Six-time NHRA champion and motorsports icon Kenny Bernstein today made a surprise announcement that he is stepping out of the cockpit of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car effective immediately and has hired well-known Funny Car shoe Tommy Johnson, Jr. as his successor. “I was only contemplating driving one more year,” explained Bernstein, “but when Tommy became available at the end of the ’07 season, we started to give the situation a lot of thought. We’ve been fortunate to win six championships, 69 races, and we have some milestone performance marks, chief among them, becoming the first to crack the 300 miles-per-hour barrier. “I guess we can always look to win one more race or one more championship, but in reality, I’ve had a great career and many talented crew members who have helped mold my success through the years. For me at this stage of my life, the right decision is to step away from the cockpit. “We chose Tommy because he is a quality driver, likeable person, and he understands the corporate nature of our business. He also has ties to Lucas Oil and Mac Tools which certainly fit right into our sponsor alignment.” “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be on the track next year, especially with the caliber of Funny Car team Kenny fields with Monster Energy/Lucas Oil, “ said Johnson, Jr. “Kenny runs a professional operation and is an icon of our sport. It’s an honor to be named as his successor and the first full-time driver he’s named outside the family. “We do have a bit of a history, though, “continued Johnson, Jr. “I did some pre-season testing for him in 2000 when he was recuperating from shoulder surgery. Kenny and I have been friends for a number of years. “I am definitely excited about the season to come, but I want to thank Don Prudhomme for the opportunities he gave me the past seven years.” “We’re excited to welcome Tommy to our team,” said Bernstein. “And I want to also thank Don (Prudhomme) for working with us to release Tommy to drive for KBR. “We know with Tommy on board, we won’t miss a beat. We plan to do a lot of testing in January at Phoenix, and we’ll be ready to attack the ’08 season with a virtually seasoned team. “Jimmy Walsh and Danny DeGennaro will continue to lead the tune-up team for the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, and I will continue to travel to the races and oversee not only our Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car operation, but also the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team. We have multiple seasons left on sponsorship contracts with both teams.” With 9 professional career victories, Johnson, Jr. has won events in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. He scored his first professional victory in Seattle in 1993, and his most recent victory at Englishtown, N.J. last season. Bernstein’s combination of professionalism, commitment and competitiveness has made him a motorsports icon. He holds the unique distinction of being the first and only race team owner to have collected wins in each of America’s three major motorsports series: NHRA drag racing, NASCAR and CART. As a driver, Bernstein became the first to win NHRA championships in both Funny Car (1985-1988) and Top Fuel (1996, 2001). He was nominated for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Newsmaker of the Half-Century award and was voted in the top 10 on NHRA’s 50 Greatest Drivers list. He has been inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. “We’ve enjoyed a lot of accolades in our career,” summarized Bernstein. “Now it’s time for me to take a step back, continue to guide Brandon’s career, and be there to help and support Tommy. “It’s been a good ride and we owe a debt of gratitude to numerous people who have contributed to our success through the years. Perhaps I can repay that debt and contribute to the success of others.” Follow the Kenny Bernstein owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team with driver Brandon Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team with driver Tommy Johnson, Jr. at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.budweiser.com; www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
KENNY BERNSTEIN PUTS 2007 SEASON TO REST POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 4) – Kenny Bernstein put a cap on the 2007 NHRA racing season at the Auto Club Finals, ending his first full season in competition since his retirement in 2002. The season held performance highs with two runner-up finishes, and emotional lows resulting from the loss of fellow Funny Car competitor Eric Medlen, and a high-speed collision with John Force in Dallas. “We’ve learned a lot this season,” said Bernstein. “The fact is we’re already working on next year. Our goal is to come out of the gate at the ’08 season-opener here in Pomona with guns blazing. “It seems we picked the toughest competitive season in NHRA history to return to the Funny Car category, but our Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team has made overall performance gains.” In the first round of eliminations against Jerry Toliver, Bernstein had the starting gate reaction time advantage, but Toliver crossed the finish stripe first with a 4.871/322.34 to Bernstein’s 4.915/316.75. “The day ended too quickly for us,” reflected Bernstein, “but another of our goals for 2008 is to get that 70th career victory. We’re looking forward to season two of Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car competition.” Bernstein finished the season 14th in Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car will compete in the 43rd Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at The Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying NHRA Race Day Eliminations We hope to have the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
“WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS” LAS VEGAS (Oct. 27) – Kenny Bernstein who has celebrated three victories at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, defied odds and dominated races, and “doubled down” celebrating an NHRA milestone victory with his son who was driving in the sportsman series in 2001, had Lady Luck turn her back at the defining second at the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. Six-time champion Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team battled for a position in the competitive field of 16, but with a lot of last minute shuffling, Bernstein was eliminated from Sunday’s line-up by the last contestant who had a chance of bumping into the field and did. “There’s no question that we’re disappointed for our sponsors,” said Bernstein. “Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) and the team gave their best efforts and we just got nicked at the last minute. We want to thank our fans who have been, and continue to be, very supportive. We’ll put this weekend behind us and head to Pomona (Calif.) for next weekend’s season-ending event and hope we can end on a strong note. “This season’s battles have been difficult for everyone in the Funny Car category. “Throughout the weekend, we were on the starting line to continue our support for Brandon and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team’s quest for the championship.” Bernstein is 13th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. |
The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car will compete in the The Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will compete in the 7th Annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NHRA NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying NHRA Race Day Eliminations
We hope to have the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
KENNY BERNSTEIN LOOKING FOR 10TH CAREER FINAL ROUND SHOWING POMONA, Calif. – Whether driving a Funny Car or a Top Fuel dragster, Kenny Bernstein has a history of ending the NHRA season with a flare. He has nine final round appearances at Auto Club Raceway through the years. In Funny Car in four final rounds, Bernstein took home two Funny Car trophies, as well as championships in 1985 and 1986. In Top Fuel, he has five final round showings with four victories, including 2003 when he substituted for his injured son, Brandon, who suffered back injuries earlier in the season. The six-time NHRA world champion hopes to continue his tradition of making final round appearances at the Automobile Club of Southern California Finals Nov. 1-4 driving his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. “When you win the final race of the season, you have a couple of months to enjoy the victory,” reflected Bernstein. “Plus it gives you a little mojo and momentum going into the next season. “The truth is Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) and the team have already begun some of the preparation for next season and we’ve been working on tuning combinations as well. We had a slow start this season, but we hope to start next year off with some strong showings right out of the gate. “Knowing how tough the competition was in the Funny Car category this year, crew chiefs will be burning the midnight oil to find whatever fraction of an advantage they can for next year. “We know that the percentage of nitro allowed in the fuel mixture will increase next year so that will mean tuning changes. “But in the present tense, we’d like to end the season with a victory celebration for Monster Energy, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools, AlphaTrade and all of the other sponsors who have supported our return to competition this year.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2:30 p.m. with a second session Friday at 2:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday noon and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – Nov. 3 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – Nov. 4 – ESPN2 Eliminations – Nov. 4 – ESPN2 |
KENNY BERNSTEIN LOOKING FOR VICTORY NO. 4 LAS VEGAS – Lady luck has smiled on Kenny Bernstein three times since the inaugural race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2000. Bernstein is casting an optimistic eye toward the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals Oct. 26-28, hoping that might be the site of his 70th victory. After all, he won the first race at The Strip in 2000 and followed it with a defending victory in 2001. He won the ACDelco fall race in 2003 the final year of his tenure at the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel car. Bernstein returned to action this season driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. He has finished runner-up twice, but is looking for that elusive milestone victory. “We got off to a slower start than I would have liked,” said Bernstein, “but at the same time it’s rewarding to see the progress made by (crew chief) Jimmy Walsh and the team. We’re very competitive when we pull to the line and have a chance to go some rounds on race day. Competition in the Funny Car field is fierce and it’s a battle for every qualifying position and round win. “We had to regroup after Dallas, and we plumbed another chassis and put a new Dodge Charger body on top for the last event at Richmond. It was a scramble, but the team did a great job. We came out and qualified No. 4 which is admirable. We’re getting better and better and we’re actually making some progress toward next year. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals begins Friday, Oct. 26 with an opening round at 2 p.m., followed by a second session at 4:30 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – Oct. 27 – ESPN2 |
KENNY BERNSTEIN CONTINUES RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW YORK-NEW YORK AS TEAM’S OFFICIAL HOTEL LAS VEGAS – For the third consecutive NHRA national event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kenny Bernstein has extended his team’s official hotel relationship with New York-New York Hotel & Casino. “Our team looks forward to racing at Las Vegas in the spring and fall,” said six-time NHRA champion Bernstein. “Away from the racing action, our Budweiser/Lucas Oil and Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team members enjoy the restaurants, shows, and of course ‘The Roller Coaster’ in the Big Apple of Las Vegas. “Our Dragster and Funny Car will showcase the New York-New York logo throughout the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals Oct. 26-28, and we invite fans who may be planning to attend the race to book their rooms at our favorite Las Vegas hotel & casino.” Kenny Bernstein, who retired at the end of the 2002 season, but drove the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster for a portion of 2003 while his son Brandon was recovering from racing injuries, has returned to competition this season as pilot of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Brandon, who is one of four drivers battling for the Top Fuel championship, earned NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 2003, and has had the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history. With two races remaining to determine the winner of this year’s championships, the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals is a pivotal, high-profile event. Inspired by the famous energy and landmarks of New York City, New York-New York features 12 New York-style skyscrapers showcasing 2,023 guest rooms and suites. Other featured Big Apple icons include an 84,000-square-foot, Central Park-themed casino; a 150-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty; and a 300-foot-long replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. Within the resort are award-winning restaurants including Gallagher's Steakhouse, Il Fornaio and Nine Fine Irishmen, an authentic pub offering the best of Irish drink, food and music. New York-New York offers extraordinary entertainment including the provocative and sensuous Cirque du Soleil production, Zumanity, a thrilling roller coaster and ESPN Zone, a sports-themed dining and entertainment complex. New York-New York is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM MIRAGE™. For more information and reservations, visit the web site at www.nynyhotelcasino.com, or call toll free at (800) 693-6763. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.budweiser.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. # # # |
KENNY BERNSTEIN CREDITS MONSTER ENERGY/LUCAS OIL TEAM WITH RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 7) – The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team spent the week prior to the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals rebuilding their Dodge Charger Funny Car following Kenny Bernstein’s devastating collision with John Force in Dallas Their monumental efforts paid off with a No. 4 qualifying spot obtained with a competitive 4.818-second elapsed time at 316.23 mph. In the opening round of Funny Car eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park, Bernstein faced Tony Bartone. The six-time NHRA world champion left before the starting line tree was activated and lost traction about half track. Bartone also struggled with tire spin, but was able to take the round win with a 5.276/207.02. “We want to give credit to (crew chief) Jimmy Walsh and our team,” said Bernstein. “They spent a lot of man hours getting a new car put together. We qualified well, but we’re probably going to have to work some of the bugs out of the new chassis to find out what tune-up combination it really likes. “We’ll continue to whittle away and make progress on that front. “Meanwhile, as a team owner, we want to congratulate (son) Brandon and the entire Budweiser/Lucas Oil team for making the Countdown to Four. We’re excited about their opportunity to run for the Championship and we’ll be there to support them every step of the way.” Kenny Bernstein is 11th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. # # # |
The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car will compete in the The Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will compete in the 2nd Annual Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Virginia. TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying NHRA Race Day Eliminations
We hope to have the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
Kenny Bernstein Statement on the loss of Wally Parks: “Wally was a visionary and a personal friend. He and Barbara put so much time and effort into birthing and growing this sport into the multimillion dollar spectacle it is today. Not only was he an astute businessman, he was revered by many of us on a personal level. He understood public relations, marketing and sales, and he understood the racers. He was as comfortable visiting with us in the pits as he was in the boardroom. “In the 1980s, I worked closely with Wally and Dallas Gardner on some thoughts and ideas for our sport, and out of those conversations, the Bud Shootout was born. Through the years I always enjoyed discussions with Wally. “Wally and Barbara worked tirelessly so that a good many
of us could live our dream, and he devoted years to the preservation
of our sport in the form of the NHRA Motorsports Museum. We
will envision him at Pomona where he was ever present in the
later years and we'll never forget the 50-plus years he guided
and watched over our sport. He will be greatly missed.” |
“ALL THE KING’S
HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN”… RICHMOND, Va. – Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team are picking up the pieces, literally, and putting together another chassis and Dodge Charger Funny Car body for competition at the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, Oct. 5-7. Legendary drivers Bernstein and John Force collided in second round competition in Dallas, Texas. News of the accident jammed cyberspace for hours as fans and friends searched for information. The accident happened when Force’s car began to break apart and became unmanageable. Bernstein climbed out of his chassis without injury, while Force was airlifted to a Dallas hospital and underwent a surgical procedure to repair ankle, hand, wrist, and knee injuries. “John is a good friend and we’re happy to know he is making good progress,” said Bernstein. “We know it’s going to be a painful recuperative process, but John is strong and determined. “When drivers go through an accident like this, the best thing from my point of view is to get back in the saddle and ride the horse. I will be fortunate enough to be able to do that at Richmond. “The saving grace for John is that he doesn’t remember much of the run at all, so the vision won’t keep looping through his brain. I remember everything that happened, but I never want to review video footage or photos from something like this. I leave the review process to Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief). So I’m mentally prepared to get on with qualifying. “Physically, Jimmy and the entire Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team have a lot of work to do. Tuesday after the accident they took the damaged Dallas chassis to Murf McKinney’s shop, who manufactures our chassis, and found out it was beyond repair. That chassis was on its third race. “We have two more chassis and three more bodies, so we should be good to go for the remaining three races. “I also want to say that the padding around my head which was beefed up as a result of the technological advances that John Force Racing is doing as a result of losing their driver and our friend Eric Medlen earlier this season, certainly helped us weather the impact of the crash(es) much better. By the same token, I’m sure their research played a big part in saving John from more serious injury. “We want to thank our friends and fans who contacted us through emails, faxes and phone calls after the accident, concerned about our well-being. It means a lot to have everyone reach out and rally around. It gives us momentum to get back out and do the very best we can for them.” Bernstein and Force collectively have 20 NHRA world championships and 194 national event wins to their credit. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals begins Friday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. with a second session at 6:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com TORCO RACING FUELS NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – Oct. 6 – ESPN2 7 – 8 p.m. ET NHRA Race Day – Oct. 7 – ESPN2 11-11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – Oct. 7 – ESPN2 7 – 10 p.m. ET |
KENNY BERNSTEIN WALKS AWAY FROM SPECTACULAR CRASH IN DALLAS DALLAS (Sept. 23) – The most haunting, unforgettable moment from the O'Reilly Fall Nationals jammed cyberspace for hours as fans and friends searched for information surrounding the horrifying incident involving Kenny Bernstein and John Force. Force, whose car was beginning to break apart, collided into Bernstein and the two legends crashed together before smacking the retaining wall. Bernstein was virtually unscathed in the accident, while Force was transported to a Dallas hospital with a broken left ankle, a severe abrasion on his right knee, as well as a dislocated left wrist. Force also sustained severe abrasions and slight fractures on a number of fingers on his right hand. Prior to race day action, Bernstein qualified the Monster Energy/Lucas
Oil Funny Car in the sixth position with a 4.840/314.31. "That was a great job by Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) and the whole team. It always feels good to come back to Dallas to race. We have a lot of friends here, and several of the guys I raced for early in my career are with us at the track today." Perhaps the most anticipated match of the day was the second
round pairing of Bernstein and Force. With 194 national events
wins and 20 NHRA world championships between the two drivers,
the crowd was anxious to see who would take bragging rights
at the Texas Motorplex. Instead they saw a horrendous wreck
in which both cars were collected and slammed against the retaining
wall. "But at that instant, or just prior to that, I saw John's car out of the corner of my left eye heading toward me. He wasn't approaching at a 90-degree angle, but it was a pretty severe angle. I remember seeing the black front end of his car coming toward me and the next thing I knew we hit and then stuff just started flying everywhere. I couldn't see then because the (race car) body had gotten knocked up in the air in front of me and my vision was obstructed. I didn't remember going into the wall, but the evidence on the body and the headers show that. Now that I think back, I remember feeling a solid hit on the right side so it must have taken both of us right into the wall. "My car was jumping around, I guess the best way to describe
it, was like a frog. It wasn't on all fours. It was on the front
two tires, the side two, the back two, just everywhere. My first
thought was that I was going to hit the wall again or turn over.
I had to get on the brake and start driving. "John suffered some broken bones and I know he's going to have
a tough recuperative period. Sheryl, Brandon and I went to the
hospital to be with his family. Of all things, right after the
helicopter left with John, two medics came back and said John
sent them to tell me he was sorry. John is always thinking of
others." "I will also say those big roll pads we have near our head that were beefed up as a result of the safety improvements John Force Racing is researching, helped me a lot, "continued Bernstein. "When we suffered the impact of the hit, my head was moving side to side and I got a little headache, almost like it feels when you experience tire shake. It would have been a lot worse had we not had the roll pads. "Our hearts go out to John and his family. They will remain
in our thoughts, and we'll be happy to see John when he's able
to come to the track. In the meanwhile we will certainly be
in touch to monitor his progress." Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
KENNY BERNSTEIN PUTS MEMPHIS
EVENT IN THE BOOKS, MEMPHIS (Sept. 16) – Kenny Bernstein ended his day at the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals in a smoky first round pedalfest in an ever-competitive Funny Car field. Bernstein qualified the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil car in14th position with a 4.897/309.98. The six-time champion squared off against Tommy Johnson, Jr. in the opening stanza of eliminations. Bernstein had the reaction time edge but both drivers were fighting loss of traction early in their runs. Johnson, Jr. was able to get traction to the ground first and won the round with a 5.299/238.81 to Bernstein’s 6.745/127.67. “We’ll stay in Memphis Monday and do some testing,” said Bernstein. “We’re still in hot pursuit of our 70th career victory and next weekend in Dallas affords us another opportunity. We’re going to concentrate on sharpening some areas of our tune-up in the test session and look to go rounds in Dallas.” Bernstein is 11th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
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KENNY BERNSTEIN RETURNS
TO TEXAS ROOTS TO DRIVE DALLAS – Kenny Bernstein began his professional racing career as a young adult in and around the Dallas area piloting a number of locally-owned fuel dragsters and funny cars. In 1979, he funded his own team and in 1980 he began his first of 30 years of sponsorship association with Budweiser, the longest current racer-sponsor affiliation in all of autosports. Memories of years gone by return each time the six-time champion enters the gates of the Texas Motorplex. When Bernstein suits up for the O’Reilly Fall Nationals Sept. 21-23, it will be to step into the cockpit of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Though he continues to own the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team with his son driving the 7,000-horsepower dragster, Bernstein had the opportunity to return to competition this year with Monster Energy and Lucas Oil. As in years past, he continues to be a contender and force to be reckoned with on the performance side, and he is especially treacherous on starting line reaction time. Bernstein has driven the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny car to runner-up finishes at Norwalk, Ohio, July 1 and again in Brainerd, Minn. Aug. 12. His lightning quick reaction times have stunned and eliminated the best of the best in the Funny Car category this season on holeshot (won on reaction time) victories. “We’re competitive by nature,” said Bernstein, “and we just weren’t comfortable standing on the starting line. Though this is perhaps the toughest year in recent memory in the Funny Car category, it’s a thrill to drive these cars. They’re challenging and it takes a lot of strength and seat-of-the-pants driving skill. “Last year we were fortunate to be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame,” continued Bernstein. “It was a fantastic evening, and I invited some special friends to share our table at the gala. We were joined by some of the car owners who had enough faith in us early on to allow us to drive their race cars. It was a time to reflect on where we began and the good fortune we’ve enjoyed for almost three decades now. “This same group will likely come out this weekend and spend some time with us.” Bernstein won at the Texas Motorplex in the Funny Car category in 1986 and again in 2003 driving his Top Fuel dragster. In 1987 he won a Funny Car All-Star event at the Texas facility. “It would be fantastic to win in Dallas this year right where our racing roots catapulted us into the great career we’ve enjoyed.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the O’Reilly Fall Nationals begins Friday, Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 7:30 p.m. There are two Saturday qualifying rounds, noon and 3 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Bernstein to greet fans at Sam’s Club. Kenny Bernstein will sign autographs and pose for photographs from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Sam’s Club, 1701 Highway 114, Grapevine, Texas. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
O’REILLY FALL NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY NHRA RACE DAY – Sept. 23 – ESPN2 11 – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – Sept. 23 – ESPN2 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET |
KENNY BERNSTEIN LOOKING
TO SCORE THIRD MEMPHIS – Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team are looking for a victory before season’s end and the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals Sept. 14-16, could provide the setting. Bernstein has scored victories on nearly every NHRA national event track in his career and he is a two-time winner at Memphis Motorsports Park. He won in the Funny Car Division in 1989 and in the Top Fuel division in 2001 during his “Forever Red” retirement tour. The 2001 victory was especially emotional as it occurred shortly after the fateful 9/11. Bernstein, displaying an American flag, dedicated the victory to all of the victims and their families who suffered during and as a result of that attack. Bernstein has finished runner-up twice this season, Norwalk, Ohio July 1 and Brainerd, Minn. Aug. 12. “We were within four-thousandths of a second of a victory in Brainerd,” said Bernstein. “Our team, led by crew chief Jimmy Walsh, has made big strides since he joined our team prior to the Gainesville event. We’re just on the edge of victory and our goal this season is to get another trophy to add to the 69 career trophies displayed at our California office. “We returned to the cockpit this season because we missed the competition. It’s just in the genes, I guess. We want to win whether it’s on the track, on the golf course or whatever the game is. “Right now we feel we have a chance to win every time we roll to the starting line.” Bernstein played the spoiler at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the first race in the Countdown to Four, by eliminating Funny Car point leader Ron Capps in the first round of competition. Bernstein, who is well known for his quick exits from the starting line, defeated Capps with a hole shot victory, winning by virtue of his reaction time. “The Funny Car category is so difficult this season that the driver has to be on his game and do everything in his power to help the team. We’re concentrating on doing our job on the starting line, and it’s made the difference in several round wins this year.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals begins Friday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m. with a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m.
O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY NHRA Race Day – Sept. 16 – ESPN2 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – Sept. 16 – ESPN2 7 – 10 p.m. ET |
KENNY BERNSTEIN MOVES
MONSTER ENERGY/LUCAS OIL FUNNY CAR CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 3) – Kenny Bernstein played the role of spoiler at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals upsetting Funny Car point leader Ron Capps on a hole shot victory in the opening round of competition. The driver of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car also moved into the top 10 in points. Bernstein qualified 12th at O’Reilly Raceway Park with a 4.803/320.28. The six-time champion’s ability to cut quick reaction times makes him a dreaded opponent. In the first round against Ron Capps, Bernstein’s impressive .045-second reaction time, paired with a 4.922-second elapsed time at 307.16 mph, earned him the opportunity to transfer to the second round. Though Capps clocked a quicker 4.877-second elapsed time at 316.82 mph, his slower .097-second reaction time allowed Bernstein enough margin to take the victory. “Ron Capps and his crew chief Ed ‘the Ace’ McCulloch are tough customers,” said Bernstein. “Our Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team did a great job preparing for that run and that was a big win for us.” In the second round of eliminations, Bernstein lost traction at the hit of the throttle, while Robert Hight advanced. “It was a difficult task to make the top 16 this year in Indy,” said Bernstein. “We love racing here and appreciate the fans hanging in there for four days of competition. “It was hot and sunny in Indy today, and we obviously tried a more aggressive tune-up than the track would hold. We’re happy to have made a gain in point standings to transfer to 10th place. “With five races remaining this season, we’re still hoping for a victory.” #
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CLERMONT, Ind. – Six-time NHRA world champion Kenny Bernstein is looking for his first victory of the season. Could the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Aug. 31-Sept. 3 provide the setting? Bernstein has finished runner-up twice this year since his return to NHRA competition as driver of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny car. He was within a nano second (four thousandths of a second to be exact) from defeating John Force in a thrilling final round at Brainerd, Minn. “This Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team is right on the edge of a victory,” said Bernstein. “The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is the most important race in our sport in terms of legend and history. It would be a significant accomplishment if we could pull off a win in Indy.” Bernstein’s career is full of firsts. He is perhaps most well known for being the first to surpass the 300 mph barrier, a feat he accomplished in 1992. But another of his accomplishments was the first to claim double up victories at the U.S. Nationals and the Bud Shootout specialty race on the same weekend in Indy. That achievement went in the record books in 1983 when he was driving the Budweiser King Funny Car. The Bud Shootout specialty race for the eight quickest Funny Cars in the sport is now the Skoal Showdown, but points are accrued at events completed since the previous year’s contest. Since that includes events from last season when Bernstein was not competing, he did not amass enough points to compete in the ’07 event which is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 2. “We knew going into this season that we wouldn’t have a chance to compete in the Showdown,” said Bernstein. “The concept was originally an idea I took on behalf of Budweiser to previous NHRA President Dallas Gardner. Together we worked to initiate the first Bud Shootout in 1982. It was the Bud Shootout until 2004 when Skoal took over the naming rights. “We’re happy the race has thrived through the years. For the competitors, it’s a chance to earn another paycheck, and if you can pull off a victory in the Showdown and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, there’s a double up bonus worth a total of $100,000. That will help pay some bills.” Besides the victory in 1983, Bernstein won the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Funny Car again in 1987 and in Top Fuel in 1991. “I’m very proud of the progress that (crew chief) Jimmy Walsh has made these last several races,” said Bernstein. “The Funny Car category has been very competitive, perhaps the most closely-matched field in recent NHRA history. “We picked a heck of a year to come back, but one afternoon in victory circle will soothe all the disappointments and the days, months, and hours of determination and sweat that the team has put into this effort. “Our Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team is focused and optimistic.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals begins Friday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds scheduled Saturday, 2:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; two qualifying rounds Sunday, 12:45 p.m. and 3:40 p.m., with eliminations beginning Monday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY NHRA Race Day – Sept. 2 – ESPN2 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Qualifying – Sept. 2 – ESPN2 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET Eliminations – Sept. 3 – ESPN2 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. 10 – p.m. |
KENNY BERNSTEIN OUT EARLY IN CLOSE
RACE IN READING
READING, Pa. (Aug. 19) – Race day at the Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway brought steady rain following the completion of the first round of Top Fuel and after only three pair of Funny Cars. Following a No. 13 qualifying effort (4.888/306.95), Kenny Bernstein rolled to the starting line Sunday morning to face point leader Ron Capps. It was neck and neck down the quarter mile, and Bernstein had the advantage at the 1000-foot mark. Then the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car lost traction and began to spin the tires. “When it lost traction, it dropped a cylinder and took the burst panel out,” said Bernstein. “It was just beginning to mist as we finished running and we were the last pair down the race track Sunday before the rain set in.” Competition was scheduled to resume Monday morning at 10 a.m. ET. Point standings are not yet available since the race is not concluded, though Bernstein will not be in the countdown to eight. “We’re heading to Indianapolis for a couple of days of testing prior to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. We want to make a good showing there,” said Bernstein. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
READING, Pa. – Six-time NHRA world champion Kenny Bernstein already has one team seeded in the countdown to eight, the first phase of the countdown to the championship. His Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team with his son Brandon in the cockpit has solidified a position in the prestigious field. The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car that Kenny owns and drives, will have one last chance at the Toyo Tires Nationals Aug. 17-19 to qualify for the countdown to eight. Bernstein comes to Reading off a runner-up finish at Brainerd, Minn., and is 115 points out of the single Funny Car position available in the countdown to eight. “We started this team from the nuts and bolts up this season,” said Bernstein. “It was quite an undertaking. We got off to a slow start which cost us some time and points. At the third race of the season we hired a new crew chief and assistant crew chief and we went to the semifinals. “This is perhaps the most competitive season in the Funny Car category in NHRA history. Our team has the talent to go rounds which we’ve proven. From time to time we’ve had some mechanical gremlins to chase which have slowed down our progress, but every person on our team is pulling his weight and putting in 100 percent effort. There’s no lack of funding and no lack of effort here. “If we don’t make the countdown to eight, sure, we’ll be disappointed, but it doesn’t mean we can’t win an event between now and the end of the year. We’re close, and we can sure play the spoiler.” Bernstein also finished runner-up at the inaugural NHRA race at Norwalk, Ohio, July 1, and has had strong qualifying efforts, including a No. 2 starting berth in Seattle July 22. Well known for his quick reaction times off the starting line, Bernstein has contributed to round wins for his team and had the quickest reaction time of eliminations in Denver in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. In his early Funny Car career, Bernstein was a three-time finalist at Maple Grove Raceway, winning in 1988, the fourth year of his consecutive NHRA Funny Car championships. He drove to victory circle twice during his Top Fuel tenure, 1992 and 1996, and was runner-up in 1997, 2001, and 2002. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Toyo Tires Nationals begins Friday, Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. with a second session at 7 p.m. There are two Saturday qualifying runs scheduled at noon and 3 p.m. Top Fuel will kick-off Sunday’s eliminations at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com TOYO TIRES NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – Aug. 18 – ESPN2 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET NHRA Race Day – Aug. 19 – ESPN2 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – Aug. 19 – ESPN2 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET |
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 12) – Kenny Bernstein epitomized the eye of the tiger at the Lucas Oil Nationals. It was a weekend of vintage Bernstein and teamwork in the truest sense: good driving, good tuning. With their combined efforts, Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team scored their second runner-up finish of the season and moved to 11th in NHRA point standings. They still have a mathematical shot at making the countdown to eight Bernstein qualified No. 4 at Brainerd International Raceway with a 4.796/319.60. In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein defeated Tony Pedregon with a 4.824/316.15 to Pedregon’s 4.863/316.23 “Tony and his team are very competitive,” said Bernstein. “That was a close race and a good round win. We need to go rounds today.” A masterful job of driving and one of Bernstein’s lightning quick reaction times contributed to the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team’s second round win. With a scorching .035-second reaction time off the starting line coupled with a 4.826-second elapsed time at 320.81 mph, Bernstein streaked across the finish line first to best opponent Jack Beckman’s quicker 4.786-second elapsed time at 321.88 mph, but slower .118-second reaction time. Bernstein’s margin of victory was .0435 seconds. “I knew I had to be on my game,” said Bernstein. “Every round is critical to us and we have the horse to ride today.” In the semifinals, Bernstein brought his ‘A’ game to the starting line again for another hole shot victory over Gary Scelzi. Bernstein’s .066-second reaction time combined with a 4.825/312.86 conquered Scelzi’s .095-second reaction time with a 4.808/322.65. As Bernstein neared the finish line, there was a flash of fire from the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. “The engine just leaned out and blew up to put it in the simplest terms,” said Bernstein. Back in the pits, the team scrambled to change the engine and put the green machine back together for the final round where two of the great champions of the sport, Kenny Bernstein and John Force, would duke it out for the Lucas Oil Nationals trophy. Ironically 20 years ago in 1987, Force and Bernstein met in the finals at this event and Bernstein took the win. This time Bernstein had a slight edge out of the starting gate and it was neck and neck down the drag strip. Force earned the victory with a near photo finish. Bernstein stopped the clocks with a 4.801/320.43 to Force’s 4.794/316.60. “It was a heck of a race,” said Bernstein, “but we’re disappointed when we lose. The team was under severe pressure to put the car back together for the finals. And they did a great job. I’m very proud of them! “I was happy for Brandon and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team’s victory today. Brandon and I want to celebrate a double victory and we thought today might be the day. It’s very difficult to get both cars to the final on the same weekend to begin with. The odds on that in Las Vegas would be pretty high. Not to be able to complete the deal is disappointing, but we did stay alive for the countdown spot and we did gain some positions in the point standings. This team is getting more competitive every race.” Bernstein is 115 points out of the single Funny Car position still available in the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com.
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BRAINERD, Minn. – Six-time NHRA world champion Kenny Bernstein finished runner-up in Norwalk, Ohio, July 1, and is avidly pursuing his first victory of the season at the Lucas Oil Nationals Aug. 10-12. Bernstein is no stranger to Brainerd International Raceway’s victory circle, having won in 1983 and 1987 during his early Funny Car hey day, and in 1991, 1996 and 2002 in the Top Fuel category. “It would be really special to bring home a victory at the Lucas Oil Nationals,” said Bernstein, “because Forrest and Charlotte Lucas are our sponsors. Actually, they are more than sponsors, they are our really good friends. “Additionally we are still trying to work our way into the countdown to eight in the new championship format. We need a good showing at Brainerd International Raceway to keep our foot in the door.” After standing on the starting line for the past three years cheering for his son and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team he continues to own, a sponsorship opportunity allowed him to return to the Funny Car ranks this year as driver and owner of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil car. “We have always enjoyed the competitive side of racing,” said Bernstein. “Standing on the sidelines was difficult for me. Monster Energy drinks are distributed by Anheuser-Busch wholesalers in most of our race market areas, so the tie-in with Monster and the 28-year sponsorship association we’ve had through the Budweiser brand of Anheuser-Busch made perfect sense. “We knew building another team from the ground up would be a massive undertaking, but our performance numbers have been on the upswing and our consistency is improving. I have confidence that every time we pull to the starting line, we have a chance to win. “We would love to add to our trophy collection. We don’t want to get too greedy here, but it would be another NHRA milestone if Brandon and I could both win at the Lucas event.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Lucas Oil Nationals begins Friday, Aug. 10 at 3:30 p.m. with a second session at 6:15 p.m. There are two qualifying runs Saturday, noon and 2:45 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com LUCAS OIL NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY NHRA Race Day – Aug. 12 – ESPN2 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – Aug. 12 – ESPN2 7 – 10 p.m. ET |
SONOMA, Calif. ( July 29) – Despite a competitive qualifying effort, six-time champion Kenny Bernstein’s race day hopes at the Fram Autolite Nationals literally went up in smoke. Bernstein qualified eighth at Infineon Raceway with a 4.794-second elapsed time at 324.98 mph. In the opening round of Sunday’s eliminations, Bernstein rolled into the staging beams to face Robert Hight. Bernstein was first off the starting line with a .067-second reaction time, but soon lost traction and began to spin the tires. Hight won the round, 4.843/315.86 to Bernstein’s 9.041/93.42. “We were the No. 8 qualifier and Robert was ninth,” said Bernstein. “We were pretty evenly matched and we thought we had a good chance. “I maintain that we are a better team than we’re showing right now. We have continued to work through gremlins along the way, but I feel that whenever we pull our Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car to the line, we have a good chance of taking the round win. Today we were disappointed, but we’re keeping our confidence high.” Bernstein remains 14th in Funny Car standings 179 points out of the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. # # # |
KENT, Wash. (July 22) – Kenny Bernstein scored his best qualifying effort of the season, moved up in the NHRA Funny Car point standings and captured a final four finish at the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals. With persistent rain plaguing both days of qualifying, NHRA officials were forced to set the elimination field after one Saturday qualifying session. Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team were seeded second in the 16-car field with a 4.854/307.44. Their best effort this season earned them the $3000 Full Throttle award for performance and consistency in qualifying. The Kenny Bernstein-owned team collected the bonus check by virtue of a problem-free run, while the No. 1 qualifier caused a race track oil down. Though Sunday’s start of eliminations was rain delayed by nearly an hour, the competition was fierce. Bernstein was on his game, first out of the gate against Cruz Pedregon. Bernstein took the round win with a Jimmy Walsh 4.818/317.05 tune up, defeating a solid 4.843/311.13 effort by Pedregon. In the second round Bernstein faced off against second-generation driver Ashley Force. Both drivers lost traction early in the run. Bernstein was on and off the throttle before “hooking up” and getting traction to the ground while Force fought the car as it thrashed right and left, finally hitting the wall and bursting into flame. Force emerged from the car without injury. Bernstein gained the round win with a 6.453/292.52. “I couldn’t see what was going on with Ashley in the other lane,” said Bernstein. “I’m glad to know she is okay. “We were fortunate to have a lot of experience with pedaling the car and maybe that gave us an edge in this round.” In the semifinals against Jack Beckman, Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team put forth a valiant effort but were edged out by Beckman’s 4.800/319.75 to their 4.824/320.58. “The more runs we make, the more consistency we gain,” said Bernstein. “We’re happy with the progress we’re making. We’re right there.” Bernstein is 14th in NHRA Funny Car standings, 104 points out of the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
SONOMA, Calif. – With three races remaining before the countdown to eight field is set, the goal set by Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team is to go rounds at the Fram Autolite Nationals July 27-29. A three-time finalist at Infineon Raceway including a 2001 victory, Bernstein has notched career wins on nearly every racetrack on the NHRA circuit to date. This season, Bernstein and his team were runner-up at the inaugural event in Norwalk, Ohio, July 1. They have gained consistency and performance levels have increased as the season has progressed. Bernstein, well-known in drag racing circles for his quick reaction times, has been spot on this year, and more than once has had the quickest reaction time in all of Funny Car eliminations. “As a team, we’re pulling together to put forth a 110 percent effort,” said Bernstein. “As a driver, I’m trying to do my job, and if I can get a good reaction time, it can buy us a little extra at the finish line and in a close round of competition, could seal the win for us.” Arguably the closest competition in the history of the sport in the Funny Car category, winners who have celebrated in victory circle one week, have been on the outside of the top 16 the next Sunday. In fact no Funny Car driver has qualified for every event this year, and that’s a first in NHRA history. “Infineon Raceway is a fantastic facility,” continued Bernstein. “We love racing here. One thing is certain. The fans are witnessing one of the toughest-fought battles in Funny Car history, and there’s going to be a lot of teams fighting for a position in the countdown to eight.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Fram Autolite Nationals begins Friday, July 27 at 4:30 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at noon. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com FRAM AUTOLITE NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – July 28 – ESPN2 6 – 7:30 p.m. ET NHRA Race Day – July 29 – ESPN2 11 – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – July 29 – ESPN2 8 – 11 p.m. ET Kenny Bernstein to make appearance in Petaluma. Kenny Bernstein will be greeting fans and signing autographs Thursday, July 26 from 5-6 p.m. at G & G Supermarket, 701 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma. |
MORRISON, Colo. (July 15) – Kenny Bernstein mustered all his driving skills at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals but a spectacular reaction time and some intense work in the cockpit, couldn’t save him from loss of traction. Bernstein piloted his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car to the No. 7 qualifying berth at Bandimere Speedway with a 4.916-second elapsed time at 309.20 mph. In his first round match against Jeff Arend on Sunday, Bernstein put some cushion in the elapsed time “bank” by virtue of a superb .031-second reaction time vs. Arend’s .092-second reaction time. In a close match, the reaction time probably would have won him the round. But shortly after Bernstein was out of the gate, he was up in smoke. “Bottom line we gave it too much horsepower and overpowered the track”, said Bernstein. Bernstein was on an off the throttle, trying to get traction to the ground until the Dodge Charger made a vicious turn toward the wall. Bernstein straightened the car out and motored across the starting line behind Arend (5.153/293.66 vs. Bernstein’s 8.948/95.53). “It’s exciting to drive these Funny Cars,” said Bernstein. “You can man handle these machines to a certain extent, but we just couldn’t get it to calm down enough to get traction to the ground. “It’s tough to tame the mountain. We’ll be happy to get back to sea level next weekend in Seattle.” The six-time world champ’s reaction time was the best of eliminations in both the Funny Car and Top Fuel categories. Bernstein is 15th in NHRA Funny Car standings, 106 points out of the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. # # # |
KENT, Wash. – Competition is as fierce in the NHRA Funny Car category as it has been in all of NHRA’s 50-plus year history. Kenny Bernstein, a six-time NHRA champion, came out of retirement this season to drive the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car and scored runner-up honors at the July 1 event in Norwalk, Ohio. Bernstein, who won in Seattle driving a Funny Car in 1988, is looking forward to the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals July 20-22. “We know we have the talent in our camp to be competitive,” said Bernstein. “We proved that by going to the finals a few weeks ago. It is extremely important for us to go rounds in Seattle. Our focus with four races remaining is to try to earn a spot in the countdown to eight, which sets up the first cut line for the newly formatted championship chase. “Additionally, we have a personal desire to win in Seattle to pay tribute to our friend, Russ Tom, who we lost in a helicopter crash last October. Russ was a sponsor on our Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster driven by my son Brandon. He was also a personal friend and owned Downtown Harley-Davidson in Tukwila. “On Thursday of race week (July 19), many of us who used to gather for an annual ride, will draw together to celebrate his life and love of motorcycles by participating in the Russ Tom Memorial Bike Run. “Russ was a true competitor and used to come to Seattle and some of the other races to root for our team. He kept us in stitches most of the time with his stories and antics. He is truly missed.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals begins Friday, July 20 at 3:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 6:30 p.m. There are two scheduled qualifying runs Saturday, noon and 3 p.m., with Top Fuel kicking off Sunday’s eliminations at 11 a.m. Fans, motorcycle and car club members are invited to join Kenny and Brandon Bernstein for the Russ Tom Memorial Bike Run in Seattle Thursday, July 19. The riders will depart Downtown Harley-Davidson, 13002 48th Ave. S., Tukwila, at 5 p.m. and will make the run over to BB Magraw’s, 440 16th NE in Auburn. At BB’s a local band will entertain, while fans and riders enter to win prizes. A silent auction will be held to benefit Boyers Children’s Clinic. There is no charge to ride. Russ Tom Memorial Bike Run t-shirts will be available for purchase. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com SCHUCK’S AUTO SUPPLY NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – July 21 – ESPN2 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. ET NHRA Race Day – July 22 – ESPN2 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – July 22 – ESPN2 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET |
BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 7) – One week after a celebratory runner-up finish at Norwalk, Ohio, Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team were disappointed to narrowly miss the top 16 for the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals. “The storm of emotions begins on Friday night if you don’t make a pretty sensational run,” said Bernstein. “We were so close all weekend long. We were eighth in the qualifying order after the first run, but in the end we were nine thousandths of a second short. We have proven we have the capability to perform well, and on the heels of last week’s finish, this is a burden we hoped not to have to shoulder again.” For the first time in NHRA’s 50-plus year history, no Funny Car driver has qualified for every event this season, and the NHRA circuit is only at the midway point. That is a mind boggling statistic and is proof that the popular Funny Car field is extremely competitive. “We won’t hide behind the statistics,” said Bernstein. “We are a first-class team. We will just dig deeper and stay focused.” Bernstein is 15th in NHRA Funny Car standings, 112 points out of the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
MORRISON, Colo. – Kenny Bernstein is a four-time winner of the Mopar Mile-High Nationals, and when NHRA competition returns to picturesque Bandimere Speedway July 13-15, Bernstein will be looking to add to his trophy collection. Three of Bernstein’s Denver trophies were earned during his 1980s Funny Car reign (1981, 1985, 1987). The six-time NHRA world champ returned to the Funny Car ranks this season at the wheel of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil car and earned a runner-up finish July 1 at the inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. “There’s no doubt that this has been one of the toughest fields in NHRA history in the Funny Car category,” said Bernstein. “To add to the complexity, the thin mile-high air will also play a part in making tuning these 7,000-horsepower nitro-breathing engines a very difficult job. This is the only race on the circuit where the tune-up is radically different. “This season started off a little slow for us, but we’ve been gaining momentum. At Norwalk we proved we were making performance strides by running low elapsed time of eliminations. “We have a couple of goals on our radar screen right now. One is to win an event or two for our sponsors and fans, and the other is to make the cut line for the countdown to eight for the new championship chase format. Since we drive a Dodge Charger by Mopar, a win at our sponsor’s race would be icing on the cake. “We are just outside that prestigious eight cut line, but with five races remaining we are certainly within striking distance. “Crew chief Jimmy Walsh and the team are really focused. Denver begins the three-event West Coast Swing and it will be critical to go rounds. It is going to be a dogfight to the end and we have our fingers crossed.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, July 13 at 5:30 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds scheduled Saturday, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., with eliminations set for noon Sunday. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – July 14 – ESPN2 6 – 8 p.m. ET NHRA Race Day – July 15 – ESPN2 11 – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – July 15 – ESPN2 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET |
NORWALK, Ohio (July 1) –The near-capacity crowd at the inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Nationals witnessed classic Kenny Bernstein. The six-time champion drove his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car to his first final round since his return to the Funny Car ranks this season and a career 118th final round appearance. The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team was tenth in qualifying with a 4.813-second elapsed time at 315.12 miles per hour. Bernstein, well known for his ability to cut quick reaction times, clocked an impressive .068-second reaction time to take a hole shot victory (won by reaction time) over current Funny Car point leader Ron Capps in the first round of race day action. Bernstein logged 4.888/303.16 vs. Capps’ 4.869/317.49. “I tossed and turned all Saturday night knowing I was going to be racing Capps first round,” said Bernstein. “He’s a great competitor and getting by him in the first round was a big morale boost for our team.” In the second round, Bernstein earned a transfer to the semifinals by virtue of low elapsed time of the round and a victory over Ashley Force, 4.815/319.45 vs. 4.901/290.94. “That was a great number,” exclaimed Bernstein, “and what a ride! What an amazing run for that time of day. Jimmy and the team really stepped it up; the tune-up was fantastic!” In the semifinals, Bernstein continued to eliminate the competition, this time defeating Tony Pedregon, 4.889/315.64 vs. Pedregon’s 4.992/288.33. In the money round, Bernstein faced off against Mike Ashley and was first off the line with an incredible .059 reaction time to Ashley’s .097. For the first time on race day, the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car lost traction and spun its tires, while Ashley had a trouble-free run, winning the event. “Obviously we would have liked to have won for our sponsors and fans,” said Bernstein, “but this weekend was fantastic. It gave us confidence. I knew this team was capable and we were on the verge of doing well. “We made some big strides this weekend on all fronts, and we’re only 65 points out of the countdown to eight. “We know we have a horse to ride and with six races to go before the cutoff, we’re focused and optimistic.” Bernstein is 13th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
BRISTOL, Tenn. – At Bristol Dragway, the name ‘Kenny Bernstein’ will forever be a part of history. In 2002, Bernstein became the first racer with a grandstand named in his honor at Thunder Valley following his retirement from the cockpit of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. At the renowned Bristol Motor Speedway, fans readily identify the grandstands by the legendary drivers for which they are named. BMS general manager Jeff Byrd brought that same approach to the drag strip when he dedicated the grandstand adjacent to the Thunder Valley Club to Bernstein. This season, back in black, and driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, Bernstein will be looking to add to his list of performance achievements at this famed drag strip May 18-20 at the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals. Bernstein who began participating as an owner/driver in drag racing in the early 1970s on a more part-time basis, remembers Bristol as one of the jewels of the drag racing circuit. “It had an aura about it,” said Bernstein. “With the drag strip cut between two mountains, the powerful cackle of the nitro cars reverberates and bounces off the mountain and sounds like thunder. Many years ago we’d race late at night when it was so foggy you could barely see in front of you. “We did pretty well at Bristol through the years before the track was rebuilt and became a part of the NHRA national event series in 2001. Early in our career we went to the final round five times, four in Funny Car and once in Top Fuel. “The Funny Car category is pretty spectacular this season and I think fans and competitors alike are biting their fingernails in the final Saturday qualifying session. At each event this season, it’s been a battle of drivers being knocked out of the field, battling their way back into the field, only to be bumped out again. It’s great for the fans, but the drivers and crew chiefs are on edge and they have to be on the top of their game. “We’ll see if the ghosts of our past performance are still lingering at Bristol and will favor us with a good showing at the new Bristol Dragway.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds scheduled on Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations beginning Sunday at noon. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – May 19 – ESPN2 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET NHRA Race Day – May 20 – ESPN2 11- 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – May 20 – ESPN2 6:30 – 10 p.m. ET |
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 23) - Owner and driver Kenny Bernstein remains confident in the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team despite failing to qualify at the ProCare RX Supernationals. Crew Chief, Jimmy Walsh and the entire team have been working diligently around the clock. A faulty engine burst panel played havoc with the team and tricky track conditions left them outside the top 16 at the end of time trials on Saturday. “It seems for every bit of progress we make the next weekend we end up taking two steps back. I am confident in Jimmy and our entire team and know we can get this season turned around.” “We are all very upset and it’s been tough but it’s not for a lack of effort or funding,” said an optimistic Bernstein. “We are genuinely disappointed for our fans and sponsors, but we’re on a six-in-a-row string of races, so we’ll give it all we’ve got at Norwalk, Ohio next weekend.” Bernstein is 17th in NHRA Funny Car standings, 112 points out of the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
NORWALK, Ohio – A mass of humanity and a mob of fans” was the recollection of six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein when asked his impression of Norwalk Raceway Park. “It’s been many years since I’ve been to the track, but I know we have a big following of fans that are planning to attend the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals,” said Bernstein. “I think it will be a big weekend for NHRA enthusiasts.” Last year, NHRA announced the addition of Norwalk Raceway Park to its member track network and set a 2007 national event date of June 29-July 1 Bernstein, who has returned this year as a regular campaigner on the NHRA circuit at the wheel of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, is gaining consistency with each race, and like all fellow competitors, is vying for a spot in the countdown to eight. “The competition is vicious,” said Bernstein. “It’s an all-out war each weekend just to get in the field for Sunday’s eliminations. Past champions and past winners have all been left on the outside at the conclusion of Saturday qualifying. “Now we’re going to ratchet the crew chief stress level up one more notch with the hot summer days ahead. It will put more pressure on the brain trusts to figure out how to get traction to the ground. “The summer months take a different type of tune-up and traditionally we’ve seen a change in the dominance of teams, though this season has been wacky from the sense that a race team will win one weekend and fail to qualify the next. So we’ll have to see how Norwalk and the races through the summer months play out.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 29 at 5 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. with final eliminations beginning Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – June 30 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – July 1 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – July 1 –
ESPN2 |
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Old Bridge Township Raceway Park’s most successful nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) racer is Kenny Bernstein. Bernstein scored four Funny Car victories here (’85, ’86, ’87, ’89) and three Top Fuel wins (’93, ’01, ’02). It is also the track where Bernstein has celebrated the most success. The six-time NHRA world champion is encouraged by his recent performance at Chicago where he drove his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil “flopper” to the No. 3 qualifying position, recording his career best Funny Car elapsed time (4.759 seconds) and speed (327.43 mph). Bernstein said his trips down the Chicago quarter-mile were reminiscent of his Funny Car hey days of the 1980s, and he is looking forward to competition at the ProCare Rx SuperNationals June 22-24. “Jimmy Walsh (crew chief) and Danny DeGennaro (assistant crew chief) are making strong performance strides and we’re gaining consistency,” said Bernstein. “We are very encouraged and are optimistic about our chances at Englishtown. “The Funny Car category is extremely competitive, so we don’t want to go too far out on a limb with predictions, but for some reason we’ve done well at Englishtown through the years. We hope there’s some of that “mojo” from our past success hanging in the air for us there. “Additionally we are less than four rounds out of the countdown to eight, which is the first level for the new championship chase format. There are eight events, including this one, before the countdown is set so we have ample time. But every race is a full on dogfight to earn a position in the field for starters, and then you have to battle for every round win. “And one thing that’s most bizarre about this year is that because the fields are so tough, nobody dominates every event and from time to time last week’s winner, or the point leader doesn’t qualify. It may be the wackiest season in memory. “We’ve had our share of early-season struggles, and we’re hopeful that we’ve paid our dues and can continue our climb up the point ladder.” Bernstein is currently 13th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 22 at 4:30 p.m. with a second session scheduled for 7:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations beginning Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com PROCARE RX SUPERNATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – June 23 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – June 24 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – June 24 –
ESPN2 |
JOLIET, Ill. (June 10) -- Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team continue to improve, and at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 Nationals, the team recorded their best elapsed time, speed, and qualifying effort of the season. To complement their performance strides, the team also gained three positions in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. Bernstein qualified No. 3 with his quickest elapsed time (4.759 seconds) and his fastest speed, (327.43 mph) of the year. After that run the six-time champion was very excited and made mention that it was reminiscent of the mid-to-late 1980s when he dominated the Funny Car category. “What a ride,” said Bernstein. “That brought back old memories of our Funny Car hey day. That was a blast!” In the first round of eliminations, Jimmy Walsh (crew chief) and Danny DeGennaro (assistant crew chief), tuned Bernstein to a winning 4.870/282.48 to end the day for Jeff Arend who clocked a competitive 4.929/309.13. “I had my hands full on that run,” said Bernstein. “I was out of the (race track) groove, and the tires started to spin. It ultimately popped the transmission out of gear, but it was a good job by the team. We’ll take that round win!” In the quarterfinals, Bernstein rolled into the staging beams to face Jack Beckman. At the end of the quarter-mile, it was Beckman with the round win, 4.872/319.22 to Bernstein’s 4.920/304.32. Bernstein is 13th in NHRA Funny Car point standings, 75 outside the countdown to eight. “We made some good progress this race,” said Bernstein. “We showed consistency in qualifying and we stepped up our performance, so all in all I’m pleased with the weekend. We’re making headway on our goal of getting inside the countdown to eight.” Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
JOLIET, Ill. – Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein has more event wins at Route 66 Raceway than any driver or rider in the four professional categories. In his Top Fuel career, Bernstein dominated at this track, winning the inaugural event in 1998, scoring two victories in 2001, and one victory in the fall of 2003 when he substituted for his injured son. In the June 2001 race, he ran the table, qualifying number one, taking top speed, and also setting the national elapsed time record, 4.477 seconds, at that time, the quickest run in NHRA history. When Bernstein pulls to the starting line for the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 Nationals June 8-10, it will be in the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Bernstein, who has scored 30 career Funny Car victories, is anxious to add another trophy to his collection. “Route 66 has treated us mighty nice through the years,” said Bernstein, “and consequently, it’s one of our favorite tracks. It would be great if some of that past performance could rub off on our Funny Car. “We made a semifinals appearance in Gainesville, Fla., but a final round showing is on our short list of goals. “It’s a tough category and there are big names in and out of the top 16 elimination ladder each event. We’re beginning to gain consistency and that’s very encouraging. “Our focus is to be in the countdown to eight, which is the first stage of the new championship chase format. There will be nine events, including this one, before the eight are set. The team is working hard to get our Dodge Charger seeded into that prestigious field.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 8 at 4:30 p.m. with a second round of qualifying at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com TORCO RACING FUELS ROUTE 66 NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – June 9 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – June 10 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – June 10 –
ESPN2 |
KENNY BERNSTEIN’S SUPERB REACTION TIME CAN’T OVERCOME LOSS OF POWER AT TOPEKA TOPEKA, Kan. (June 3) – Despite a sensational .020 reaction time, six-time champion Kenny Bernstein could not overcome a loss of horsepower caused by a dropped cylinder in the first round of O’Reilly Summernationals competition. Bernstein qualified 10th at Heartland Park Topeka with a 4.877-second elapsed time at 310.20 mph and was looking forward to race day. Bernstein’s quickest reaction time of the entire Funny Car category in eliminations, couldn’t salvage a first round win against Ashley Force. Bernstein clocked 5.000/304.87 to Force’s 4.856/307.51 “We had two good, consistent qualifying runs on Saturday to set up our combination for Sunday,” said Bernstein. “In fact, in one qualifying session, we were low elapsed time of the round. “On Sunday in the first round of eliminations, we dropped a cylinder at the hit of the throttle and that spelled the end of the day for us. It’s disappointing to say the least.” Bernstein is 16th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. # # # |
Topeka, Kan. – The first year Kenny Bernstein competed at Heartland Park Topeka it was in the Funny Car category. Then he made the switch to Top Fuel and made four final round career appearances, winning in 1997 and 2001. He has come full circle. When he climbs behind the wheel to participate in the O’Reilly Summer Nationals June 1-3, it will be in the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. “We’re looking forward to doing some racing,” said the six-time NHRA champion. “We had an unexpected weekend off with the Bristol reschedule, and my throttle foot is getting a little itchy. Our batteries are recharged and we’re ready to go.” Bernstein’s comeback season has had its challenges, and prior to the third race of the season at Gainesville, Fla., the legendary driver/owner made a crew chief change to Jimmy Walsh, who is assisted by Danny DeGennaro. In the first race with Walsh and DeGennaro in place, Bernstein drove to the semifinals. “We are definitely making progress but we’re still taking baby steps,” said Bernstein. “There’s a very tough Funny Car field out there and in qualifying there’s a lot of drama to set the field of 16 for eliminations. “Our immediate goal is to get into the countdown to eight and that group is set after the first 17 races of the season. Topeka marks the eighth event, so there’s still a lot of time and the deck will be reshuffled many time between now and then. “We have a very dedicated team and we’re putting forth every effort.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 1 at 5 p.m., followed by a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 2:30 p.m., with Sunday’s final eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com O’REILLY SUMMER NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVSIORY Qualifying – June 2 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – June 3 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – June 3 –
ESPN2 |
O’REILLY NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 6-8, 2007 BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 13, 2007) – NHRA and Bristol Dragway officials announced today that the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q has been rescheduled for July 6-8, 2007. The concrete launch pad of the quarter-mile dragstrip surface was recently replaced and track officials along with NHRA officials have been working to prepare the track for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, originally scheduled for May 18-20. Track officials contacted NHRA officials last week to advise them that the process of getting the racetrack race-ready was taking longer than expected. After a week-long process of trying to correct the situation, both organizations decided that the track’s new concrete surface still was not setting properly and would not be ready for this week’s event. “We sent in our people to work with the team at Bristol Dragway to try and bring the surface around, but unfortunately it is not going to be raceable for this weekend,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA. “In the interest of safety and quality of the show we weren’t left with a lot of options but to reschedule the event.” “At Bristol Dragway we pride ourselves in having the best facility in drag racing and we feel that the track surface in its current state will not provide the quality of racing that we’ve come to expect,” said Jeff Byrd, president of Bristol Dragway. “We will spare no expense in building the finest racing surface in NHRA. We spared no expense in trying to get the surface ready for this week’s event and did everything else we possibly could do because the absolute last thing we wanted to do was postpone this event.” The O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q, July 6-8, 2007, will be run under the same schedule as originally planned beginning with qualifying on Friday night, followed by racing on Saturday and Sunday. Television times for the rescheduled event will be announced at the beginning of the week. |
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BRISTOL, Tenn. – At Bristol Dragway, the name ‘Kenny Bernstein’ will forever be a part of history. In 2002, Bernstein became the first racer with a grandstand named in his honor at Thunder Valley following his retirement from the cockpit of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. At the renowned Bristol Motor Speedway, fans readily identify the grandstands by the legendary drivers for which they are named. BMS general manager Jeff Byrd brought that same approach to the drag strip when he dedicated the grandstand adjacent to the Thunder Valley Club to Bernstein. This season, back in black, and driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, Bernstein will be looking to add to his list of performance achievements at this famed drag strip May 18-20 at the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals. Bernstein who began participating as an owner/driver in drag racing in the early 1970s on a more part-time basis, remembers Bristol as one of the jewels of the drag racing circuit. “It had an aura about it,” said Bernstein. “With the drag strip cut between two mountains, the powerful cackle of the nitro cars reverberates and bounces off the mountain and sounds like thunder. Many years ago we’d race late at night when it was so foggy you could barely see in front of you. “We did pretty well at Bristol through the years before the track was rebuilt and became a part of the NHRA national event series in 2001. Early in our career we went to the final round five times, four in Funny Car and once in Top Fuel. “The Funny Car category is pretty spectacular this season and I think fans and competitors alike are biting their fingernails in the final Saturday qualifying session. At each event this season, it’s been a battle of drivers being knocked out of the field, battling their way back into the field, only to be bumped out again. It’s great for the fans, but the drivers and crew chiefs are on edge and they have to be on the top of their game. “We’ll see if the ghosts of our past performance are still lingering at Bristol and will favor us with a good showing at the new Bristol Dragway.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds scheduled on Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations beginning Sunday at noon. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – May 19 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – May 20 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – May 20 –
ESPN2 |
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MADISON, Ill (May 6) – The competitive Funny Car field claimed more victims at the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals. With rain washing out both qualifying sessions Friday, the field was set after two Saturday qualifying runs, instead of the traditional four. Six-time champion Kenny Bernstein, whose previous record at Gateway International Raceway included four final round appearances in seven national events, narrowly missed the field. “We struggled with some tune-up problems in the first run,” explained Bernstein. “With two qualifying sessions cancelled because of rain, our backs were against the wall. Though we made considerable improvement in the second run, we still experienced a clutch problem that caused us to haze the tires. We drove through it because we knew we had to do everything humanly possible to squeeze the best elapsed time out of that run that we could. “We came close, but unfortunately it just wasn’t quite enough.” Bernstein is 13th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
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MADISON, Ill. – Six-time champion Kenny Bernstein has a stellar performance record at Gateway International Raceway, making four final round appearances in seven NHRA national events, all behind the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster. Bernstein won the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals in 2002, the year he celebrated his “Forever Red” retirement tour. This season, Bernstein has come out of retirement and is back in black, piloting the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, and is looking forward to competition May 4-6 at Gateway International Raceway. “There was a part of me that was never comfortable outside the cockpit standing on the starting line as a spectator,” said Bernstein. “On the other hand, I was no longer actively soliciting sponsorship, but suddenly the Monster Energy opportunity arose and I was fortunate enough to secure a multi-year association. Monster Energy drinks are distributed by Anheuser-Busch, so the deal continued to keep us in the A-B family. It was the perfect scenario. “The Funny Car commands a different style of “seat of the pants” driving versus the finesse of steering a Top Fuel car. The Funny Car category is pretty spectacular this season and I think fans and competitors alike are biting their fingernails in the final Saturday qualifying session. At each event this season, it’s been a battle of drivers being knocked out of the field, battling their way back into the field, only to be bumped out again. It’s great for the fans, but the drivers and crew chiefs are on edge and they have to be on the top of their game. “This season we’re competing in much cooler conditions at Gateway and we’re hoping that the success we enjoyed at this track during our Top Fuel career will transfer as we make our Funny Car debut at this track.” Funny Car and professional category competitors are battling for a berth in the countdown to eight, the first stage that sets up this year’s new countdown to the championship. Bernstein made a semifinal showing in Gainesville, Fla. in March and is looking to add to the 30 career Funny Car victories he has scored. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals begins Friday, May 4 at 5 p.m. with a second round at 7:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., with final eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com.
O’REILLY MIDWEST NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – May 5 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – May 6- ESPN2 Eliminations – May 6 –
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COMMERCE, Ga. (April 29) – The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team made its quickest run this season clocking 4.763/322.27 during Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals qualifying. After earning the No. 7 qualifying berth in the coveted top half of the field, Bernstein rolled to the starting line to face Del Worsham in the first round of eliminations. Bernstein lost traction at the hit of the throttle, while Worsham negotiated the quarter-mile in 4.869 seconds at 308.92 mph. “We have clutches that have levers on them that are set to engage at different stages as we traverse the racetrack,” explained Bernstein. “When we hit the throttle to leave the starting line, all the levers engaged at the same time, which caused us to lose traction. It was a fluke mechanical malfunction.” Bernstein is 12th in NHRA Funny Car point standings, 38 points outside the countdown to eight, heading into the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals May 4-6 in Madison, Ill. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. # # # |
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COMMERCE, Ga. – Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein is a four-time Atlanta Dragway winner. He was victorious in 1985 and 1987 in his Funny Car hey day, and he drove to victory in the Top Fuel category in 1991 and 1997. Bernstein is back in black this season piloting the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car and looking for a good showing at the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals April 27-29. To date, Bernstein has competed in 431 NHRA national events and is looking toward his 671st round win in Atlanta. “Prior to the third event of the season at Gainesville, Fla., we hired Jimmy Walsh as crew chief and Danny DeGennaro as assistant crew chief,” said Bernstein. “We have made steady progress in the performance of the race car at each event since then. “Make no mistake. The Funny Car competitors are all strong out there and at every final qualifying session this year, it’s been a nail-biter with big names in, out, and sometimes back in again. It’s pretty traumatic, but it certainly is a crowd-pleaser and keeps the fans on the edge of their seats. “The drivers and crew chiefs are under a lot of pressure because there are so many strong performers in this category. “We are currently 27 points, or just a round and a handful of qualifying points, away from breaking into the field for the countdown to eight. The field is actually set 12 events down the road, but you want to get seeded into the field early and burrow in. There is a new championship chase format this year and you can understand by the description of final qualifying rounds how much of a dogfight this really is. “In Las Vegas we were running consistent numbers, so knock on wood, we hope to be able to continue in that vein. Consistency will win rounds and races.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals begins Friday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m. with a second session at 7:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Sunday. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT SOUTHERN NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – April 28 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – April 29 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – April 29 –
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LAS VEGAS (April 15) – Kenny Bernstein, owner and driver of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, continues to gain consistency and is just a round and a few qualifying points outside the countdown to eight. Bernstein qualified 12th with his quickest qualifying elapsed time of the year, 4.816 seconds, at 316.97 mph. In Sunday’s first round of eliminations, Bernstein faced off against Tony Pedregon. Bernstein took the round win, 4.818/319.37 to Pedregon’s 4.992/248.02. In the quarterfinals, Bernstein rolled into the staging beams to race Ron Capps. In a very close side-by-side duel, it was Capps who tripped the win light with a .0032-second margin of victory. “That was a close one,” said Bernstein. “Jimmy Walsh (crew chief), Danny DeGennaro (assistant crew chief), and the team have been doing a great job. We haven’t been fighting tire shake and we’ve been consistent in qualifying and on race day. I would say we are making good progress.” Bernstein is 11th in NHRA Funny Car point standings, only 27 points from the field for the countdown to eight. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
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BAYTOWN, Texas (April 1) – Rain played havoc with the O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, eliminating two rounds of qualifying and causing a three-hour delay in the start of Sunday’s eliminations. Despite little track time, six-time champion Kenny Bernstein qualified the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car in the 11th starting position (4.864/291.45), his best qualifying berth to date. In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein rolled to the starting line to battle Gary Scelzi. The only duo to win Funny Car and Top Fuel championships in NHRA history, also faced each other in the first round of competition in Gainesville, Fla. Bernstein lost traction by the 330-foot mark, while Scelzi had a trouble-free run to take the round win. “Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) is continuing to make progress,” said Bernstein. “We know these fields are tough, but we’re making strides in the right direction. We had two rounds of qualifying Friday, and with the rain on Saturday, nobody made any runs, so we went from Friday qualifying to Sunday racing on a pretty green track. “The more runs we make, the more we learn. We are looking forward to racing in Las Vegas in two weeks.” Bernstein is 13th in NHRA Funny Car point standings and is only 48 points out of the countdown to eight for the championship chase. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
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BAYTOWN, Texas – Kenny Bernstein had his best showing of the season at the ACDelco Gatornationals March 18 making a semifinals appearance, the third race of the 23-event NHRA series. Bernstein credits crew chief Jimmy Walsh and right hand man Danny DeGennaro, who he hired prior to that event, with the upswing in the performance of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Bernstein is eagerly anticipating the O’Reilly Spring Nationals March 30-April 1 at Houston Raceway Park. “Jimmy and Danny came onboard two weeks before the event at Gainesville Raceway,” explained Bernstein. “In that short time they swept the parts inventory, did maintenance and rebuilt many of the parts, before heading for a few days of testing in Valdosta, Ga. Then we went from testing right into competition. These guys worked around the clock literally, along with the original members of the team who went 90 days without a break, to get this car figured out. “With the assistance of two Mopar aerodynamicists we were able to get to the final four on Sunday. That was huge for us, and we’re optimistic that we will continue to improve. “Budweiser/Lucas Oil crew chief Tim Richards and his wife, Kim, were instrumental in helping us obtain Jimmy and Danny, and there’s a great working relationship between the two teams. In fact the dragster team pitched in and helped with maintenance of the Funny Car parts during that short period of time and they helped us on race day when we need extra arms and hands between rounds.” Bernstein last drove in 2003, substituting for his son Brandon in the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, following a racing injury in the eighth race of the season, which sidelined Brandon for the remainder of that year. This year six-time champion Kenny Bernstein began a three-year stint behind the wheel of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. “The racing season continues,” said Bernstein, “but our thoughts and prayers are for the family of Eric Medlen who succumbed to injuries from a testing accident at Gainesville Raceway Monday, March 19. “We have a heavy heart for his father John, team owner John Force and his entire organization. We stand by to lend support or do anything we can to help the family and Eric’s extended family, his race team. We ask everyone to join our team in saying a prayer for Eric’s family.” Nitro (Funny Car and Top Fuel) qualifying begins Friday, March 20 at 4 p.m. with a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 3 p.m., with final eliminations beginning Sunday, April 1 at 11 a.m. O’REILLY SPRING NATIONALS TELEVISION
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KENNY BERNSTEIN AND MONSTER ENERGY/LUCAS OIL TEAM REBOUND TO REACH SEMIFINALS IN FLORIDA GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18) – Kenny Bernstein has always named being the first to surpass the 300 mile-per-hour barrier as his crowning achievement, a feat that was accomplished at Gainesville Raceway in 1992. It was at the same track this weekend that Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team rebounded and progressed to the semifinals at the ACDelco Gatornationals. The final session of qualifying in Funny Car continues to be dramatic from race to race with many of the big names of the sport bumping in and out of the field. This time Bernstein narrowly missed tagging the wall in an all-out effort to post the quickest elapsed time he could wrangle from the tune-up in the Dodge Charger. Bernstein qualified 15th with a 4.840/ 314.39. “I got out of the groove and couldn’t bring it back from the wall,” said Bernstein. “But we are tickled to death to make the field and we are especially happy for our fans and all our sponsors.” In round one of eliminations Bernstein pulled to the starting line to face Gary Scelzi. The only duo in NHRA history who have won championships in both Funny Car and Top Fuel dueled for bragging rights for their first-ever career match-up in Funny Car. Bernstein sacrificed an engine but won the round with a 4.788/317.42 vs. Scelzi's 5.246/301.07. "We just climbed a higher mountain than anyone can imagine with that round win,” said Bernstein. “Jimmy Walsh has done a great job coming in here and turning this team around. And we owe a big debt of gratitude to the original team members who have worked and tested the past 90 days without a day off." With a helping hand from some of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team, the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team headed for round two. In this round, Bernstein met Eric Medlen for the first time, the 138th different driver he’s competed against in his career. Bernstein stopped the clocks at 5.338/198.85 while Eric was disqualified for hitting the wall while trying to tame an ill-handling race car. “It’s nice to go another round,” said Bernstein. “We got a little loose on that run and I think Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) will have to calm the tune-up down a bit.” In the semifinals, Ron Capps won the round with a 4.857/322.58, despite Bernstein’s very quick .068-second reaction time off the starting line. Bernstein crossed the finish line was a 5.325/208.49. “We had a great day,” said Bernstein. “I can’t say enough about the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team. Today we experienced a tremendous upswing with new crew members Danny DeGennaro and especially crew chief Jimmy Walsh who adapted to tuning a Funny Car very quickly. “Thanks also to the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team for helping out today. We couldn’t have done it without them. We appreciate Tim (Richards, crew chief) and Kim (Richards) helping us acquire Jimmy and Danny and we are grateful for help the entire dragster crew has given our Funny Car team not only today, but also in Indy the past two weeks after Jimmy and Danny came onboard. It was definitely a ‘family’ effort: both teams working together. “We’re very sad that Brandon and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team didn’t qualify. It was a shock, but they will rebound. They are a very talented team. “We also want to thank the Mopar aerodynamicists Amy Cole and Terry DeKoninck, as well as program manager John Donato, for all their assistance this weekend. “And of course, we always owe a tip of the helmet to each of our sponsors and all the fans that have stood by us through the tough times. We’re optimistic that we will continue to make progress.” Bernstein is tied for 16th in NHRA Funny Car point standings. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com, (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Six-time champion Kenny Bernstein, who staged a driving comeback this year driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, has a new crew chief for the ACDelco Gatornationals March 16-18. “We are very excited about the addition of Jimmy Walsh as crew chief of our team,” said Bernstein. “Jimmy scored three victories last year and won the season-opening race at Pomona, Calif. this year tuning a Top Fuel car. Jimmy has a long-term friendship and professional association with our Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel crew chief and assistant crew chief, Tim and Kim Richards. “Tim and Kim, who were instrumental in helping us obtain Jimmy, will assist him in tuning the Funny Car, and I think the end result will benefit both teams. There will be a lot of information sharing.” Bernstein, who has 69 national event wins to his credit and who is the only driver to have won at Gainesville in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, was disappointed in his first two outings this season. “We needed to turn this team around for our fans and our sponsors,” said Bernstein, “and I think we have the package now that will make us a real contender in the competitive Funny Car category.” And there couldn’t be a better facility for Bernstein to get in the groove. Fifteen years ago, March 20, 1992 to be exact, Bernstein became the first NHRA driver to surpass the 300 miles-per-hour barrier when he clocked 301.70 mph during a Friday qualifying session at Gainesville Raceway. “This is one of NHRA’s premier events,” said Bernstein, “and it’s a track that holds the most special memory of our career.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, March 16 at 1 p.m., followed by a second session at 3:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday. Bernstein to be inducted into Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame: On Thursday, March 15, Kenny Bernstein will be inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Paramount Plaza Hotel in Gainesville. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
Race Day – March 18 – ESPN2 |
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LAKE FOREST, Calif. (Feb. 27) – Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein announced today that Jimmy Walsh will assume the duties as crew chief of his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Dodge Charger Funny Car. Walsh will be accompanied by right hand man, Danny DeGennaro. Walsh spent 20 seasons with Joe Amato’s race team before joining Dexter Tuttle’s organization as crew chief for J.R. Todd. In 2006, Walsh tuned Todd to three Top Fuel victories as well as a win at the 2007 season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals. “We are thrilled to have Jimmy and Danny onboard,” said Bernstein. “Jimmy has a long-time professional association and friendship with Tim and Kim Richards, who are the crew chief and assistant crew chief on our Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. “We know that Tim will work closely with Jimmy and the two will trade information which should do nothing but benefit us on the Top Fuel and Funny Car side. We are anxious to make some big performance strides for our sponsors and fans.” “This is a big opportunity to work with both Kenny and Timmy,” said Walsh. “Timmy is like my mentor and Kenny has always had a first-class operation. I think we will have fun doing good things together. “The Funny Car will be a learning experience, but Tim has quite a bit of Funny Car knowledge and I think working together, we will see what the car is asking for and make good performance decisions.” Bernstein, who has enjoyed a friendship with former crew chief Ray Alley since the 1960s, appreciates all the effort that Alley and Johnny West put into the organization and building of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team. “Ray was dedicated to this project and told me from the beginning that he would always be there for me until I could find someone to take over the crew chief responsibilities,” said Bernstein. “Ray has always played an important role in my life and we will always remain friends. He has been a great mentor over the years. “On Saturday in Phoenix Ray reiterated he’d stay until another crew chief could be found. “With Tim and Kim’s help we were able to secure Jimmy Walsh. “As far as Johnny West is concerned, you can always count on him to dig in and do whatever trench work is necessary and we are grateful for his help. With Jimmy bringing Danny along, however, that was a working relationship that secured the top two spots. “I know Ray and Johnny put forth every effort and invested countless hours and we would like to recognize all their dedication and hard work.” The remainder of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team will stay intact. # # # |
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CHANDLER, Ariz. – Six-time champion Kenny Bernstein is the only driver to have won at Firebird International Raceway in both the Funny Car and Top Fuel categories. He drove to victory circle in 1986, the second of his four Funny Car championship years, and celebrated his first Top Fuel victory at this track in 1991. He won again in 1996, the first of his two Top Fuel championship years. The Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals Feb. 23-25 will mark Bernstein’s second appearance in his driving comeback at the wheel of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Bernstein, who retired at the end of the 2002 season but was pressed into action again in 2003 when his son Brandon suffered back injuries that sidelined him for the remainder of the year, surprised the motor sports media last year announcing that he would return to the Funny Car ranks in 2007. “We started this team from the Mac Tool box up,” said Bernstein. “We have spent many hours in pre-season testing, and between the season opener in Pomona and this race, we went to Las Vegas to put more runs on the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. “This category promises to be filled with much drama. At Pomona, the qualified field was the quickest in NHRA history and there were big names bumping in and out of the starting line-up. “Our team is dedicated and has been putting forth every effort to get this car running quick and fast.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m., with a second session scheduled for 4:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m. CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NATIONALS TV ADVISORY Eliminations – February 25 – ESPN2 Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. |
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POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) – The CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals debut of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car did not reap the results owner/driver Kenny Bernstein had anticipated. Despite a valiant effort from the team, the six-time champion narrowly missed a berth in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history, with a best clocking of 4.847 seconds at 321.81 mph. It ended a 91-race streak for Bernstein. “We had some mechanical problems in the first two runs,” said Bernstein. “In the first qualifying round we sheered the bolts off the blower and in the second session, a clutch lever broke. “We certainly want to do well for Monster Energy, Lucas Oil and all our others sponsors. We knew we had a learning curve to get through. We have been fighting tire shake for one thing. Most people don’t understand that there are hundreds of things in one of these cars that have to be just perfect before it will go down the track and run a competitive number. We were headed that direction and made great strides in our last run and that is encouraging. “There was a lot of drama in the last qualifying session with many of the big names being bumped out and then bumping back in again. There’s no doubt this Funny Car field is going to be tough. “The team is headed to Las Vegas for additional testing this week and we will go straight to Phoenix and start all over. I know this crew is putting forth every effort.” Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Carl team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com. |
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POMONA, Calif. – Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein acknowledges that at times his enthusiasm for a project overrides the knowledge of just how enormous a task really is. So it was with the building of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team and preparing for the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Feb. 8-11 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. “Before we made our comeback announcement the end of last summer,” said Bernstein, “I knew our Monster sponsorship was going to come together, and I had already had Murf McKinney building the Funny Car chassis and had orders in on some of the rolling equipment. For months, I made ‘to do’ notes on my yellow legal tablet and didn’t get much sleep. It seemed my brain was always switched on. “Remember we didn’t have the first Mac tool or toolbox. “Crew chief Ray Alley, assistant crew chief Johnny West, and the entire team worked well into the night seven days a week to get the race car, transporter, and support vehicles on the road to testing. “Sheryl (wife) has put in a tremendous amount of time designing hospitality and race trailer interiors, team uniforms, and attending to what must be millions of details. In fact, the entire staff at Kenny Bernstein Racing has pulled together to help launch the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team. “We tested at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Jan. 20-22 and then moved to Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix the next weekend. We shake, rattled and did everything but roll, including losing a few battles with the race track cones. The shake was so severe it was blinding. “After a few days of this at Firebird Raceway, we got some help from some friends. The first was John Force, who is a great champion with a great heart. John sent Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, and John Medlen over to lend some assistance. Those men comprise a big part of his brain trust. I owe a big debt of gratitude to John for helping us sort through some tuning issues. “Also Gary Scelzi came to our aid. We received a lot of support from the drivers that were testing and we are truly humbled by the actions of the members of NHRA drag racing family that lent a helping hand. “After many days of trials, tribulations and two days lost to desert rain showers, we finally completed our Funny Car licensing runs Feb. 1. John Force and Gary Scelzi signed our license. That’s pretty stout when you think about it. John has an unprecedented 14 Funny Car championships, Gary has four titles, and I have six. That’s a total of 24 years of championships. “I am very excited about getting back in the race car,” continued Bernstein. “When the car goes down the track instead of sashaying or shaking, it’s like sliding back into a comfortable pair of shoes. “The black paint scheme with the signature green Monster “M” claw is spectacular. It’s led to the motto ‘Bernstein is back in black.’ “We have our fingers crossed that we will have a respectable season this year and find our way to winner’s circle a few times. We’ll see what fate awaits us when the season kicks off Feb. 8-11 at Pomona. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Thursday, Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m. There is a second session Friday at 2:30 p.m, followed by two qualifying sessions Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit www.monsterenergy.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Television Advisory Qualifying – Feb. 10 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – Feb. 11 –
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KENNY BERNSTEIN EARNS FUNNY CAR LICENSE AT FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 1) – Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein today completed the required runs at Firebird International Raceway necessary to obtain his Funny Car license. NHRA rules state that a competitor must make two runs of 250 mph or faster and two runs of 5.50 seconds or quicker. On January 29, Bernstein clocked 5.312 seconds at 209.85 mph in his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car and made a second run at 5.146 seconds, 271.13 mph. After waiting for rain showers to subside for the past two days, Bernstein today fulfilled the final speed requisite with a run of 5.94 seconds at 296.89 miles per hour. Bernstein’s license was signed by John Force and Gary Scelzi, who together with Bernstein account for 24 NHRA championships. (Force, 14; Scelzi, 4; Bernstein 6) “Fulfilling the license requirements is a huge relief,” said Bernstein. “Because we’re a new team coaxing a new race car down the track coupled with two days of rain delay, I was beginning to get a little nervous. “I want to especially thank John Force, who is a great champion with a great heart. John watched us struggle with tire shake over the weekend and was so gracious to send Austin Coil, John Medlen and Bernie Fedderly, a great part of his brain trust, over to lend us assistance. Without their help, and that of Gary Scelzi, I don’t know if we would have accomplished what we have today. “Also, we want to extend a big thanks to all the drivers over the weekend who were so helpful and supportive. I am proud to be a member of the NHRA drag racing family and humbled by all those who came to our aid. “Now our team can turn their focus to other areas to prepare for the season-opener at Pomona. “The team has worked untold hours to get our Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car on the ground and down the drag strip. They deserve a big tip of the helmet.” This just in: On the last pass, February 1, 2007 Kenny clocked his quickest time yet, at 4.83 seconds/321 mph. # # # For updates on the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team please log onto www.kennybernstein.com. For continuous updates on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team log onto www.brandonbernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.budweiser.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com
(OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com
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(Jan. 22, 2007) I am sure you are all anxiously awaiting an update on our first “test and tune” session in Las Vegas. We arrived at “The Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday afternoon, Jan. 19 and began setting-up which continued through Saturday. We made a couple of attempts on Sunday but only going part way down the track. We are in the beginning process with a new operation, and have to work our way down the track in baby steps before we can turn it loose with a wide open throttle. It’s been very cool in Vegas and the track is a bit green. We have a long way to go and will remain in Las Vegas until Tuesday. At that time, we will head over to Phoenix for another 7-8 days of “test & tune”. In addition, we are also working diligently on photo shoots and media interviews. The black paint scheme with the signature green Monster “M” claw is spectacular. We wanted to get the photo session completed while the paint was pristine. Following is a list of the media interviews currently in the works: 1) AutoWeek is on deadline this week with an article on our comeback 2) Drag Racer magazine is doing an in depth feature piece for their February issue 3) NHRA’s National Dragster magazine was shooting 4) Drag Illustrated was shooting for a story ESPN did a sit-down with us for an upcoming show, USA Today interviewed us for an article in conjunction with the opening race of the season in February, and 1320tv.com did an interview with us. We are providing the 1320tv link and you can get a first look at the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car along with an interview we did from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I expect that with a few runs under my belt, sitting in the cockpit of the Funny Car will feel like sliding back into a comfortable pair of shoes. I can’t wait to get more runs in this Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Here are a couple of photos and the 1320tv.com interview link - Link We’ll continue to keep you posted and can’t begin to thank you enough for your support of our racing endeavors. Visit our sponsors at: |
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After amassing four Funny Car titles (1985-1988) and two Top Fuel championships (1996, 2001), six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein retired from NHRA competition as a driver at the end of the 2002 season. In 2003, he returned to drive unexpectedly when his son, Brandon, suffered back injuries in a racing accident that sidelined him for the season. Kenny finished the season with a flourish, winning the last four of five races, tallying 69 career victories, 30 in Funny Car and 39 in Top Fuel. There was hardly a major NHRA award he hadn’t won, and most he’d won in multiples. At the track in his role solely as team owner, though, his competitive nature and the itch to return to the cockpit made him an uncomfortable sideline observer. Monster Energy provided the perfect sponsorship opportunity for Bernstein’s return to NHRA competition. Bernstein surprised the motor sports community by announcing that he would stage a comeback in 2007 driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. Also joining Bernstein’s Funny Car effort are Mac Tools, celebrating their 20th anniversary with the Bernstein family, as well as new major associate sponsor AlphaTrade. AlphaTrade.com is a world leader in providing real-time stock market data, global news and high-quality financial information. Known as a savvy businessman, Bernstein is a merchandiser, salesman and avid ambassador for products he represents. It’s his combination of professionalism, commitment and competitiveness that have made him a motor sports icon. Bernstein has always credited his father, Bert, with teaching him the principals of business that have contributed to his success. In his adult years, Kenny owned a variety of successful businesses and is widely credited with turning the hobby of racing into the business of racing. Bernstein began his professional driving career in the late 1960s in Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars in and around Texas. He was in and out of racing in the ‘70s, spending the majority of his time founding and managing a chain of restaurants named Chelsea Street Pubs. In 1980 he became a fulltime campaigner on the NHRA circuit, having sold his interest in the restaurants. He dominated Funny Car competition in the 1980s setting many performance records. He switched to Top Fuel in 1990 and continued to make history. Bernstein earned the title “King of Speed” when he became the first NHRA driver to break the 300 miles-per-hour barrier March 20, 1992, during qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. He was also the first to win championships in both nitro categories, Funny Car and Top Fuel. He holds the unique distinction of being the first and only race team owner to have collected wins in each of America’s three major motorsports series: NHRA drag racing, NASCAR, and CART. The Texan was nominated for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Newsmaker of the Half-Century award. Other nominees included in the list of motor sports royalty in alphabetical order were: 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. He was also voted in the top 10 on NHRA’s 50 Greatest Drivers list. Bernstein will be driving a Dodge Charger Funny Car with a distinctive black paint scheme and the green signature Monster Energy “M” claw which has prompted the slogan, “Bernstein’s Back in Black.” Bernstein is anxious to continue his assault on the quarter-mile and
help build awareness and sales for Monster Energy drinks. Please follow the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team’s racing activities at www.kennybernstein.com and visit our sponsors at: www.monsterenergy.com; www.lucasoil.com; www.mactools.com; www.AlphaTrade.com (OTCBB:APTD.OB) or www.AlphaTradefn.com.
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