NHRA TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP ELUDES BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 4) – The outcome of a potential championship for the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team came down to one round at the Auto Club Finals. With five wins in the 2007 season, a career high number of victories per season for second generation driver Brandon Bernstein, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team was in the thick of the battle when eliminations unfolded at Auto Club Raceway. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team qualified fourth at 4.524/328.54. They also took home their fifth Top Fuel Full Throttle $3000 check of the season for overall performance and consistency based on the event’s qualifying rounds. In the opening stanza of Auto Club Finals eliminations, Bernstein faced off against Cory McClenathan. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster made a straight, trouble-free run to take the round win while McClenathan struggled with loss of traction at the hit of the throttle. Bernstein clocked 4.557/327.11 to McClenathan’s 12.109/75.31. “We have to concentrate on our own efforts,” said Bernstein, “and not get caught up in what the other Countdown drivers are doing. That was a good run and the car went right down there.” In the quarterfinals, Bernstein rolled to the ready line to meet David Grubnic. Bernstein had the advantage from the 60-foot incremental all the way down the quarter-mile and tripped the win light with a 4.549/322.19 to Grubnic’s 5.020/305.77. “We’re into a rhythm now,” said Bernstein. “We just need to keep the consistency rolling.” The defining moment for Bernstein and his championship hopes would be in the semifinals against Tony Schumacher. Tensions were high, but the scenario was simple. If Bernstein won the round, he would win the championship. Bernstein had the reaction time advantage, but Schumacher won the round. Bernstein’s 4.637/319.14 could not match Schumacher’s 4.520/325.53. “Obviously we are very disappointed,” said Bernstein. “We just came up a bit short. It’s unfortunate, but that’s drag racing. It’s tough out there. You have to be on your game and you have to run the number and we know what kind of numbers Schumacher puts out. It’s too bad our car fell off against him. We had not run 4.60s all weekend. “Overall, our Budweiser/Lucas Oil team had a good season, winning five races. We’ll take some time over the winter to do a little R & R and ramp up for 2008.” Bernstein finished the season in the No. 3 position, 37 points, or less than two rounds, out of the championship. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and www.brandonbernstein.com. Please visit www.budweiser.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com # # # |
The Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster 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 Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and 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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BRANDON BERNSTEIN INSPIRED BY SIX-TIME CHAMPION FATHER POMONA, Calif. – Second generation driver Brandon Bernstein will be one of four drivers vying for the coveted 2007 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel championship. The champion will be crowned Nov. 4 at the Automobile Club of Southern California Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. “You have to be totally focused,” said Bernstein. “You can’t leave the starting line too late or too early. You have to remember there are good teams competing that aren’t in the countdown that want to win and take some of the glory. At this stage, there can’t be any hiccups and there’s no making it up if you make a mistake. “It’s going to be a pressure filled race. We faced similar pressure in the Richmond race in the first round of competition which was a make or break round for us to get into the Countdown to 1. We got through that, and Dad counseled me to build on that experience for this final event. “We feel very fortunate to have made it this far, but we really would like to win the championship for Budweiser, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools, all our sponsors and fans, but especially Dad. We were runner-up in Pomona at the season-opener and we’d like to end the season going one better with a victory. “Our team has shown its competitive nature by winning five events this season, so we definitely have the talent. Tim (Richards, crew chief) and Kim (Richards) have won championships before so they know how to handle the pressure. “Dad has won championships and he will be there to guide me. We’ll give it 120 percent and hope for the best.” The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team celebrated national event victories in the spring in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol, Tenn., Topeka, and Brainerd, Minn., setting a new career high for victories in a season for Bernstein. Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Auto Club Finals begins Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2:30 p.m., with a second session Friday at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, there are two scheduled qualifying rounds, noon and 3:30 p.m. The championship-defining rounds begin Sunday at 11 a.m. 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. AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FINALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – Nov. 3 – ESPN2 |
BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM ADVANCES TO THIRD LAS VEGAS (Oct. 27) – With the Top Fuel championship to be decided Nov. 4 in Pomona, Calif., the Kenny Bernstein-owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil team will be in the thick of the final battle. In a competitive, double header weekend in Las Vegas, driver Brandon Bernstein credited crew chief Tim Richards for tuning consistency that propelled the team to a final four appearance in the ACDelco Nationals, essentially the semifinals of the Countdown to the Championship. Bernstein qualified No. 6 for Sunday’ race with a 4.534-second elapsed time at 325.69 miles per hour. In Saturday’s Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout, Bernstein was paired with Melanie Troxel in the first round of racing activity. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team turned a 4.557/327.59 which would have bested any other competitor in the field, except for Troxel, who earned the round win with a 4.529/330.55. In the opening round of Sunday’s ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team ran their quickest elapsed time of the weekend (4.530/326.71) and earned 20 points for the round win against Doug Herbert (4.611/315.57). "We saw one of the other Countdown competitors go right down the lane and win his round before us so the pressure was on us to win,” said Bernstein. “That was a great run and tuning call by Tim.” In the quarterfinals, Bernstein once again faced Melanie Troxel, his first round opponent in Saturday’s Technicoat Shootout. Bernstein contributed to the team’s Sunday round win by getting a quicker start out of the gate. Bernstein’s .048-second reaction time, coupled with a 4.566-second elapsed time at 327.43 mph, helped the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster reach the finish line first. Troxel’s .094-second reaction time with a 4.561-second elapsed time at 326.79 miles per hour gave Bernstein a .0413-second margin of victory. “That was a huge, huge round win for us, and a stout tune-up,” said Bernstein. “Tim has this car running consistently. Tim needed the driver to step up and I did everything I could to help our effort. “Every round match is tough, and every 20 points gained by a round win is coveted.” Once again, Bernstein had the starting line advantage over semifinals competitor Doug Kalitta and led until half track where the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster began to lose traction. Kalitta drove around Bernstein for the round win. “We knew Doug would be tough,” said Bernstein. “We were good for a while there and I was holding my breathe hoping we could fend him off. Then I felt the tires spin and just had to watch as he went by. “The good news is we went some rounds and we’re in the hunt.” The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team advanced to third position in the Countdown points heading into the finale at Pomona, Calif. next weekend. Bernstein is 61 points out of the lead. # # # |
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 Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and 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 |
BRANDON BERNSTEIN AND BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM LAS VEGAS – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team are among an elite list of Top Fuel teams who will have an opportunity for a double payday weekend at the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals Oct. 26-28. Additionally, Bernstein is one of four Top Fuel drivers in the Countdown to 1 for the season’s championship ring. Las Vegas and Pomona are the final two races of the year and the team that earns the most points at those remaining races will collect the $500,000 championship bonus. At Las Vegas in addition to the national event trophy that is at stake, along with performance points earned toward the championship, eight of the quickest Top Fuel contenders who have earned starting berths based on qualifying points gained throughout the year will compete for the $100,000 winner’s share at the Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout. The specialty event will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 during professional qualifying at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “It’s a big weekend for us,” said Bernstein, “and one that will be filled with the pressure of two races and a championship in the mix. “We will hold our breath on Friday and hope we get qualified in the top half of the field. If we’re not, then we’ll have to worry about qualifying for Sunday’s event and racing the Technicoat Shootout all at the same time on Saturday. “Best case scenario is to get two good, quick, consistent runs in on Friday and be ready to rumble on Saturday in the Shootout. “This will be our fourth Shootout start. We finished runner-up in our first race, but we’d sure like to win one. The Cowboys (Technicoat’s Bob Coffman and Glen Williams) have been friends of our family for a long time and they’ve been involved in our sport for many years. We would enjoy sharing a few Budweisers with them in winner’s circle!” Bernstein’s very first professional race was the Shootout in February of 2003. It was a starting position earned by his father, six-time NHRA world champion, Kenny, in the race that was scheduled to run at the season-ending race of 2002, the year of his retirement. Rain forced postponement until the season-opening event in 2003. Because Kenny had retired, the rules allowed Brandon to take his place. “I was really pumped for that race,” said Brandon. “I was just a rookie but I had a great team behind me. We still have Tim and Kim (Richards) at the tuning helm and they’re doing a spectacular job. “So far this season we’ve won five events, which is a season best for us. Of course we could add on to those event wins with a little Las Vegas luck.” Bernstein won the SummitRacing.com Nationals April 15 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “Our team has proven that we’re capable of winning at this track,” said Bernstein. “Dad’s had tremendous success at this track and we’d like to continue the family tradition.” 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. Technicoat Shootout driver introductions are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, with round one of the Shootout at 1 p.m., round two at 3:20 p.m. and Shootout finals at 4:45 p.m. In conjunction with the Shootout, nitro qualifying for Funny Car and Top Fuel cars not participating in the Shootout are slotted for 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday. 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. ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – Oct. 27 – ESPN2 |
BRANDON BERNSTEIN AND BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 7) – In a nail-biter match in the first round of eliminations at the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team won the fourth seed in the Countdown to Four and the opportunity to enter the final phase of the Countdown to the Championship. In the battle for the final available position in the Countdown to Four, qualifying position and accompanying points also became very important. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team qualified second at 4.549/321.58, gaining seven valuable points. They also took home their fourth Top Fuel Full Throttle $3000 check of the season for overall performance and consistency based on the event’s qualifying rounds. “Our fate was in our hands,” said Bernstein. “It was ours to win or lose. We had just a fraction over a round point advantage coming into the opening round. The team did their job, I did my job, and we were fortunate enough to have everything fall into place. “It was definitely a pressure situation, but our team was able to rise to the occasion. “Dad gave us a pep talk on Friday and he said, 'Just do the best you can do and let everything fall into place. We only ask that when you look in the mirror at the end of the weekend that you can say you've done the best you can do.” “We all gave our best effort.” In the second round of eliminations, Bernstein lost traction by half track (6.626/134.52) while Doug Foley had a trouble free run (4.603/318.99). “We hated to lose that round because a win there would have catapulted us to second place in point standings which would have meant an extra 20 points on the point reset for the Countdown to One,” lamented Bernstein. “But the first round was the important win. e last two races, Las Vegas and Pomona, are back to back and it’s going to be a thriller to see who wins the Top Fuel championship trophy.” # # #
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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 Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and 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 |
BRANDON BERNSTEIN ON COUNTDOWN
TO FOUR “BUBBLE”; RICHMOND, Va. -- The Torco Racing Fuels Nationals Oct. 5-7 are a make or break race for Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team in their quest to transfer to the next stage of the new NHRA championship countdown format. The team led the Top Fuel point standings twice during the season, and they have never fallen out of the top eight. Since the Countdown to Eight field has been set, they have remained fourth. Now with the cutline fast approaching for the Countdown to Four, Bernstein is vulnerable. “We really didn’t want to end up at the last race before the field of four is set with no breathing room,” said Bernstein, “but that’s pretty much where we are. We are 26 points out of third place, or 21 points out of fifth. “It would be a huge bummer if we didn’t make the Countdown to Four. The record books prove we’re definitely a contender. We’ve won five events this season, a career-high number of victories in one season for me. For the most part we’ve hovered around second or third in the point standings with a few dips lower than that. “The tide turned to a certain extent when I was hospitalized for kidney stones and was unable to compete at Reading,” continued Bernstein. “We were second going into that event, and because I couldn’t race, we came out fourth as the points were reset for the first phase of that Countdown. That was a 20-point swing. Those kidney stones just picked a really bad time to get riled up. “Now, all that being said, we have the talent to soldier through this. Make no mistake, competition in our category is tough. We’ll have knots in our stomach and we’ll be holding our breath until we qualify. Fortunately Tim (Richards, crew chief) normally tunes us to some really consistent laps in all the qualifying sessions. Qualifying high on the ladder awards you more points and gives you lane choice, which might give you an advantage. “I know for sure I picked up the competitive gene from my dad. But our whole team has the desire to win. We need to stay focused and positive and see if we can go some rounds. We have our eyes on the championship, but we need to make the Countdown to Four.” Bernstein’s victories this season include Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol, Topeka, and Brainerd, Minn. He was runner-up at the season-opening event in Pomona and in Seattle. 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 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. 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 |
BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM
SETS LOW ELAPSED TIME DALLAS (Sept. 23) – Though Brandon Bernstein was unable to defend last year’s Top Fuel title at his hometown track, he and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team set a performance mark for the O’Reilly Fall Nationals, and most importantly, remained in the top four in the Countdown to Four. Bernstein qualified ninth with a 4.585/319.37. In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein pulled to the starting line to face fellow Brat Packer, Morgan Lucas. Lucas rolled into the starting line lights a little too deep and fouled out, leaving the starting line before the Christmas tree was activated. Bernstein took the win with low elapsed time of the round and of the event, 4.534 seconds, at 323.89 mph. “I saw the pre-stage lights on Morgan’s side flicker twice,” explained Bernstein, “and then Morgan was gone. I thought maybe I was late leaving and then I saw the win light on my side indicating Morgan had a red light or foul start. I felt bad for him. I know he was upset.” The second round against Clay Millican was a pedalfest with both drivers on and off the throttle. Millican won the round by little more than a wheel with a .020-second margin of victory. “That was a disappointing loss,” said Bernstein. “First of all we wanted to defend our title here in our hometown, and secondly, we needed to build some cushion between us and fifth place. Richmond is shaping up to be a make or break race for us, a lot more pressure than we would have liked. “I have a tremendous amount of confidence in our team. We’ve been hanging in the top four since the Countdown to Eight, and with the cutoff for the Countdown to Four at Richmond, we hope we can remain on the top side of the cutline.” Bernstein is 76 points out of the lead, 26 points out of third place, and 21 points ahead of fifth place. 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. |
BRANDON BERNSTEIN IN MEMPHIS
FINAL FOUR; MEMPHIS (Sept. 16) – Brandon Bernstein drove his Budweiser/Lucas Oil Countdown car to the final four at the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals, remaining fourth in points, and tightening the Top Fuel points battle. Bernstein qualified second with a 4.566-second elapsed time and logged an event top speed of 327.35 mph during qualifying. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team earned an important opening round win against Hillary Will. Bernstein clocked a great 4.569/323.27 vs. Hillary's valiant 4.617/312.13. "The countdown points we earn for every round we win are huge,” exclaimed Bernstein. “Tim (Richards, crew chief) made a lot of changes in the staging lanes before our run, but he had our Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster dialed in." Bernstein advanced to the quarterfinals to face his good friend J.R. Todd. Both are battling for a position in the Countdown to Four. Bernstein edged Todd for the round win, 4.600/315.27 to Todd‘s 4.877/283.55. “J.R. and I don’t like racing each other because we know there can only be one winner,” said Bernstein. “But we have a job to do. We’ll always remain friends. “That was another good tuning call by Tim and we were fortunate to put 20 more points in the Countdown bank.” In the semifinals, Bernstein squared off against Melanie Troxel. Both drivers lost traction and were on and off the throttle trying to get the tires to hook up. Bernstein went on a wild ride sashaying down the quarter-mile while trying to tame the 7,000-horsepower dragster. Despite his efforts, Troxel crossed the finish line first, 6.674/260.46, to Bernstein’s 7.748/138.87. “These cars are temperamental,” explained Bernstein. “Sometimes you can feather the throttle and get the car back on track, but today the car wanted to go every which way. “We went three rounds so we tightened up the points, which now makes performance at Dallas and Richmond critical. This puts a lot of pressure on the eight drivers and crew chiefs who are vying for those four positions trying to make the final cut for the championship showdown. It’s good for the fans, but we’re sweating every round. “We need to defend our title at Dallas next weekend to see if we can’t get a firmer foothold on the upper rungs of the point ladder.” Bernstein will remain fourth in Countdown point standings with two races remaining before the cutoff to the Countdown to Four. 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.
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BRANDON BERNSTEIN TO DEBUT
BUDWEISER COUNTDOWN PAINT SCHEME MEMPHIS – Brandon Bernstein, one of eight Top Fuel drivers vying for a spot in the Countdown to Four in the new NHRA Countdown to the Championship format, will debut a special Budweiser Countdown paint scheme at Memphis Motorsports Park. The O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals Sept. 14-16 is the second event, or the halfway point, before the four who are eligible to challenge for the coveted NHRA Top Fuel Championship are named. The elite field of drivers will be those who are the top four in points. “We are so excited to debut a new Budweiser Countdown paint scheme at Memphis,” said Bernstein. “As far as I know, we’re the only team that will have a specialty car for the ‘playoffs’ and we owe a big tip of the helmet to Budweiser for initiating the concept. It’s the car we’ll campaign for the five remaining races this season.” “Brandon and the Bud King team are long-time partners, and Brandon is having an amazing season with a career-best five wins,” said Randall Blackford, director of Budweiser marketing. “Week in and week out, Brandon is a tremendous ambassador for Budweiser and for the sport, and we’re excited to celebrate his push for the title with a special red and silver-flamed paint scheme for the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster.” “The Top Fuel field is very competitive and you hold your breath until you know you’ve qualified for the event,” said Bernstein. “Once you’re in the field, then the pressure begins to go rounds. I don’t think you’re going to have any room to stumble.” Bernstein is fourth in point standings heading into the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals, 86 points out of the lead. That equates to four rounds and some qualifying points. “We’re all pretty much bunched up at the moment, but the spread will grow after the Memphis race no doubt,” continued Bernstein. “The Friday night qualifying session traditionally presents the best conditions for the quickest runs which are important in getting seeded in the field. A bobble there could mean you’ll be on the outside looking in on Sunday morning. “Tim (Richards crew chief) has done an awesome job tuning us to five wins this year, and we’re hoping the new Countdown paint scheme on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster will provide a little more momentum heading into the final races of the season. “We’re pumped!” “We are celebrating our 28th season of Budweiser sponsorship,” said team owner and six-time NHRA world champion Kenny Bernstein. “Our contract with them is extended to 2009 which will become the longest consecutive major team sponsorship in autosports history at 30 years. The Countdown paint scheme concept demonstrates their high level support for our program. We’re very fortunate to be a member of the Anheuser-Busch corporate family.” 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.
NHRA Race Day – Sept. 16 – ESPN2 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – Sept. 16 – ESPN2 7 – 10 p.m. ET
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BRANDON BERNSTEIN DRIVES ELVIS 30TH ANNIVERSARY BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL DRAGSTER TO LOW ELAPSED TIME OF MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS ELIMINATIONS CLERMONT, Calif. (Sept. 3) – Debuting a commemorative Elvis 30th Anniversary paint scheme, the Kenny Bernstein-owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team was a fan favorite at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. To add to the Elvis sensation, driver Brandon Bernstein was decked out in a white jumpsuit-style, “blinged” out fire suit with Oakley blue suede driving shoes, fashion worthy of the King of Rock ‘n Roll. Budweiser supported the annual Elvis celebration in August with a Bernstein/Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ‘One Night Stand’ promotion on the first night of the “Music and Movies” series on the front lawn of Graceland. Earnhardt, Jr. also sported a commemorative Elvis paint scheme on his Budweiser No. 8 Chevy on the NASCAR circuit. At O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Bernstein qualified 12th with a 4.568/324.36. In the opening round of eliminations, the second generation driver piloted “The King” to a round win over a tire-smoking David Grubnic with an impressive low elapsed time of eliminations, 4.525 seconds, at 324.90 mph. “That was an awesome run,” said Bernstein, “Tim (Richards, crew chief) had a great set-up. Even with hot, tricky track conditions he has the ability and talent to pour a lot of power into the tune-up and still make the car stick to the track.” In the second round of eliminations, Bernstein faced off against Melanie Troxel. The two had nearly identical reaction times and were neck and neck to the finish line, where Troxel scored the winning edge with a 4.606/325.77 to Bernstein’s 4.620/319.82. “That was a close race,” said Bernstein. “With four races until the Countdown to Four, every round counts. You hold your breath until you qualify for the field, and then try to calm the butterflies that build up before each round. We’re hanging in at fourth but we’ve got four competitive cars behind us breathing down our exhaust pipes.” Bernstein is 86 points out of the lead. 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. # # # |
CLERMONT, Ind. – Having secured a position in the Countdown to Eight, Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team now begin their quest for a berth in the Countdown to 4. The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is the first of four races that will name the four drivers who will battle for the coveted championship trophy. Bernstein, who missed the last event in Reading, Pa. due to emergency kidney stone surgery, will start in Indy from the fourth position, 30 points out of the lead as points are reset for the Countdown. “Had this kidney stone problem arisen after I had made one qualifying attempt in Reading,we would have remained second in the points and there would only have been 10 points difference beginning in Indy,” explained Bernstein. “Rit Pustari jumped in and qualified the car in Reading and then competed on race day. Because points stay with the driver, not the team, we didn’t earn any points at Reading. That being said, if this kidney stone problem had to happen, at least we were better off dealing with the issue at Reading. We were guaranteed a spot in the Countdown to Eight. If it had happened in Indy, the first race of the Countdown to 4, it would have been far more serious in the championship overview.” Bernstein will debut a commemorative Elvis paint scheme on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals to celebrate the 30th Anniversary Elvis Week. Earlier this month, Bernstein joined Budweiser Racing stable mate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on the lawn of Elvis’ Graceland mansion in Memphis, where they hosted the first night of the “Music & Movies” series. “I have become a big fan of the ‘King’ this year,” said Bernstein. “I was at Graceland in April for the Elvis Harley Ride and again a couple of weeks ago. I have a lot of respect for Elvis’ accomplishments, showmanship, and talent. “We’re going to throw a little Elvis style into our fire suit for the Indy event, and of course we couldn’t call the ensemble complete without some special Oakley “blue suede” driving shoes! We expect to unveil the car on Friday afternoon at O’Reilly Raceway Park. “If you’re an Elvis fan and you’re coming to Indy, you’ll have to come by the pit area and take some photos. If you’re not coming to Indy, check our website. We’ll have some photos for you to check out.” “Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team really have our car performing this year. I’m excited about our chances,” concluded Bernstein. To date this year, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team has won five events: Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol, Tenn., Topeka, Kan., and Brainerd, Minn. They were runner-up at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., and Seattle. Five event wins is a career season-best for Bernstein. Bernstein has a total of 17 career wins since his rookie debut in 2003. 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 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. 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. |
KIDNEY STONE KOs BRANDON BERNSTEIN AT
READING; READING, Pa. (Aug. 19) – Last week Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team celebrated their fifth victory of the season at Brainerd, Minn. This weekend a scenario unfolded at the Toyo Tires Nationals that wasn’t on anybody’s radar screen. Before Bernstein left his hotel room to drive to Maple Grove Raceway Friday morning, he was experiencing excruciating pain which he suspected might be associated with a kidney stone. Bernstein called his father who drove him to The Reading Hospital and Medical Center where he was admitted to the emergency room. Diagnostic tests proved he did indeed have a kidney stone. The initial course of action recommended by the attending urologist was to wait to see if the stone could be expelled with intravenous fluids and rest, without a surgical procedure. If the stone would pass Friday or Friday night, there was a strong possibility that Bernstein could at least make one run to qualify the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster and gain points. Bernstein spent a painful day and night in emergency, and by Saturday morning another set of x-rays showed that the stone had not made any forward progress. The urologist quickly arranged for Bernstein to be sent to pre-op and then performed a procedure to retrieve the stone. The surgery went well and Bernstein was released Saturday afternoon and spent the rest of the weekend recovering at the hotel where he was staying race weekend. Saturday morning, after the determination was made to operate on Brandon, Kenny Bernstein named Rit Pustari as the weekend’s substitute driver for the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. Because NHRA rules state that points go with the driver, not the team, it meant that Brandon would earn no points at the Toyo Tires Nationals. “We have an obligation to Budweiser and our other sponsors to field this race car,” said Kenny. “Brandon is naturally very disappointed that he can’t drive this weekend, but he’s a total supporter of putting Rit in the car and giving the team the opportunity to make some runs.” “We’re lucky we’re seeded in the countdown to eight,” said Brandon. “If this had happened at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indy, we would be in trouble since that race starts the countdown to four. I’ll be good to go by Indy and we’ll put this behind us.” Pustari, a part-time independent race driver, made his first professional Top Fuel qualifying attempt at Maple Grove Raceway in 1997. Ironically Pustari happened to be in Reading visiting friends when the opportunity of a lifetime arose to drive the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. Pustari made two Saturday qualifying runs, and was seeded 13th in the Top Fuel field with a 4.607/323.35. In the first round of Sunday’s eliminations, Pustari fouled with a red light start and opponent David Grubnic transferred to the second round. “We appreciated Rit stepping in for us,” said Kenny. “Based on past experience, it has taken about five to six days to get through the post surgery process,” said Brandon. “I expect to be in good form for the first qualifying session at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals August 31,” said Brandon. “We’re excited about the debut of our new Elvis paint scheme for that race.” Bernstein is fourth in the NHRA point standings. 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. # # # |
BRANDON BERNSTEIN AND BUDWEISER/LUCAS
OIL TEAM READING, Pa. – Coming off their fifth win of the season Aug. 12 at Brainerd, Minn., Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team will have one last race at the Toyo Tires Nationals Aug. 17-19 to take a deep breath before the pressure is on for the next phase of the countdown to the championship. At Sonoma, July 29, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team acquired enough points to secure a position in the countdown to eight. The Toyo Tires Nationals is the final event that sets the prestigious field of eight and there will be a battle for those available starting positions. Beginning at the following race, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, those eight drivers will vie for a position in the countdown to four. The field of four is set after four consecutive races beginning with the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. “When we solidified a starting spot in the countdown to eight, it was nice to have two races to take a breather,” said the second generation driver. “I wouldn’t say ‘relax’ is the operative word here. Make no mistake. Our team will be putting every effort into this race. This year has been very competitive, but at least we won’t have to be in the vicious dogfight for the final positions in the countdown to eight. The monkey is off our back for the moment, but the stress will start again in Indy. “Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim, and the team are deep in talent,” continued Bernstein. “Even so, we’re racing at Maple Grove Raceway at a different time of year, and it’s likely to be much warmer. Tim has a lot of experience and can adapt to new conditions, but the meticulous records kept by all of the crew chiefs from track to track may only afford a limited amount of information. The teams will probably have to tweak previous tune-ups to negotiate the track for the August race versus our former September date. And that puts more pressure for the teams to get a good run in Friday night when the air will be coolest. “The Brainerd win raised our personal best number of victories in a season to five and we are fortunate to have won more events than any other top fuel team this season. Tim, Kim, and the team have our Budweiser/Lucas Oil car running strong and we have a lot of momentum coming into Reading.” Bernstein has also won events this year in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol, Tenn., and Topeka. He finished runner-up at the season opening event in Pomona, Calif. and Seattle in July. He led the Top Fuel point standings twice and has never been out of the top eight this season. 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 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.
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
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BERNSTEIN DEFENDS TOP FUEL TROPHY IN
BRAINERD BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 12) – Brandon Bernstein used an identical qualifying position and the tuning skills of crew chief Tim Richards to defend last year’s victory at the Lucas Oil Nationals. It was Bernstein’s fifth victory of the season, setting a new personal record for number of victories in a year. It was his 17th career victory. This win catapulted the Budweiser/Lucas Oil top fuel team to the top of the pack with the most event wins in the Top Fuel category for 2007 thus far. Bernstein earned the second qualifying position at Brainerd International Raceway with a 4.556/328.30. Richards tuned Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to a first round win with low elapsed time of the opening round, 4.568/322.19, while opponent Doug Herbert struggled with loss of traction, rolling across the finish line with a 10.668/82.77. “While I was waiting to run, I watched a lot of cars lose traction,” said Bernstein. “I didn’t know what to expect but Tim did a marvelous job on the tune-up!” In the second round, Bernstein faced off against Clay Millican. A consistent 4.547-second elapsed time at 327.82 mph defeated Millican’s 4.593/326.24, “I couldn’t see him, but I could feel him on that run,” confided Bernstein. “I knew it was close.” Bernstein transferred to the semifinals to challenge his friend and fellow Brat Packer, Morgan Lucas. The two were evenly matched with a slight edge to Bernstein from the starting gate down the track until Bernstein started to pull away near the finish line. Bernstein clocked low elapsed time of the round, 4.536 seconds at 326.00 mph to Lucas’ 4.582/319.75. “When we were strapped in and ready to roll to the starting line we gave each other a thumbs up,” said Bernstein. “When the engine came to life, I put the fact that Morgan was in the other lane out of my mind and focused on doing my job and just racing the track. “When we pulled off onto the return road and got out of our cars I told him he was going to get his win. He’s so close. I think he’ll get a win before the year’s out. I know it was hard for his Mom and Dad, Charlotte and Forrest. They sponsor the race and they’re our extended family, but Morgan is their son.” In the finals, it was Bernstein against Larry Dixon. The two friendly rivals were pretty even off the starting line, but Richards produced low elapsed time of the event, 4.525 seconds, at 329.91 mph to best Dixon’s 4.586/323.35. “I knew Larry would be on his game and he’d been running 4.50s so he was going to be tough,” said Bernstein. “I wasn’t really on my game the first two rounds, so I needed to do my job to help our team. Tim gets something on race day and it’s amazing to watch. He’s consistent and quick. “When you have a rivalry like Larry and I had during the years of the beer wars you build a rapport, and now that he’s not with the blue beer, we’ve become closer. “This is an important win because we need to keep our momentum up to gear up for Indy which is two races away and starts the countdown to four. “We’ll participate in the test session in Indy prior to the race, and hopefully we can roll into the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals with our new Elvis paint scheme and go some rounds. “It was also an important win for us for Charlotte and Forrest Lucas. We were happy to win for our sponsors and close friends. “There are two personal emotions about this win. One is that while I was sitting in my car waiting to make our run, I was watching my Dad in the final round on the big screen. He was so close to winning. I was bummed for him, and when I got to the top end, I gave him a big hug. All in all he had a good showing, but when you get to the final, you just want to win. “Secondly, this is where my friend Eric Medlen scored his first Funny Car victory and I remember the night vividly. I took him out and helped him celebrate and I’ll always remember how happy he was and how great it was to be there sharing the moment. It’s a very happy memory.” Bernstein is second in NHRA Top Fuel standings, 91 points out of the lead. 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. |
BRANDON
BERNSTEIN, DALE EARNHARDT JR., JEFF CLARK
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BRAINERD, Minn. – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team have clinched a spot in the countdown to eight playoff field. With only two races remaining before the countdown field is set, many teams will be under pressure, jockeying for the three spots that are still open in the Top Fuel category when competition begins Aug. 10 at the Lucas Oil Nationals. Bernstein, who has won four races this season and finished runner-up at two, is looking to defend last year’s Top Fuel victory at Brainerd International Raceway for two reasons. “Since Lucas Oil is the title rights sponsor of this event, we always want to win for them,” said Bernstein. “Forrest and Charlotte Lucas have been a sponsor with Dad’s teams for several years now and they’re like family to us. Their son Morgan is a close friend of mine. “Secondly, four race wins in a season is our career best. Having been fortunate enough to win four events already this season, we have eight races left to try to bag another win and raise the bar to five event wins this year. “Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team really work well under pressure, make no mistake about that. But it’s nice to have a couple of races to breathe easy before the dogfight begins for the next leg of the countdown. “Three races from now, at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the crunch begins to set the field for the countdown to four. Consistency wins races and championships. There won’t be much room for a bobble. That means as a driver I have to be on my game and do my part to help the team. “We’re very excited to be a part of this new NHRA championship format.” Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team added victories to their career total this year at Las Vegas, Atlanta, Topeka and Bristol, Tenn. They are third in NHRA Top Fuel point standings. 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 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.
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) – What might have been an early birthday celebration for Brandon Bernstein turned out instead to be an early loss on the final leg of the grueling six-race-in-a-row NHRA tour at the Fram Autolite Nationals. But there was cause to celebrate that the Kenny Bernstein-owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has clinched a spot in the countdown to eight which begins at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend. Bernstein qualified No. 7 (4.602-second elapsed time at 326.56 mph), the same starting berth that launched him to a runner-up finish last weekend in Seattle. In the opening round of eliminations Sunday in Sonoma, Bernstein squared off against his friend J.R. Todd. It looked as if both drivers lost traction, but in fact, what appeared to be tire smoke pouring off the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster was in fact smoke caused by the friction of the bottom pulley bolts shearing off. Todd, who was on and off the throttle trying to get traction to the ground, crossed the finish line first, 5.327/240.68 to Bernstein’s 5.415/174.05. “We had the edge to about the 1000-foot mark,” said Bernstein, “but by the time we got to that point, we were just out of power. J.R. blazed by us in the last few feet.” At the end of the day, Bernstein joined the Medlen family and fellow members of the drag racing “Brat Pack” serving ice cream to the fans at Infineon Raceway for the Eric Medlen Ice Cream Social. “It was nice to participate in a tribute to Eric,” said Bernstein. “This was the brainchild of the staff at Infineon and it was comforting for all of us Brat Packers to join Eric’s family at the Ice Cream Social. I know Eric would be smiling.” Bernstein is third in Top Fuel point standings, 177 points out of the lead. He is assured of a starting position in the countdown to eight field which will be set after the next two events, Brainerd, Minn. and Reading, Pa. 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. # # # |
KENT, Wash. (July 22) – Brandon Bernstein drove to his sixth final round appearance and second runner-up position this season at the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals. He also regained second place in NHRA Top Fuel point standings. Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to set elimination fields for the 14th race of the 23-event season after only one Saturday qualifying session. Bernstein qualified seventh at Pacific Raceway with a 4.662/311.20. Rain delayed the start of Sunday’s eliminations, but the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team displayed impressive numbers in the opening round against Doug Kalitta. Bernstein drove to a 4.540/328.62 victory over Kalitta’s 4.686/303.30. “The Kalitta team is always tough,” said Bernstein. “We were fortunate enough to get a round win that time. Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim and the team are tuning tough today.” In the second round, Larry Dixon was up in smoke early in the run while Bernstein posted another strong 4.541/328.70. By virtue of this round win, Bernstein resumed second place in point standings. “Larry and I have been fighting for second place,” said Bernstein. “One week he has it, the next we have it. We need to capitalize on this and go to the finals to help build some cushion.” In the semifinals against Hot Rod Fuller, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team ran a consistent, but quicker 4.536/325.61 while Fuller lost traction just past the starting line. “That was a big round win for us,” said Bernstein. “We’ve had a good season, but Hot Rod has some points on the rest of the field. In the long run, it’s just important to get in the countdown to eight, but we all have that competitive spirit and want to lead the Top Fuel standings.” Bernstein transferred to the money round to face Tony Schumacher. Schumacher took the event victory with a 4.607/307.79 to Bernstein’s 4.558/328.86. “The team did an excellent job today,” said Bernstein. “I feel like I let them down. My reaction time was a bit slower than Schumacher’s and that’s what helped him earn the win. This one should have been ours.” Bernstein is 134 points out of the lead. 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. # # # |
SONOMA, Calif. – Brandon Bernstein has scored 16 NHRA national event victories in his young career, including four this season. The second generation driver who began his professional career behind the wheel of his father’s Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster in 2003 had the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history, logging five wins in his first 13 starts. Bernstein won at Infineon Raceway in 2001 while driving an A Fuel dragster in the NHRA Sportsman Series. This was the year Bernstein was in training for his eventual move to the Top Fuel category when his father retired at the end of the 2002 season. Though the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team will be focused on trying to gain their fifth victory of the season at the Fram Autolite Nationals July 27-29, Bernstein’s thoughts will turn toward his friend Eric Medlen, who succumbed to injuries suffered earlier this year in a testing accident. “Eric was from Oakdale,” said Bernstein. “This track was very special to him because it was so close to home. And he won the Funny Car trophy at Infineon last year. “Ever since we lost him, I wear a special Eric pin at the racetrack that has the image of his face on it, and every day I wear a special wrist band that is black and has his name on it. Additionally, I have a photo in the cockpit of our dragster of him with me and another friend, J.R. Todd. Dad and I have decals on our car as a tribute to Eric. “Sometimes I still talk to him. “Earlier this season when we won the Las Vegas event, I gave the trophy to Eric’s Mom, Mimi, who was at the race. “And at our last win in Bristol, Eric’s dad came up on the podium with us. That’s the first time he’s done that since we lost Eric. “All of us in the racing fraternity are trying to heal, but I still envision Eric bursting through our pit area with his big smile and his eyes glowing. His laugh was contagious and he was a practical joker. He was also a dedicated, untiring driver and crew member and he loved driving that race car. “My life was better for having Eric in it, but I still like to think his spirit hovers around every racetrack. It’s more comforting when I think he’s looking over us. “On the competitive side of the fence, Tim Richards (crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team have our Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster running on mean and we hope we can keep the momentum going. “We’re comfortably seeded in the countdown to eight and hope to maintain good position there in order to transfer to the next stage of the new championship chase format.” 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. Brandon Bernstein, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Clark headline Bud Racing One Night Stand at Sturgis. Wednesday night, Aug. 8, the Buffalo Chip campground near Sturgis, South Dakota, will be rockin’ AND rollin’ when the boys from Budweiser Racing –Brandon Bernstein, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Clark – take the stage during the “Bud Racing One Night Stand.” Brandon, Dale Jr. and Jeff will be hangin’ with the Buffalo Chip’ers, riffing about everything from riding bikes to rubbin’ fenders to pullin’ 5 G’s down the quarter-mile. Sandwiched between the lovely ladies of Hawaiian Tropic and the rockin’ sounds of Velvet Revolver, the Bud Racing One Night Stand will be Rally week’s “can’t miss” show. Hosted by ESPN’s Marty Smith, Brandon, Dale Jr. and Jeff will swap stories and take questions submitted by the crowd. The night revs up at 8:30 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 8 with the Hawaiian Tropic Pageant, followed by the Bud Racing boys at 9 p.m., and Velvet Revolver on stage at 10:30 p.m. Another highlight of the evening will be the presentation of a Budweiser custom motorcycle to Bernstein. The bike, commissioned by Budweiser and built by Jeff Clark owner of The Cycle Xchange in Matthews, N.C., will have special drag racing-type features incorporated into it. 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. 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 |
MORRISON, Colo. (July 15) – Last weekend in Bristol, Tenn., the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team was in party mode, popping Budweiser tops, celebrating their fourth victory of the season. This weekend in the thin air in the Mile-High city, driver Brandon Bernstein was a victim of tire smoke or loss of traction in the first round of race day competition. Bernstein’s quicker reaction time (.072 second) against opponent Hillary Will (.118-second reaction time) couldn’t salvage the win. Will had a trouble-free 4.753-second elapsed time run at 309.77 miles per hour vs. Bernstein’s on the throttle, off the throttle 6.655/144.41 effort. “It’s a continuation of our sort of feast or famine year,” said Bernstein. “We had a good qualifying effort, but it was very hot on race day and the track was tricky and slippery. Combine that with the lack of oxygen at this altitude and it’s tough to get a combination that will give you a solid eight-cylinder, traction-to-the-ground run. “This is a tune-up that crew chiefs use once a year, so next week we’ll get back to business with our customary tuning combinations in Seattle.” Bernstein qualified No. 6 at Bandimere Speedway with a 4.646/314.68. He is a comfortable third in NHRA Top Fuel standings and countdown to eight, 156 points out of the lead. 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. # # # |
KENT, Wash. – Brandon Bernstein has mixed emotions about competing in the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals at Pacific Raceway July 20-22. He won the event in 2005 and has notched four victories thus far this season. With his most recent victory at Bristol Dragway July 8, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team driver has tied his record from 2006 for most wins in a season. The 23-race NHRA circuit has just passed its mid point so Bernstein has quite a few races left to score another victory to break his career best wins in a season. The Kenny Bernstein-owned team is one of the hottest on the circuit right now. They have performance plus consistency and in fact, have taken home four Full Throttle awards for excellence and consistency averaged over four rounds of qualifying. From a performance standpoint, Bernstein couldn’t be happier, but from a personal standpoint, visiting the Seattle area conjures up sadness from the loss of a good friend, Russ Tom, who previously owned Downtown Harley-Davidson in Tukwila. Tom lost his life in a helicopter crash last October. “Russ was always at the Seattle racetrack to cheer the team,” said Bernstein. “We spent a lot of time at his house over race week and there will be a real empty feeling without his presence. “For nearly 10 years we’ve been riding with about 200 motorcycle enthusiasts starting out at Downtown Harley and ending with a big party at BB Magraw’s. Dad started the ride and then I’ve taken over the reins these past five years. “This year we’re doing the ride in Russ’ honor and Dad and I will both ride. “On a happier note, I know Russ would be so proud of the team this season. Russ was a sponsor on our car and he just loved the competitive side of life. He could easily have been a very successful motorcycle racer had he chosen that career path. “It would be nice to be able to win in Seattle for Russ.” Bernstein won races in Las Vegas and Atlanta in April, Topeka in June and Bristol July 8. He is comfortably seeded in the countdown to eight field which is the first stage of the new NHRA championship chase format. 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. Brandon Bernstein, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Clark headline Bud Racing One Night Stand at Sturgis. Wednesday night, Aug. 8, the Buffalo Chip campground near Sturgis, South Dakota, will be rockin’ AND rollin’ when the boys from Budweiser Racing –Brandon Bernstein, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Clark – take the stage during the “Bud Racing One Night Stand.” Brandon, Dale Jr. and Jeff will be hangin’ with the Buffalo Chip’ers, riffing about everything from riding bikes to rubbin’ fenders to pullin’ 5 G’s down the quarter-mile. Sandwiched between the lovely ladies of Hawaiian Tropic and the rockin’ sounds of Velvet Revolver, the Bud Racing One Night Stand will be Rally week’s “can’t miss” show. Hosted by ESPN’s Marty Smith, Brandon, Dale Jr. and Jeff will swap stories and take questions submitted by the crowd. The night revs up at 8:30 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 8 with the Hawaiian Tropic Pageant, followed by the Bud Racing boys at 9 p.m., and Velvet Revolver on stage at 10:30 p.m. Another highlight of the evening will be the presentation of a Budweiser custom motorcycle to Bernstein. The bike, commissioned by Budweiser and built by Jeff Clark owner of The Cycle Xchange in Matthews, N.C., will have special drag racing-type features incorporated into it. 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 8) – The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team combined their tuning talents with driver Brandon Bernstein’s driving skills to win their fourth event this season, their second at Bristol Dragway. Crew chief Tim Richards lobbed out impressive elapsed times in the first and final rounds while Bernstein put his pedaling skills to work in the second and semifinal rounds. The Kenny Bernstein-owned team was awarded their second consecutive Full Throttle $3000 check of the season, their fourth of the season, for overall performance and consistency based on four rounds of qualifying. The team also earned the No. 3 starting berth for eliminations for the second week in a row with a 4.552-second elapsed time at 326.95 miles per hour. The race day opening round numbers for the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team were spectacular: low elapsed time of the round and all of eliminations, 4.538 seconds at 323.50 mph for Bernstein who defeated Brady Kalivoda, 4.617/305.42. "That run was a testament to the team,” said Bernstein. “The two cars before us smoked the tires and I was a little nervous, but Tim (Richards, crew chief) had it dialed in. I knew when I hit the pedal the car was going down there." While towing back to the pits from the finish line, the tow strap wrapped around the steering box on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. With a helping hand from the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team, the broken steering box was replaced. “It was really nice of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team to dive in and help us out,” said Bernstein. “It allowed our team to focus on the normal maintenance they perform between rounds.” The second round against Cory McClenathan was a tire smoking duel. Both drivers were on and off the throttle trying to get traction to the ground. Each time Bernstein hit the throttle, the car performed a mini wheelstand, but the second generation driver finally coaxed the ill-handling dragster across the finish line to take the round win, 6.780/204.79 to McClenathan’s 7.788/137.96. “Every time I’d try to ease back on the throttle, the car would pick the front end up,” said Bernstein. “It was hard to drive, but the only thing that counts is that we got the win light.” The semifinals proved to be another pedal fest with Bernstein and Larry Dixon on and off the throttle. Bernstein helped the team earn a pass to the final round by smoking his way to the finish line first, clocking 6.613/189.42 vs. Dixon's 7.885/104.61. “It wasn’t pretty,” admitted Bernstein, “but sometimes you need a lucky break.” The money round was a repeat of the Las Vegas final earlier this year, Bernstein vs. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. Tim Richards calmed the tune-up on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil rocket and Bernstein had a smoke-free run to reach the finish line first, 4.648/317.57 to Vandergriff, Jr.’s tire-blazing 9.236/100.08. Brandon's fourth victory this year ties his record from 2006 for most number of wins in a season. “I say this nearly every time we reach a final,” said the second generation driver. “But Tim has a knack of knowing what the racetrack can hold. He’s truly amazing. It’s just a like a football game. If we get it to the five yard line, we put it in the end zone. “I just want to say thanks to my Dad for all the support and energy he puts into our team. He’s having a tough time right now. He’s a competitor and wants to win races, and I am confident that he’ll be in the winner’s circle soon.” Brandon has climbed to second place in Top Fuel standings, 74 points out of the lead. 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. |
MORRISON, Colo. – Carved into the side of a mountain in the great Rocky Mountain chain, Bandimere Speedway is arguably one of the most picturesque racetracks on the NHRA circuit. But as beautiful as the track setting is, it’s fraught with tricky tune-ups for the crew chiefs and teams of those competing in the Mopar Mile-High Nationals July 13-15. Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, knows that his crew chief, Tim Richards, and assistant crew chief Kim Richards, can adapt to the thin air and the one-off tune-up that many teams struggle with at this event. Bernstein has driven to the No. 1 qualifying position at Bandimere Speedway twice in three years, 2004 and 2005. “We have the only team in the nitro (Funny Car and Top Fuel) ranks that have a female assistant crew chief,” said Bernstein. “Kim Richards is married to crew chief Tim, but she was a crew chief for her father, Dick LaHaie, and won prestigious Car Craft Top Fuel Crew Chief honors in 1988. She also drove a Top Fuel car in 1992. “All the buzz these days is about women drivers, and Ashley Force is a really good friend of mine. The women are very capable drivers, but Kim’s talent is sometimes overlooked. “The combined talents of Tim and Kim are hard to beat, and we’re fortunate to have them on our team. Kim is a clutch specialist, but the truth is, she can build a dragster from top to bottom and can work on any part of the car. She is very diverse. “Tim and Kim have tuned us to 15 career victories, three this season, and five career runner-up finishes. Additionally, they were the brain trust behind Dad’s sixth NHRA championship in 2001. “There are five races before the countdown to eight is set. We’re comfortably seeded at the moment, but we need to continue to go rounds. This season is very unpredictable with the close competition and we don’t want to take chances. When we drive to the starting line, we’re always confident that we’ve got a car that can win rounds. That’s a good feeling.” 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 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.
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 Budweiser/Lucas Oil team continued to show excellence in qualifying at the inaugural running of the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, and were awarded their third Full Throttle $3000 check of the season for overall performance and consistency based on four rounds of qualifying. The team earned the No. 3 starting berth for eliminations with a 4.554-second elapsed time at 325.37 miles per hour. In the opening stanza of race day action, Brandon Bernstein faced off against Tony Schumacher. Though their elapsed times were closely matched, Schumacher crossed the finish line first with a 4.581/317.57 to Bernstein’s 4.587/327.35. “The team has this car running strong and consistent,” said Bernstein. “I need to polish my reaction times, but we’re happy to be comfortable in the top eight with six races remaining before the field is set for the first stage of the championship chase.” Bernstein is fourth in the countdown to eight. “On a family note,” continued Bernstein, “we were there to support Dad this weekend, and we were real happy to see the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team go to the final round. This was a break-through weekend for them.” 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. # # # |
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals mark the half-way point on the NHRA schedule, and so far this season, Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein has already notched three victories and one runner-up finish. Bernstein and the team won in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Topeka and have led the Top Fuel point standings twice this year. “Tim (Richards, crew chief) really has had a handle on consistency,” said Bernstein. “And that’s what it takes to win rounds and races. We won in Bristol in our rookie year in 2003, and we hope to have another good showing this year.” “This year’s Top Fuel field is tough,” said Bernstein. “A few years back it used to be two or three cars battling for the lead. Right now at least the top half of the field is capable of winning races. “It’s a nail-biter every round on Sunday, but by the same token, if you’re fortunate enough to win, your team has certainly put forth a lot of effort to get to victory circle and deserves the victory. There’s no walk in the park. “Tim has incredible final round stats. We’re 15 and five in 20 career final round appearances. The track record shows that Tim gets better with every round we go and when we get to the finals, he just seems to understand what the race car wants and how much the racetrack can handle. “Hopefully this consistency and Tim’s ability to do so well in the finals will come into play in the new championship chase format. The first step is to get to the countdown to eight which represents the first 17 races of the season. Right now we’re comfortably seeded in the top eight and we hope to maintain that status with five races to go before the top eight are set. Then the format goes to the countdown to four, and finally the countdown to one. At each stage, the points are adjusted, so even if you’ve built up a pretty good point lead, they are reset in 10-point increments. For instance if you have a 200-point lead going into the U.S. Nationals in which the top eight cars battle for the countdown to four, when the points are reset, you will only have a 10-point lead over the second place car. So there’s no room to stumble when you get to that point. “The season is truly interesting.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, July 6 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 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.
O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – July 7 – ESPN2 4- 6 p.m. ET NHRA Race Day – July 8 – ESPN2 11- 11:30 a.m. ET Eliminations – July 8 – ESPN2 7 - 9 p.m. ET |
ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey (June 24) – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team made a strong qualifying effort at the ProCare RX Supernationals. With consistent elapsed times Friday and Saturday, the team earned the No. 4 starting berth for eliminations with a 4.500-second elapsed time at 331.04 mph. Bernstein and his friend J.R. Todd were first round opponents on Sunday, both agreeing that it was too early in the day for two buddies to have to face each other in competition. At the finish stripe, a tick of a difference in reaction time earned Todd victory by a nose, 4.625/321.42 vs. Bernstein’s 4.620/318.39. “The team did an excellent job this weekend,” said Bernstein. “I will work on sharpening my reaction time just a bit more. It’s important that we’re solid in the countdown to eight with seven events remaining before we start the next phase of the championship chase at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indy.” Bernstein is third in NHRA Top Fuel standings, 53 points out of the lead. 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. # # # |
NORWALK, Ohio – To date this season, Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team have racked up three victories and one runner-up finish. They were hard-fought victories and the team enjoyed celebrating in winner’s circle. They have even taken two turns at leading the coveted Top Fuel point standings. When the Kenny Bernstein-owned team comes to the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals June 29- July 1 they will be a crowd favorite. “This has been a season of such extremes,” said Bernstein. “Jubilation for victories, but we also experienced a painful loss of our friend Eric Medlen who succumbed to injuries suffered in a testing accident in Gainesville, Fla. in March. The loss of a friend is one of the most difficult experiences for anyone. He was like a brother to me, and he forged such bonds with so many people that his loss will be felt for a long time. “And competition this year has been strange,” continued Bernstein. “Maybe I don’t have a lot of years of experience, but dad and I talked, and even he doesn’t remember a season where the previous week’s race winners and past champions are on the outside looking in at the conclusion of Saturday’s qualifying as has happened so often this season. “You just don’t know what to expect this year. Now we’re going to throw in hot, tricky tracks and the crew chiefs will have to figure out new tune-ups to keep from losing traction. “We’re fortunate that our crew chief, Tim Richards, and assistant crew chief, Kim Richards, have a lot of experience, not to mention a lot of talent. “We’re comfortably seeded in the countdown to eight for now, but we need to maintain that position for the next seven races to make the playoffs. “We need to go some rounds in Norwalk to keep accruing those valuable points.” 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 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. SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – June 30 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – July 1 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – July 1 –
ESPN2 |
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Brandon Bernstein is hoping that some of his father’s success at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park will rub off on him when he competes at the ProCare Rx SuperNationals June 22-24. Kenny Bernstein has won seven events at this track, more than any other, but for Brandon, it may be the track where he has struggled the most. It was also the scene of the 2003 crash that cut his rookie year short. It took him the remainder of the year to heal and rehabilitate from back injuries suffered in that incident. Though the second generation driver has qualified No. 1 at Raceway Park twice in his short career, his race days have predominantly been limited to one round. Last year was his best showing, where his No. 1 qualifying elapsed time (4.534) and speed (330.72 mph) were also the best of the event, and he drove to the semifinals. This season it’s been all or nothing for Bernstein. In the first nine events this year, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has won three events, finished runner-up once, and failed to qualify twice. “I don’t know what to expect any more,” said Bernstein. “We have a terrific and very talented team and we persevere. But this year has been just plain weird. We’ve seen the longest qualifying streaks come to an end and it seems that many of the stars of the sport have found themselves on the outside looking in on race day. “We’ve been fortunate to have won more Top Fuel events this year than any other team thus far, and we’re second in point standings, only 31 points out of the lead. This year was the first time in our career we missed a show on Sunday and then it happened again. Everyone is vulnerable it seems. Despite the lows, the highs have included winning three events and we’ve led the point standings twice this year. “The key is to get a good baseline run in the first round Friday and then run a strong number Friday evening which is going to be the coolest session of the weekend. Now that we’re coming into the hot summer days, you probably won’t have an opportunity to better your numbers on Saturday so you have to use the Friday night run to make sure you get seeded into the top 16. You just need to use Saturday to work on your race day tune-up. “I hope this is the year that we’re able to turn our luck around at Englishtown and drive to the finals.” 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 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. PROCARE RX SUPERNATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – June 23 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – June 24 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – June 24 –
ESPN2 |
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9) – It seems to be either feast or famine with the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team. Last week in Topeka, Kan., Brandon Bernstein and the team were celebrating their third victory of the season. This week at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 Nationals the team is mourning their second DNQ of the season. “It’s bizarre to be on this rollercoaster,” said Bernstein. “You don’t know what to expect from week to week. The competition is so intense that you are vulnerable. Even though we’ve had a stellar season, we are not exempt from the pit falls. “In nine races, we’ve scored three victories, one runner-up finish and two DNQs. “There are two ways to look at this. On one hand you want to lead the point standings for your sponsors and your fans, but on the other hand, with the new championship chase format, you just need to stay seeded in the top eight to have a chance to move to the countdown to four and ultimately a chance to win the championship. “At Route 66, you needed to run a strong number in the Friday night qualifying session. We ran 4.597/324.44 and missed the field by one thousandth of a second. With the hot, sunny, tricky track conditions on Saturday, you couldn’t stay hooked up (traction to the ground) with a tune-up strong enough to better the Friday night conditions. This sport will keep you humble. Now coming into the summer months you better make a good run Friday night or you likely will be unable to improve. “Naturally you hate to miss the show, but this team is deep in talent and we will rally. “We are happy for Dad that he had his best qualifying effort of the season and we were on the starting line Sunday to support him.” Bernstein is second in NHRA Top Fuel standings, 31 points out of the lead. 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. # # # |
JOLIET, Ill. – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team are “smokin” hot this season. In the eight NHRA events contested to date, Bernstein has been in the final round for 50 percent of those races, and has taken home the trophy at three, including last weekend’s O’Reilly Summernationals in Topeka. The Kenny Bernstein-owned team currently leads the Top Fuel point standings. Brandon Bernstein tasted victory at Route 66 Raceway during his 2001 “training” season in an A Fuel car, used as a stepping stone, in preparation for taking the reins of his father’s legendary Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster at the beginning of the 2003 season. That season he and his father celebrated a double victory at Route 66 Raceway. With 15 career victories on his scorecard as a professional driver, Brandon is fortunate to have won at 12 of the 21 tracks contested on the NHRA circuit. When Bernstein comes to Route 66 Raceway for the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals June 7-9, he will be looking to add this track to his list of accomplishments. “We’re having a great run so far this season,” said Bernstein. “Tim (Richards, crew chief) has had our car running consistent numbers and we’ve been quick and fast. Route 66 is a track where I know we can excel. “We had a good shot at a victory here in 2004, but we did a giant wheel stand in the final round against Doug Kalitta. That one really had my blood pumping. We were just one breath away from blowing over. “The Chicago facility is awesome and we really enjoy racing here. Dad has had a lot of success here. Ironically, now that dad is back driving the Funny Car, we have another chance to double up with another father/son victory. Now that would really be cool. “We have a strong tuning duo with Tim and Kim (Richards) and they have a lot of experience to draw upon. The focus this year with the new championship chase format is to go rounds and accumulate points to stay in the top eight for the countdown to eight, the first phase of the chase. We’re looking good right now, but there’s a lot of racing before that field is set.” 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 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. TORCO RACING FUELS ROUTE 66 NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – June 9 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – June 10 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – June 10 –
ESPN2
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TOPEKA, Kan. (June 3) – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team resumed their red-hot assault on the NHRA Top Fuel field at the O’Reilly Summernationals, winning their third race of the season. Bernstein made his 20th career final round appearance and the Kenny Bernstein-owned team tallied their 15th victory with the second generation driver. It was Brandon’s second victory at Heartland Park Topeka. Bernstein qualified sixth in the Top Fuel field with a 4.591-second elapsed time at 317.72 mph. Budweiser/Lucas Oil crew chief Tim Richards made a strong race day opening round statement, tuning Bernstein to a 4.578-second elapsed time at 323.19 mph to defeat Hillary Wills’ 4.775/308.21. The second round saw a first-time career match between Bernstein and Whit Bazemore, the 42nd different opponent Bernstein has faced in his career. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team made another consistent run, 4.555/319.07 to outdistance Bazemore’s 4.860/258.81. "Tim keeps whittling away at the elapsed times,” said Bernstein. “We hope we can keep the trend going for two more rounds.” And Richards did keep the consistency rolling in the semifinal round against Tony Schumacher. Though it was a very close race, Bernstein tripped the clocks first with half a car length victory, 4.566/319.52 to Schumacher’s 4.589/324.20. That set the stage for the final round “best friend” duel between Bernstein and J.R. Todd. Bernstein’s trophy round numbers were 4.582 seconds at 320.51 mph to Todd’s 4.667/299.86. “Tim was in the zone today,” said Bernstein. “He stepped up the tune-up when we needed to and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster just flew. It was an awesome day! “It’s very special, and a little emotional, to race J.R. I just tried to concentrate on cutting a good light, keeping the car straight, and hoping the win light would come on. We both wanted to win, but at the end of the day we’re two buddies drag racing and having fun. “We have a pretty stout final round record (15-5) and that just shows when this team gets to the finals, we’re tough to beat. Tim makes the right calls and pours it all on the line. Having Tim, Kim (Richards) and the team behind me, gives me extra confidence going into the final. “It’s good to be on a roll and to have regained the point lead. It’s a long season with a lot of good racing yet to come. It will be important to be consistent at the end of the year, but right now we’re going to enjoy the success we’re having.” 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. # # # |
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. |
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals are the eighth stop on the 23-race NHRA schedule, and so far this season, Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein has already notched two victories and one runner-up finish. The popular driver held the lead in point standings after his April 29th victory in Atlanta and is now second heading into the May 18-20 event at Bristol Dragway. “Tim (Richards, crew chief) really has had a handle on consistency at these last races,” said Bernstein. “And that’s what it takes to win rounds and races. We won in Bristol in our rookie year in 2003, and we hope to have another good showing this year.” Bernstein began the ’07 season with a runner-up finish in the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. At the third race of the season in Gainesville, Fl., Bernstein failed to qualify for a race for the first time in 80 starts or since his rookie season began in 2003. By the fourth race he was eighth in point standings and two races later, following consecutive wins, he catapulted to the point lead. “This year’s Top Fuel field is tough,” said Bernstein. “A few years back it used to be two or three cars battling for the lead. Right now at least the top half of the field is capable of winning races. “It’s a nail-biter every round on Sunday, but by the same token, if you’re fortunate enough to win, your team has certainly put forth a lot of effort to get to victory circle and deserves the victory. There’s no walk in the park. “Tim has incredible final round stats. We’re 14 and five in 19 career final round appearances. The track record shows that Tim gets better with every round we go and when we get to the finals, he just seems to understand what the race car wants and how much the racetrack can handle. “Hopefully this consistency and Tim’s ability to do so well in the finals will come into play in the new championship chase format. The first step is to get to the countdown to eight which represents the first 17 races of the season. Then it goes to the countdown to four, and finally the countdown to one. At each stage, the points are adjusted, so even if you’ve built up a pretty good point lead, they are reset in 10-point increments. For instance if you have a 200-point lead going into the U.S. Nationals in which the top eight cars battle for the countdown to four, when the points are reset, you will only have a 10-point lead over the second place car. So there’s no room to stumble when you get to that point. “The season is truly going to be interesting.” 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 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. O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – May 19 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – May 20 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – May 20 –
ESPN2 |
MADISON, Ill. (May 6) – The hot streak that the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team was riding cooled a bit at the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals despite consistency and strong qualifying times. Driver Brandon Bernstein qualified third at Gateway International Raceway, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, with a 4.612-second elapsed time at 326.87 miles per hour, top speed of the weekend in the dragster category. The Kenny Bernstein-owned team was the recipient of the Full Throttle Award for the most consistency in qualifying. In the first round of Sunday’s eliminations, Brandon Bernstein pulled the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster into the staging beams to face Bruce Litton. It was Litton who crossed the finish line first with a 4.622/321.12 versus Bernstein’s 4.648/315.78. “We were consistent all weekend,” said Bernstein, “and I always have said consistency wins rounds and races. In this instance, Bruce’s team just had a little bit more in the tune-up, and it held. Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim, and the team did a fine job this weekend. It was just a strange circumstance that ended our day. “We were disappointed to be out early, especially in St. Louis. We had a lot of Budweiser executives who came out to cheer us on and we wanted to do well for them. “We’ll look forward to racing in Bristol in two weeks and going some rounds.” Bernstein is second in the countdown to eight, 23 points out of the lead. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and 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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MADISON, Ill. – Brandon Bernstein comes to the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals with the NHRA Top Fuel point lead following two consecutive NHRA national event victories. Bernstein, who celebrated an emotional victory in Las Vegas April 15, followed that with another win at Atlanta Dragway April 29. “Tim (Richards, crew chief) has had our car running consistently these past two weekends of racing,” said Bernstein. “Consistency goes rounds and with the new countdown to the championship format it’s imperative to go rounds to win one of the top spots in the countdown to eight.” Bernstein has driven his Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster to the final round of the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals two of the three years in which he has competed at Gateway International Raceway. “In St. Louis we always want to have a good showing for our friends at Budweiser. We were fortunate to win in 2005 and we finished runner-up last year. “This season the St. Louis race is earlier in the season and we expect temperatures to be much cooler. This will be enjoyable for the fans and our race cars tend to perform quicker and faster in cooler conditions.” Bernstein lost one of his best friends, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen, on March 23 from injuries suffered in a testing accident four days earlier in Gainesville, Fla. Bernstein dedicated his Las Vegas victory to Medlen. During victory circle ceremonies, Bernstein, flanked by his father Kenny and his entire Budweiser/Lucas Oil team, took a personal moment to present his trophy to Medlen’s mom, Mimi. “J.R. Todd (Top Fuel driver), Eric and I were always together,” said Bernstein. “J.R. and I continue to compete with a photo of the three of us in our cockpits. It just seems as if Eric is riding with us.” 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. Bernstein will sign autographs and greet fans at the Anheuser-Busch
Tour Center Friday, May 4 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. CT. He will then
turn his talent to celebrity bartending from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
in the lobby of the Tour Center for fans 21 and over. Visitors to the
facility, located at 12th and Lynch Streets in St. Louis, can also enjoy
a complimentary Anheuser-Busch brewery tour. A complete tour includes
a visit to the historic Brew House, a look at the high-speed packaging
lines and a walk through the cool lager cellar. After the tour, guests
who are 21 years of age or older may try samples of Anheuser-Busch products.
O’REILLY MIDWEST NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – May 5 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – May 6- ESPN2 Eliminations – May 6 –
ESPN2 |
BRANDON BERNSTEIN SCORES SECOND CONSECUTIVE VICTORY AND TAKES NHRA TOP FUEL POINT LEAD
COMMERCE, Ga. (April 29) -- Brandon Bernstein celebrated his 14th career victory in 19 final round showings at the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals. His second consecutive victory moved him into the NHRA Top Fuel point lead. “Our crew chief Tim Richards just seems to know what the track can take by the time we get to the finals,” said Bernstein. “He’s a magician when it comes to getting that win light in the final round. I just know when we get to that last round we always have a good shot at winning and that I need to concentrate on doing my job.” Bernstein qualified eighth at Atlanta Dragway with a 4.529-second elapsed time and top speed of the Top Fuel category, 329.42 mph. In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein rolled into the staging beams to face David Grubnic. Bernstein won the round 4.548/324.75 while Grubnic struggled with loss of traction. In a bizarre turn of events, Bernstein was the only driver in the countdown to eight that was still in competition after the first round. “We owe a tip of the helmet to Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team for a great run,” said Bernstein. “It went straight down there without any problems on a track that was starting to get pretty hot.” In the quarterfinals, Doug Kalitta fouled out with a red light start while Bernstein took the round win with a 5.166/194.18. “I knew Doug had a red light,” said Bernstein, “because I saw the win light come on in our lane. We were hazing the tires a little bit down track so we were fortunate to get by that round.” Doug Foley lost traction in the semifinals while Bernstein ran low elapsed time of the round, 4.614 at 324.05 mph. “We’ve got a very good race car right now,” said Bernstein. “Tim made a big change on that run trying to get the car to calm down after it hazed the tires. The change worked. Now let’s hope we can put a good run together for the finals.” In the money round, Bernstein faced his third Doug of the day, this time, Doug Herbert. In a strong final, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster clocked 4.662/305.01 to Herbert’s 4.714/297.02. Though Bernstein concedes he will never get over the loss of his friend Eric Medlen, this victory was a little easier emotionally than his previous win in Las Vegas two weeks ago. “I guess time will help heal the loss of Eric (Medlen), but the pain will never go away completely,” said Bernstein. “Whenever we were in the final round, Eric was always at the top end to greet me and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase that from my memory. J.R. Todd (Top Fuel driver) has taken over that role and this time he put the winner’s medal around my neck. We both really miss Eric. “Our team loves to win races. That’s what we’re out here to do. Hopefully we’ll remain in the countdown to eight, but when it comes to that point, everything is going to have to be triple and quadruple checked if we want to make the countdown to four and the countdown to one for the championship. It’s still a long season, but we’re going to enjoy the victories as they come along.” 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. # # # |
COMMERCE, Ga. -- Brandon Bernstein is coming off an emotional victory at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas and is looking forward to riding the momentum of the win into the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals April 27-29. Bernstein who lost his best friend Eric Medlen March 23 to injuries suffered in a testing accident, dedicated the Las Vegas victory to Medlen and then presented his winning trophy to Medlen’s mother Mimi. The victory also catapulted Bernstein from eighth place to third place in NHRA Top Fuel point standings. Bernstein heads into the Atlanta Dragway event only 56 points out of the lead. “With the new championship chase format in place, you need to stay seeded deep in the top eight,” said Bernstein. “We stumbled in Gainesville for this first time in our career and failed to qualify. The amount of effort Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the entire Budweiser/Lucas Oil team have put into this rebound is pretty evident when you can come back two races later and win. “The Atlanta race is the sixth race of the 17 events that sets the field for the countdown to eight. There’s a long way to go before we know who those eight will be, but our team is deep in talent and we’re all in there pitching our best efforts.” Bernstein, who had the best career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history, winning the first five of 13 starts, continues to add to statistical achievements with 18 final round appearances in 82 events. “We have yet to score a victory in Atlanta,” said Bernstein, “but you can bet this track is on our radar screen to add to the list of tracks where we’ve scored victories. In Las Vegas we were running consistent numbers and that’s what helps you go rounds and accumulate valuable points.” 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 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.
Qualifying – April
28 – ESPN2 NHRA Race Day –
April 29 – ESPN2 Eliminations –
April 29 – ESPN2 |
LAS VEGAS (April 15) – Brandon Bernstein celebrated a very emotional victory at the SummitRacing.com Nationals, dedicating his 13th career victory to his close friend Eric Medlen, who succumbed March 23 to injuries suffered in a testing accident four days prior to that in Gainesville, Fla. In victory circle, Bernstein, flanked by his father Kenny, and the entire Budweiser/Lucas Oil team, took a personal moment to present his trophy to Medlen’s mother Mimi. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team began the weekend by winning the $3000 Full Throttle award for the most consistency in qualifying (4.582, 4.541, 4.582, 4.506), with a fifth place berth on the elimination ladder (4.506/330.63) In Sunday’s first round of action, Bernstein squared off against Clay Millican and appeared to be the clear cut winner until the 1000-foot mark, when the engine expired. Bernstein had built up enough of a lead that he was able to coast across the finish line to take the win light, 4.955/209.04 vs. Millican's 5.028/240.64. “When the engine quit firing on eight cylinders and the burst panel ruptured, there’s about 8,000 horsepower that just goes dead in the water,” said Bernstein. “No matter how hard you try to stomp on the throttle, it just isn’t going anywhere. I was holding my breath, hoping Clay wouldn’t drive by us.” The quarterfinals against Cory McClenathan proved to be a neck and neck race until about half track when the rear end on McClenathan’s machine broke. Bernstein tripped the clocks with a 4.541/328.14 to McClenathan’s 4.857/226.47. In the semifinals, Bernstein faced off against fellow Brat Pack buddy Morgan Lucas. Another close race, and another Budweiser/Lucas Oil team victory, 4.548/326.95 to Lucas’ 4.585/326.16. “I know Morgan wanted to win for Eric as much as I did,” said Bernstein. “So somebody was going to carry the torch to the finals. Tim (Richards, crew chief) had a strong tune-up and we were fortunate enough to transfer to the money round.” Bob Vandergriff, Jr. was Bernstein’s final round opponent. “In the final you’re always a little more hyped up and more anxious,” said Bernstein. “It did cross my mind that Eric was not going to be there when I rounded that corner at the end of the track. It was tough, but I tried to put it out of my mind and focus on the job I knew I needed to do on the track to hopefully get the win for Eric and our team.” Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards), Bernstein and the entire Budweiser/Lucas Oil team put forth all their efforts to reel in their first victory of the 2007 season. Bernstein clocked his best elapsed time of the day and the best elapsed time in the Top Fuel class for Sunday’s eliminations, 4.521 seconds at 330.07 mph to defeat Vandergriff, Jr.’s 4.828/298.87. “Every time I was in a final, Eric was always down at the end of the track,” said an emotional Bernstein. “If I won or lost, when I came around that corner, he was always there. It felt great to know that J.R. (Todd) was down there for me this time. I know Eric was there, too, he just wasn’t there in the physical sense. It was very emotional. I loved that guy, I really did, with all my heart,” said a tearful Bernstein. “It’s cool to share victory circle with Robert (Hight, Funny Car winner) and the Force team. “With J.R. winning the first race after we lost Eric, now we’ve won, we just need to get Morgan (Lucas) in the winner’s circle. “I can’t wait to see Mimi (Medlen, Eric’s mother) down where we’re taking pictures because I want to give her the trophy. That will be a very special time in my life.” The victory at Las Vegas catapulted Bernstein from eighth to third in the countdown to eight, only 56 points out of the lead. “It was good to make a move here at this track and this race,” said Bernstein. “We just need to stay up there now. This win was all because of the efforts of Tim and Kim and the team. Tim really had the car dialed in this weekend “Dad was very excited about our win, too. This has been a great track for him and we are happy to be able to continue the Bernstein family winning ways.” 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. # # # |
LAS VEGAS – Brandon Bernstein, still hurting from the loss of his best friend Funny Car driver Eric Medlen, wants to win a race for Eric and his family. Medlen died of injuries March 23 suffered in a March 19 testing accident. Bernstein is hoping the SummitRacing.com Nationals April 13-15 provides that opportunity. “Eric loved life and he loved racing,” said Bernstein. “I miss Eric terribly at the race track. Sometimes I still expect him to come walking through the pits with that big grin he always had. But when I’m driving the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, I have a picture of me with him and our good friend (Top Fuel driver) J.R. Todd taped in the cockpit. It helps me feel closer to Eric, almost as if he’s riding along with me. “I still have a storm of emotions about being at the racetrack. On one hand, there’s a big void because Eric’s not there. On the other hand, there’s some camaraderie with being around our group of friends. “The next race we are fortunate enough to win will be dedicated to Eric. I know our whole team feels the same way.” Bernstein opened the 2007 season with a runner-up finish in Pomona, Calif. He was second in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings until the third event in Gainesville, Fla. where he failed to qualify for the first time in his 80-race career. Now eighth, Bernstein is looking to make the climb back up the point ladder. “We have 13 events before the top eight are locked into the championship chase,” said Bernstein. “Our team is deep in talent, and I have confidence that we will rally.” Bernstein has 12 career victories on his scorecard and was a championship contender last year, ultimately finishing third in point standings. At the SummitRacing.com Nationals, Bernstein and his father will display the New York-New York Hotel & Casino logos on their race cars, the official Las Vegas hotel of Kenny Bernstein Racing. “Our team especially enjoys the restaurants and ‘The Roller Coaster’ in the Big Apple of Las Vegas,” said Bernstein. “It’s like having a little of Vegas’ Lady Luck riding along with you.” Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m., with a second session at 6:30 p.m. There are two rounds of qualifying Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday. 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. SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Qualifying – April 14 –
ESPN2 NHRA Race Day – April 15 –
ESPN2 Eliminations – April 15 –
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BAYTOWN, Texas (April 1) – Defending O’Reilly Spring Nationals Top Fuel champion Brandon Bernstein was hoping to bring home a victory for his friend Eric Medlen this weekend. Medlen died March 23 from injuries suffered in a Funny Car in a testing accident in Gainesville, Fla. March 19. Bernstein was competing with a photo of himself with best friends Eric Medlen and J.R. Todd taped to the inside of his cockpit, just to keep Eric’s spirit close at hand. “The photo makes me feel that Eric is onboard, riding with me,” said Bernstein. With two of four qualifying sessions rained out, Bernstein qualified 12th for the O’Reilly Spring Nationals with a 4.649-second elapsed time at 310.34 mph. Ironically the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team qualified 12th last year when they won their second race at Houston Raceway Park. In the rain-delayed opening round of eliminations, Bernstein rolled into the staging beams to face Tony Schumacher. Bernstein, with a spectacular .034 reaction time, was first to the finish line with a holeshot victory, 4.553/322.58, to defeat Schumacher who posted what proved to be low elapsed time of the round, 4.540 at 309.42 mph. “I had some help with that reaction time from my guardian angel Eric,” said Bernstein In the quarterfinals against David Grubnic, it appeared that Bernstein was home free when Grubnic lost traction early in the run. But when an engine burst pane ruptured, it stopped all forward motion on the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster and Grubnic drove by Bernstein for the round win. “We were digging deep for Eric,” said a disappointed Bernstein. “I so wanted to win for him today. I still see him in my mind’s eye at the top end of the drag strip. We’ll have to win one for him another day.” Bernstein is eighth in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings in this season’s new “countdown to eight” format for the championship chase. 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. # # # |
DEFENDING O’REILLY SPRING NATIONALS TOP FUEL CHAMP BRANDON BERNSTEIN WILL DRIVE WITH FRIEND’S PHOTO ONBOARD BAYTOWN, Texas – Two of Brandon Bernstein’s 12 career victories have come at Houston Raceway Park, but when the second-generation driver heads to the O’Reilly Spring Nationals March 30-April 1, it will be with a heavy heart. One of Bernstein’s best friends and one of the
sport’s most beloved competitors, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen,
was critically injured in a testing accident March 19, the day after
the race in Gainesville, Fla. On Friday, March 23, the drag racing
community mourned when news came that Medlen succumbed to his injuries. Bernstein, his father Kenny, and myriad of the drag racing fraternity went to Shands Hospital in Gainesville anxiously awaiting word on Medlen’s condition immediately following the accident. Brandon kept a hospital vigil until Tuesday night when he returned to the West Coast. Both Bernsteins were in California when word reached them Friday that Eric had lost his battle. “I feel like I’ve lost a part of me,” said Brandon. “Eric and I were always texting on our phones, if we weren’t talking on the phone, or hanging out together. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like at the racetrack without him. “He would make a loop through our pits several times a weekend. I’d see him on the starting line or at the end of the track when I’d make a run. If he was out of competition on race day and I was still in, he’d be down at the top end of the track every run. “Now my phone is silent and there’s a big empty void. My heart goes out to Eric’s family, especially his dad who I know so well, and to John Force and the race team. “Here’s what I’d like the world to know about Eric Medlen. Eric was the kindest, most genuine person you would ever hope to meet. He was always upbeat and he could conjure a smile out of you no matter how down in the dumps you were. “This is the epitome of an Eric story. One year when I was dejected in Indy because we hadn’t done well in qualifying, I had left the track and was on my way back to my apartment. The phone rings and it’s Eric trying to cheer me up. I wasn’t communicating at the positive level Eric was expecting, so he finally said, ‘Hey, what have you got in your freezer at home?’ What a weird question and where did that come from? I said I wasn’t sure, and he said, ‘Well, have you got any ice cream?’ Well, yeah, I thought I had some ice cream, I said, wondering where this conversation was going. Then Eric said, ‘You should eat a bowl of ice cream when you get home because nobody can be unhappy when they’re eating ice cream.’ And I had to laugh – just the response he was looking for. “I think Eric ate ice cream for every meal. He was that happy. And he loved that race car. “I have been angry and sad and empty and at peace and then angry and sad again. “J.R. Todd (Top Fuel driver), Eric and I had an especially close bond,” said Bernstein. “We called ourselves the ‘three brothers.’ J.R. and I will be competing with a photo of the three of us inside the cockpit of our race cars. At least I will feel close to Eric. And in my mind’s eye, I will see him with his big grin at the top end of the race track. “One day the pain and the grief will lessen and I will be able to look back and laugh at some of our antics. I know for sure, my life was truly blessed for having Eric in it.” “On the race side, in Gainesville, for the first time in my career, we didn’t qualify in our Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. It was a shocker for everyone. It’s been 13 years since Tim (Richards, crew chief) and Kim (Richards) haven’t qualified a race car. “As far as our race team goes, there’s a lot of talent there and I have every confidence that we will bounce back in Houston. We were second going into Gainesville and we’re sixth going into Houston, still inside the top eight for the championship chase. “We won here last year and again in 2004, so now would be an excellent time to add another victory to the Houston scorecard.” Bernstein, the defending O’Reilly Spring Nationals Top Fuel champion, is a native of Dallas and a graduate of Texas A & M University. 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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TOUGH FLORIDA OUTING FOR BRANDON BERNSTEIN AND BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17) – Gainesville Raceway was the site of Brandon Bernstein’s second career victory in his 2003 rookie season. It was also the track where he first tested the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster before he took the reins following his father’s retirement. The track is certainly steeped in Bernstein tradition having been the location of Kenny Bernstein’s history-breaking ‘first to 300 mph’ run in 1992. But at the NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals, the unthinkable happened. For the first time in his 80-race career, Brandon Bernstein was bumped from the field and failed to make the top 16 to run in Sunday’s eliminations. He held the third longest current consecutive qualifying streak in Top Fuel. “The air was great today,” said Bernstein, “but the track has been tricky. We dropped a cylinder on that last run and that probably did us in. “This team is strong and has a lot of talent. We will bounce back. On the flip side, I’m happy that my dad qualified and my role was to be there to support him.” Bernstein had driven his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to a runner-up finish in the season-opening event in Pomona, Calif., a quarterfinals showing in the second race in Phoenix, and was second in Top Fuel point standings going into the Gainesville event. He is now sixth in NHRA Top Fuel point standings, 110 points out of the lead. “We were fortunate that our misstep still left us well into the top eight for the championship chase,” said Bernstein. “We’ll test on Monday in Gainesville to prepare for our next race in Houston in two weeks.” 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 |
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brandon Bernstein earned his second career Top Fuel victory at Gainesville Raceway in 2003. Four years later with 12 career national event wins on his scorecard, Bernstein is looking forward to competing in the ACDelco Gatornationals March 16-18. “The win in 2003 was very special,” said Bernstein. “Gainesville is one of the crown jewels on the NHRA circuit and it has a place in Bernstein family history. Of course Dad was the first to break the 300 mph barrier and it happened at this track. That’s where he got the nickname “King of Speed.” When we won in 2003, we set the track speed record at Gainesville, sort of keeping the “King of Speed” thing in the family. “Another memory that sticks in my mind is that Gainesville was the first place I actually tested the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel car. I got my chance in 2002 on Monday after the event. It was when Dad and Tim (Richards, crew chief) began my rookie training because Dad had announced his retirement at the end of the 2002 season. I was all excited about my very first pass, but in fact, the throttle cable broke and I didn’t even leave the starting line. We had to fix the problem and come back around again for my first short pass.” Heading into this year’s ACDelco Gatornationals, Bernstein is second in NHRA point standings following a runner-up finish at the season-opening event in Pomona, Calif., and a quarterfinals exit at the second event in Phoenix. In the first round of race day action in Phoenix, Bernstein scored his career best elapsed time, 4.457 seconds. “Tim (Richards, crew chief) and Kim (assistant crew chief) had our Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster running real well toward the end of last year,” said Bernstein. “Knock on wood, but so far this season we’ve picked up where we left off. I hope we can keep the good mojo going.” 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. 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.
ACDELCO GATORNATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY Race Day – March 18 – ESPN2
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CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25) – The Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway have yielded past victories for Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team. Though Bernstein did not triumph this year, he recorded a career best elapsed time in race day competition and remains second in NHRA Top Fuel point standings. Bernstein qualified fourth for the event replicating his Pomona qualifying elapsed time of 4.494 seconds at 330.31 mph. In the first round of eliminations, Tim Richards put a very aggressive tune-up onboard with Bernstein who was facing off against tough competitor Doug Kalitta. Richard’s tune-up produced low elapsed time of the round and a career best elapsed time for Bernstein, 4.457 seconds at 329.67 mph, to defeat Kalitta’s 4.595/326.63. “That was an awesome run,” said Bernstein. “That one felt quick from inside the cockpit!” In the quarterfinals, Bernstein pulled to the starting line to face Melanie Troxel. Both drivers lost traction and were on and off the throttle trying desperately to get the tires to hook up. Though Bernstein had the advantage and appeared he might win the round, the manifold burst plate, an engine component, failed, and Bernstein slowed dramatically, losing all power. “I couldn’t see Melanie, but I knew she hadn’t passed me,” explained Bernstein. “I kept trying to get traction to the ground, but when the burst plate went, I just didn’t have any power and she drove by me right at the finish line. That’s a tough way to lose a race especially after such a great first round.” Bernstein is 43 points out of the lead. 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 # # # |
CHANDLER, Ariz. – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, who finished runner-up in the season opener in Pomona, Calif. Feb. 11, is hoping to continue to ride the crest of that wave into the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals Feb. 23-25, the second race on the NHRA calendar. “Our pre-season testing was good here in Phoenix, and Tim (Richards, crew chief) had some strong, aggressive, consistently quick tune-ups at Pomona for the first race this year. We’re very optimistic and want to keep the momentum going to gain as many points as we can early in the season. “Last season we had weird mechanical gremlins in the first round of the first three races. We’re already way ahead of last year’s curve which we hope is a good omen.” Bernstein is second in NHRA Top Fuel point standings, only 18 points out of the lead. Bernstein’s most memorable career run was the final round of the first race he won in his 2003 rookie season at Firebird International Raceway. “We won back-to-back events here in 2003 and 2004,” said Bernstein, son of six-time champion Kenny. “I remember in the final round of the first race in 2003, I bumped into the staging beams deeper than I wanted to and the top bulb went out. When that happens you have to be very careful not to leave too soon, what we call ‘red lighting’, and disqualify yourself. I was talking to myself, telling myself not to leave too soon. Everything worked out and we won the event. The added pressure in that round was we were racing Larry Dixon, who was the reigning Top Fuel champion and driving a car sponsored by a rival beer company. It was my first experience with the beer wars. I know Dad was holding his breath, afraid that I would red light, while he was standing on the sidelines. That win was my first national event win and only my second career race. “So we have a good record at this track. I’m amped up and ready to go racing!” 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 Eliminations February 25 – ESPN2 7 – 10 p.m. ET Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and www.brandonbernstein.com. Please visit www.budweiser.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) – The Kenny Bernstein-owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team is off to a stellar start this season having run quick elapsed times to earn a final round appearance at the NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals. With a runner-up finish in the record books for the team in the season opener, they are second in NHRA point standings. Driver Brandon Bernstein qualified third for the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history with a 4.494-second elapsed time at 331.61 mph. In the opening round of rain-delayed eliminations, Bernstein clocked low elapsed time of the round, 4.519 seconds at 327.66 to defeat Alan Bradshaw’s 5.338/200.14. “After it rains, it’s sometimes hard to read track conditions to determine how much traction is there or if the rain washed a lot of the rubber away,” said Bernstein. “But Tim (Richards, crew chief) made a great tuning call and we had a fantastic run to start the day.” In the quarterfinals, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team put more coveted points in the championship bank when they ran a consistent 4.512/329.99 to defeat Bob Vandergriff, Jr.’s 4.589/317.49. In the semifinals, Bernstein and Hot Rod Fuller rolled to the starting line with aggressive tune-ups onboard. It was a close race, but Bernstein crossed the finish stripe first (4.496/326.71 vs Fuller’s 4.515/325.92) to transfer to the money round. The final round was a race between two buddies facing each other for the first time in their careers. J.R. Todd and Brandon Bernstein struck up a close friendship last year. “It’s kind of funny that we have never faced each other on the racetrack before now,” said Bernstein. “You really race the other lane and just block out the fact that your friend is there after you get strapped into the cockpit.” For the first time on race day, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster shook hard on the launch, causing Bernstein to lose vision. Todd took the win light with a 4.482/324.98 while Bernstein coasted across the finish line with an 11.397/71.36. “Because J.R. and I are close friends, it makes the loss a little bit easier to take,” said Bernstein. “I didn’t expect our car to shake, but it was so violent, I had to lift. I looked over and J.R. was trucking on down the racetrack. I was hoping we were going to have a real close race to the finish. “But overall, this was a good weekend. Our team wanted to ride the momentum from last year into this year and we did that.” Only 18 points separate Bernstein from first place in NHRA Top Fuel standings. Follow the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com and www.brandonbernstein.com. Please visit www.budweiser.com, www.lucasoil.com, www.mactools.com, www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD) and www.alphatradefn.com |
POMONA, Calif. – Brandon Bernstein is enthusiastic about the start of the 2007 season at the upcoming CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Feb. 8-11. Coming off his most successful year behind the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster in which he made seven final round appearances and was a legitimate challenger for the Top Fuel championship, Bernstein’s performance in pre-season testing has been stellar. “Our first full pass down the quarter-mile in Phoenix testing was a 4.487 second elapsed time at 328.46 miles per hour,” said Bernstein. “Our team was excited to run a number like that pretty much right out of the box. We had another sub 4.50-second run as well and we were running speeds in excess of 330 miles per hour. “It feels like we’re starting off right where we left off at the end of last year. Tim certainly seems to have a handle on the combination. “You can never tell about mechanical gremlins like those that bit us at the start of last season, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that we can get some early points and build a strong starting base. “I’m feeling very, very comfortable in the car these days,” confided Bernstein, “and that is a result of more experience and a lot of trips down the race track. I’ve still got plenty to learn and there always seems to be something new coming at you, but we’re feeling very positive about the new season.” Bernstein finished third in 2006 Top Fuel point standings, winning four events, the most wins in a single season for the second generation driver. He was runner-up at three events and was the No. 1 qualifier three times. “Though our Budweiser/Lucas Oil team was very competitive in testing, the same competition we had last year is looking strong too,” continued Bernstein. “It looks as if the fans are going to be treated to another year of great racing.” 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. Notable: 2007 marks the 28th year of Budweiser/Bernstein sponsorship association, the longest current sponsorship in all of auto sports, and the 20th anniversary of Mac Tools sponsorship. 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 CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Television
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When Brandon Bernstein was a student at Jesuit High School in Dallas, he made what most of his classmates thought was an unusual career choice. He wanted to be a race car driver. Though he was an avid soccer player and his soccer team was undefeated during his high school years (70-0), Brandon decided to follow his famous father’s lead and chose drag racing as a career path. After all, his father, Kenny Bernstein, was one of the most recognized names in motor sports. When he told his father he wanted to drive potent 7,000-horsepower nitromethane machines, his father told him he needed to pursue the business side first and get a college degree. In 1996 Brandon graduated from Texas A & M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology. Shortly after graduation, he joined his father’s legendary Budweiser King Racing team as a crew member working his way up from menial tasks to assuming more and more responsibility. In 2001, Brandon spent the season working on his father’s Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team while driving an Alcohol Dragster. He won five events that year along with the Division 7 Alcohol Dragster championship and was voted that division’s “Driver of the Year.” One of his victories was celebrated in June at “The Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He shared the winner’s circle with his father who had won the Top Fuel category. It was the first time in NHRA’s 50-year history that a father/son duo had won their categories at the same event. In 2003, Kenny passed the helmet to Brandon and thus began the most successful career launch in Top Fuel and Funny Car in NHRA history. Brandon won five of his first 13 starts. In fact his first national event victory came in Phoenix, only his second start. Brandon’s career was interrupted in May of his 2003 rookie season in Englishtown, N.J., when a first round accident sidelined him for the remainder of the season with back injuries. His father climbed back into the familiar confines of the dragster to finish the season for the team. Despite the injury, Brandon had made such an impression on sports media across the country that they voted him the Southern California Auto Club “Rookie of the Year.” Brandon and his Budweiser/Lucas Oil team have continued to score victories every year, and at the end of the 2006 season, they had accumulated 12 career victories and 11 No. 1 qualifying spots. Brandon scored a career high four victories and three runner-up finishes in 2006 and the team was a bona fide player in the Top Fuel championship following their victory in Dallas in September. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team finished third in final NHRA Top Fuel point standings, equaling their 2004 finish. Brandon is a Dallas Cowboys fan, he listens to alternative music and his favorite food is carrot cake. He enjoys playing golf with Budweiser customers and spends many airline hours flying to racetracks playing computer games and listening to his iPod. This season Budweiser and the Bernstein family are celebrating a 28-year relationship. This is the longest current racer family-sponsor association in all of motorsports. 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the Bernstein-Mac Tools sponsorship and the sixth season of the team’s title rights sponsorship with Lucas Oil products. Follow our Budweiser/Lucas Oil team at www.kennybernstein.com. Please visit our sponsors at www.budweiser.com; www.lucasoil.com; www.mactools.com; www.alphatrade.com (OTCBB:APTD.OB) or www.alphatradefn.com |