| 2004 NEWS ARCHIVES | Back | |
BERNSTEIN REMAINS SECOND IN TOP FUEL POINT STANDINGS; GAINS POINTS ON CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER AT ATLANTA COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16) - The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team was able to gain some ground in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point chase despite suffering their first quarterfinals defeat of the season at the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals. They remain in second place, and have narrowed the gap between first and second place to 66 points. Driver Brandon Bernstein qualified in an uncustomary 11th position at Atlanta Dragway with a 4.680-second elapsed time at 315.12 miles per hour. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team stepped up the pace for the opening round of eliminations, defeating David Baca with their best run of the weekend, 4.602/315.86 vs. 5.549/173.36. In a quarterfinals contest against Cory McClenathan, it was Bernstein leading to the 1000-foot mark where McClenathan began to catch the red car, squeaking past to reach the finish line first (4.708/311.13) when Bernstein began to haze the tires (4.722/294.50). “We didn’t see him (McClenathan) until about the 1000-foot mark, then I saw the nose of his car creep in,” said Bernstein. “Naturally, going out in the second round wasn’t what we wanted, but all in all, you’ve got to look at the results of the weekend positively because we gained a few points on the championship leader.” # # # |
BERNSTEIN
AND BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM CONTINUE TOP FUEL BATTLE IN ATLANTA
COMMERCE, Ga. – The Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals May 14-16 marks the seventh race in the 23-event NHRA POWERade series, and though it’s early in the season, there’s a full-scale war raging in the Top Fuel category. Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team have two victories this season, the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals in Phoenix in March, and the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston in April. They are second in point Top Fuel point standings. “We feel fortunate to have won twice this season,” said Bernstein, “but every race has wicked competition. We have to go rounds to keep the season in check. We can’t afford for anyone to start running away with the points. “We’re doing battle from the first qualifying run. First of all, everyone wants to qualify well to earn points to be in the $100,000 Bud Shootout later in the year in Vegas. Secondly, you want to get seeded in the top half of the field so that you can get lane choice and hopefully get an advantage at least over your first round competitor. But the thing is, there are so many cars that are running quick and fast, you’re in tough matches every round. The team has to do its job, and the driver has to do his job. “This year there seems to be less room for a bobble than ever before. If you stumble, more than likely, you’re going home.” Last season at Atlanta Dragway, Bernstein earned his second career No. 1 qualifying spot and set both ends of the track record with 4.505-second elapsed time and 327.98 mph speed. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team with Tim Richards as crew chief has won 21 events and the 2001 Top Fuel championship since Kenny Bernstein hired him as crew chief in 2001. Nitro qualifying (Top Fuel and Funny Car) for the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals begins Friday, May 14 at 4:30 p.m., with a second session at 7:30 p.m. There are two sessions Saturday, noon and 3 p.m., with final eliminations beginning Sunday at 11 a.m. SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT SOUTHERN NATIONALS Qualifying – May 15 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – May 16 –
ESPN2 Repeat Eliminations – May 17
– ESPN2 |
| |