MADISON, Ill. (June 27) -- The Sears Craftsman Nationals signals the half-way point of the 2004 season, and the script for the event at Gateway International Raceway didn’t go the way team owner Kenny Bernstein would have written it.

But before racing began, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team attended the Cardinals/Cubs game as the guests of the Budweiser brand and sports marketing teams. On Thursday evening, June 24, the race team was invited down on the field for batting practice and six-time NHRA champion Kenny, son Brandon and crew chief Tim Richards made a pass through the dugout to meet some of the players. Brandon threw out the first pitch and was on the Fox telecast of the game with announcer Joe Buck after the second inning. He then sat with former Cardinals player-turned sportscaster, Mike Shannon, for a fifth inning interview.

When racing began, Brandon Bernstein qualified third for the Sears Craftsman Nationals with a 4.539-second elapsed time at 327.19 mph.

Bernstein led off the first round of eliminations against Brady Kalivoda with a win, 4.687/322.11 to Kalivoda’s 5.005/270.00.

In the quarterfinals it was Bernstein vs. Larry Dixon. Dixon won the match in a very close side-by-side race, 4.563/320.51 to Bernstein’s 4.576/319.98.

“It was so close,” said Brandon. “We sure hated to lose to Dixon in St. Louis, and our team is disappointed.”

Though there is still a very close battle between one through three in the Top Fuel championship chase, Brandon is now third, only 48 points out of the lead.

The Sears Craftsman Nationals ended on a very somber note.

Top Fuel driver Darrell Russell was involved in an accident in the second round of eliminations. His car went out of control and crashed just past the finish line. Shortly after he was air lifted from the track to St. Louis University, he succumbed to his injuries.

“All of us as drivers understand the risks we take,” said Kenny Bernstein. “But all of us in this racing fraternity are hurting. Darrell loved driving the race car. He was a very kind individual and a heck of a driver. He will be sorely missed and our hearts go out to his wife, mom and dad, team owner Joe Amato and all the crew members. Darrell was a special kind of guy.”

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MADISON, Ill. – Brandon Bernstein, the second generation “King of Speed,” will make his first professional start at Gateway International Raceway in the Sears Craftsman Nationals June 25-27.

Bernstein, who took the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster at the beginning of the 2003 season, suffered back injuries in a May 18 accident in Englishtown, N.J. that sidelined him for the last 15 races of the season.

Bernstein is back now, 100 percent healed, and on top of his game. The son of six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein, Brandon won three of the first nine events of the 2004 season, finished runner-up once and led the Top Fuel point standings briefly. He also owns the NHRA national speed record of 333.41 mph set in May in Joliet, Ill.

“Naturally we’d like to have a good showing in Budweiser’s backyard,” said Bernstein. “Our major focus will be on going rounds. Winning would be icing on the cake.

“This has been a hard-fought battle since the opening day of the season, and now with the hot weather and slick track conditions, the tune-ups change. Everybody’s playing hardball. There are three of us that really seem to be in the thick of combat and we’re only separated by a round or two. That means the point standings could change from race to race. You have to show up with your ‘A’ game every round.

“We’re just going to be halfway through the season at St. Louis, so there’s still a long way to go. The St. Louis race is unusual because it’s a late afternoon and night race, but it should be great for the fans. It will be cooler, and the flames coming out of the headers at night are pretty spectacular.

“We’re pleased to have made a good showing in the first half of the season, and hope we can be there at the end.”

Notable: Budweiser and team owner Kenny Bernstein are celebrating their 25th year of sponsorship association, the longest current team/sponsor association in all of motorsports.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Sears Craftsman Nationals begins Friday, June 25 at 6 p.m., followed by a second session at 9 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 6 and 9 p.m., with final eliminations beginning Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

SEARS CRAFTSMAN NATIONALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 26 – ESPN2
10-11 p.m. ET

Eliminations – June 27 – ESPN2
9 p.m. – midnight ET

Repeat Eliminations – June 28 – ESPN2
2 – 4 p.m. ET