BERNSTEIN ENDS DROUGHT IN BUDWEISER’S BACKYARD; DEDICATES VICTORY TO AILING GRANDFATHER

MADISON, Ill. (June 26) – If Kenny and Brandon Bernstein could write a script to pick a race for their first win of the 2005 season, the Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Budweiser’s backyard would have been their choice. The victory became a reality, ending a 26-race drought for the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team. To add to the emotion for the Bernstein family, patriarch Bert Bernstein, Kenny’s father and Brandon’s grandfather, who is battling cancer, was at the track to celebrate his grandson’s seventh career victory.

During the victory celebration, the team credited some good mojo to a lucky Clydesdale horseshoe.

“We’ve been struggling and the dry spell is finally over,” said Brandon Bernstein. “We really needed to get that monkey off of our back and here in St. Louis is the best place to do it. It’s a great feeling.

“We had no premonitions about winning here,” continued Bernstein. “We just wanted to come out here and perform well. We’ve been in these situations where we’ve qualified well and we haven’t been able to get everything together on race day. Today Tim and the team did an awesome job of performing with this race car. It’s been such a long time since we’ve had a win, hopefully we’re over that hiccup and this will start a snowball effect and we’ll be able to keep going.” Over a very hot and humid weekend, Bernstein qualified fifth for the Sears Craftsman Nationals with an elapsed time of 4.602/326.79.

Track temperature for the first round of eliminations soared to more than 130 degrees. It was a pedal-fest between each of the first three pair down the track. Bernstein and T.J. Zizzo were the fourth pair to run and the first pair to go "smokeless" down the track. Bernstein just did run Zizzo down at the finish line, 4.823/308.43 to Zizzo's 4.916/283.01.

"That was a great job by the team,” said Bernstein. “I'm excited we're going to round two."

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein faced off against Scott Weis. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team recorded low elapsed time of the round with a winning 4.625/323.04 to defeat Weis’ 5.180/207.56.

"We threw the blower belt off right in the lights,” explained Bernstein. “That was a pretty stout run in the heat!"

The Bud/Lucas Oil team clocked low elapsed time of the semifinals with a winning 4.603/326.79, defeating Doug Herbert's 4.684/312.64, to transfer to the money round against Morgan Lucas.

“Another great effort by the team,” said Bernstein. “We’re looking tough, but it’s going to be difficult going against my buddy Morgan Lucas in the final. Morgan and I are good friends as are our families.”

Morgan Lucas was driving for the team that Darrell Russell drove for when he lost his life a year ago at this track.

When the starting lights went green in the final round, it was Bernstein to the finish stripe first with low elapsed time of the event, 4.553/324.59 to Lucas’ 4.793/314.31.

“That was a very emotional deal, but when you’re in the car you have to focus on the task at hand. I knew the cards would fall to whoever had the best car and did the best job. With all that team has gone through and with Morgan not having a win yet, I knew they’d be really tough. Morgan will get his win, but I know it would have been great for him to get his win here.

“We’re indebted to Bob Scheetz with Budweiser who went over to the farm this morning and got us a brand new shoe off a Clydesdale. We put it in the Suburban (tow vehicle) right before first round. It’s our good luck charm today. Dad had a lucky horseshoe in 2002 when he won here as well. There’s something to be said about those Clydesdale horseshoes.

“But the most important thing is that I want to dedicate our win today to my grandfather Bert.

We’re not sure how much time he really has left because he’s battling cancer. We’ve been trying to get him to come to a race, and for him to finally be able to do it and be here with us to celebrate his 82nd birthday yesterday and our victory today, it’s very emotional. We got the win for him.”

Bernstein gained a position in NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings and is now sixth.

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BERNSTEIN LOOKING FORWARD TO NIGHT TIME EVENT AT “KING OF BEERS” HOME TRACK

MADISON, Ill. – Brandon Bernstein is hoping that the night time conditions will help propel the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team to the top of the sixteen-pack and give our fans an exciting show. Bernstein will be competing June 24-26 at the Sears Craftsman Nationals, a rare evening and night time event, which marks the halfway point on the 23-race NHRA circuit.

“We love coming to Gateway International Raceway,” said Bernstein. “Obviously this is Budweiser’s home track and we have the opportunity to spend a few days with many of the executives in both a relaxed and business atmosphere.

“On the fun side, we’re going to be signing autographs at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Center and throwing out the first pitch at the Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh game. Before the game we’ll have a chance to go down to the field to observe batting practice and talk with some of the players.

“Of course it puts a little more pressure on us on the race side, but nothing would be more fun than to be able to celebrate a victory with our friends at Budweiser. That would be the ultimate.

“Tim, Kim and the team have really put some good competitive numbers on the board these last few weeks. I stumbled on my side in Chicago, but we seem to be on the verge of being able to put it all together. I keep saying that, but I truly believe in all of us. We’re a good team with a lot of synergy and we pull together. Whenever that next victory comes, it will be so sweet.

“Since the race at Gateway is at night, it will be fun for the spectators because they will get to see the header flames. It’s an awesome sight combined with sensory overload.”

Bernstein has six career victories and was Rookie of the Year in 2003. He also had the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in history, winning five of his first 13 starts.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 24 at 6 p.m. with a second session at 9 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 6 and 9 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Bernstein to sign autographs at Tour Center: Brandon Bernstein will sign autographs at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Center Wed., June 22 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Tour Center is located at 12th and Lynch Streets in St. Louis. WIL-FM will be broadcasting live from the Tour Center during the autograph session.

Bernstein to throw out first pitch at Cardinals/Pittsburgh game: Brandon Bernstein will throw out the first pitch Thursday, June 23 at the Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh baseball game at Busch Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m.

SEARS CRAFTSMAN NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 26 – ESPN2
12 – 1 a.m. ET

Eliminations – June 26 – ESPN2
9 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET