BERNSTEIN GAINS GROUND IN POINT CHASE WITH SEMIFINALS SHOWING IN CHICAGO

JOLIET, Ill. (Oct. 3) – Kenny Bernstein’s Budweiser/Lucas Oil team was able to capitalize on an early loss by the second place Top Fuel points contender at the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals. The team gained ground in the NHRA POWERade championship chase with a semifinals finish at Route 66 Raceway, a track where both father and son have had much success.

Driver Brandon Bernstein qualified sixth with a 4.541-second 333.41 mph. The mile per hour on his qualifying run equaled his existing world speed record set at this facility in May.

Bernstein won the opening round of eliminations against T.J. Zizzo with a strong 4.526/331.94 vs. Zizzo's 4.602/324.36.

"Everybody's playing hardball out there,” said Bernstein. “We've got to be on our game today.”

For the fifth consecutive event Bernstein faced off against Scott Kalitta in the quarterfinals. Brandon took the round win advancing to the semifinals with a consistent 4.525/332.43 to defeat Kalitta's tire-smoking 7.943/103.79

"This Budweiser/Lucas Oil car is on fire,” said an animated Bernstein. “Tim (Richards), Kim and the team have got it dialed in.”

The semifinals between Tony Schumacher and Bernstein produced one of the closest races of the day. Bernstein clocked 4.506/331.20, but Schumacher's narrow starting line advantage got him to the finish line first with a 4.509/327.03.

Bernstein, making a charge to gain a position in championship standings, will remain third, trimming the margin to 45 points between second and third place with three races remaining in the season.

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BRANDON BERNSTEIN HOPES TO CONTINUE INCREDIBLE FAMILY FINAL ROUND
APPEARANCE STREAK AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY

JOLIET , Ill. – The Bernstein family has a strong winning tradition at Route 66 Raceway, and Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, is looking forward to carrying on the family tradition Oct. 1-3 at the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals.

Father and son have recorded 5 victories at this track, and Kenny has won two of three fall outings at this facility. Between the two, they have been in the final round eight of 10 appearances.

In his young career, Brandon Bernstein has gone to the final round at Route 66 Raceway every time he has competed there. In 2001 when he was piloting a Federal-Mogul dragster, he shared victory circle with his legendary father, six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein.
The duo became the first father-son combination to win at the same national event in NHRA’s 50-year history, and Chicago marked the second time that season that they scored double victories.

In May of this season, Brandon finished runner-up at Route 66 Raceway, performing a spectacular, but scary wheelstand in the final round. During the event, Bernstein set the existing world speed record, 333.41 mph, making him the second generation “King of Speed.”
He also recorded his career best elapsed time at Route 66 Raceway, 4.462 seconds.

“Dad has done well at this track,” said Brandon , “and I’d sure like to carry on the family tradition here.
Last year after I crashed in Englishtown, Dad finished the season driving the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, and won this event. In fact, he and the team went on a winning frenzy, scoring victories in four of the last five events.

“Our last victory this season was in Topeka at the end of May, and we’d sure like to get back on the podium.
Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim and the team are as anxious as I am to return to victory lane. There’s good karma at this track and we look forward to a good performance here.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals begins Friday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m., followed by a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 1 and 4 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m.

Kenny Bernstein: King of Speed book just released: Kenny Bernstein and ESPN commentator Bill Stephens collaborated on this book which is a story in pictures and words of the remarkable racing career of Kenny Bernstein, one of the marquee names in motorsports. The 160-page 10” x 10” hardcover book retails for $24.95 and can be found at major bookstores. It is also available at kennybernstein.com, amazon.com and sportspublishingllc.com.

Bernstein Family Record at Route 66 Raceway: Kenny won in 1998, 2001 (spring), 2001 and 2003 (fall), finished runner-up in spring ’99 and ’02; Brandon won in F-M dragster 2001, runner-up in May 2004.

National records: Kenny set the world e.t. record in Chicago in June of 2001; Brandon set the existing world speed record in May 2003 in Chicago , 333.41 mph.

CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NATIONALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – October 2 – ESPN2
4- 6 p.m. ET

Eliminations – October 3- ESPN
8-10 pm ET

Repeat Eliminations – October 5 – ESPN2
3 -5 pm ET

Repeat Eliminations – October 8 - ESPN2
3-5 pm ET