[coverattach=1]LAS VEGAS – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, has started the 2009 season out with strong performances which have kept him in the top five in NHRA point standings and in contention for the lead.
Bernstein, a winner of the SummitRacing.com Nationals in 2007, is looking to reprise that performance when NHRA competition returns to the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway April 3-5.
“We have the perfect party recipe,” laughed Bernstein, “four round wins on Sunday, which would give us a chance to celebrate with Summit, one of our team sponsors as well as the race title rights sponsor, and Las Vegas-based New York-New York.”
The winds of change have challenged and invigorated the tea m. Crew chief Rob Flynn and assistant crew chief Mike Guger have come onboard this season, the first mechanical leadership change the team has had since Brandon’s 2003 rookie season in the cockpit of his legendary father’s Top Fuel dragster.
“We set goals to begin the season,” confided Brandon . “We wanted to come out of the box with guns blazing. We are running strong, consistent numbers and we are hovering at the top of the leader board in the point standings. It’s very early, but consistency wins rounds and races. We’re hungry for wins and a championship.”
With Budweiser recently announcing that they will not return in 2010 after 30 years of primary sponsorship with the Kenny Bernstein team, new sponsorship is being actively pursued.
“We are passionate about the sport of NHRA drag racing and we will continue to field a team in 2010 with Brandon as the driver if we can secure sponsorship,” said six-time champion Kenny Bernstein.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to all the Budweiser employees and wholesalers we’ve worked with through the years, as well as the fans and friends who have followed and supported us beginning with the Funny Car era.
“We believe that taking a proactive role in initiating programs and promotions that help sell product and build brand awareness has been an integral part of retaining our sponsorship associations through the years. Coupled with the success we’ve had on the racetrack while flying the Budweiser colors, including six NHRA championships and 85 national event victories between Brandon and me, then it’s a very attractive opportunity for another sponsor.
“We think we have been one of the marquee teams in this sport for the past three decades and we bring with us 30 years of fan base. NHRA drag racing is our home.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, April 3 at 1 p. m. with a second session at 4 p. m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 and 3:30 p. m. with Top Fuel scheduled to kick off eliminations at 11 a. m. Sunday.
Six-time NHRA champion team owner Kenny Bernstein has extended his team’s official hotel relationship with the newly remodeled contemporary New York-New York Hotel & Casino for the NHRA national events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
“We invite fans who may be planning to attend the race to book their rooms at our favorite Las Vegas resort,” said Bernstein. “Our team loved ROK Vegas™ and they’re looking forward to returning.”
ROK Vegas™ is the sexy new nightclub opened last year mesmerizing party-goers with riveting mash-ups and rock-inspired imagery. ROK features the first-ever 360-degree video screen in a Las Vegas nightclub. From every angle, guests are surrounded by concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation all chosen by the intuitive Video Jockey (VJ). Club-goers revel in the “concert-like” setting as ROK’s DJ spins mash-ups choreographed in time with remarkable video imagery displayed above. ROK’s intimate setting also includes an exclusive outdoor VIP lounge just steps away from the pulsating Las Vegas Strip.
New York - New York showcases a remodeled contemporary 84,000-square-foot casino.
Set against a backdrop of famous New York landmarks, the gaming area includes 70 gaming tables. More than 50 televisions broadcast major sporting events in the casino’s table game areas allowing players to experience the energy and excitement of gaming along with the exhilaration and intensity of sporting events. For those who follow professional sports, New York - New York offers a Race & Sports Book. Located adjacent to ESPN Zone, the book features 46 televisions, 12 61-inch big screen televisions, comfortable seating, beverage service and electronic satellite wagering.
Inspired by the famous energy and landmarks of New York City , New York - New York features 12 New York-style skyscrapers showcasing 2,023 guest rooms and suites. Other featured Big Apple icons include a 150-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty; and a 300-foot-long replica of the Brooklyn Bridge . Within the resort are award-winning restaurants including Gallagher ' s Steakhouse, Il Fornaio and Nine Fine Irishmen, an authentic pub offering the best of Irish drink, food and music. New York - New York also offers the provocative and sensuous Cirque du Soleil production, Zumanity. New York - New York is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM MIRAGE™. For more information and reservations, visit the web site at Las Vegas Hotel - New York New York Hotel & Casino, or call toll free at (800) 693-6763.
Notable: Kenny Bernstein was named as one of seven who will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in its annual ceremony Wednesday, August 12
at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit . Each inductee receives the Hall of Fame’s prestigious original bronze statuette “Horsepower” award.
SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY
Qualifying – April 4 – ESPN2 8-10 p. m. ET
NHRA Race Day – April 5 – ESPN2 11 – 11:30 a. m. ET
Eliminations – April 5 – ESPN2 4 – 7 p. m. ET
Budweiser Lager Lesson: In the mid-nineteenth century, German-American brewers perfected the crisp, refreshing beer style now called American lager, changing not only Americans’ choice of beers, but how and where Americans enjoyed beer, ultimately converting America into a country of beer lovers.
Bernstein, a winner of the SummitRacing.com Nationals in 2007, is looking to reprise that performance when NHRA competition returns to the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway April 3-5.
“We have the perfect party recipe,” laughed Bernstein, “four round wins on Sunday, which would give us a chance to celebrate with Summit, one of our team sponsors as well as the race title rights sponsor, and Las Vegas-based New York-New York.”
The winds of change have challenged and invigorated the tea m. Crew chief Rob Flynn and assistant crew chief Mike Guger have come onboard this season, the first mechanical leadership change the team has had since Brandon’s 2003 rookie season in the cockpit of his legendary father’s Top Fuel dragster.
“We set goals to begin the season,” confided Brandon . “We wanted to come out of the box with guns blazing. We are running strong, consistent numbers and we are hovering at the top of the leader board in the point standings. It’s very early, but consistency wins rounds and races. We’re hungry for wins and a championship.”
With Budweiser recently announcing that they will not return in 2010 after 30 years of primary sponsorship with the Kenny Bernstein team, new sponsorship is being actively pursued.
“We are passionate about the sport of NHRA drag racing and we will continue to field a team in 2010 with Brandon as the driver if we can secure sponsorship,” said six-time champion Kenny Bernstein.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to all the Budweiser employees and wholesalers we’ve worked with through the years, as well as the fans and friends who have followed and supported us beginning with the Funny Car era.
“We believe that taking a proactive role in initiating programs and promotions that help sell product and build brand awareness has been an integral part of retaining our sponsorship associations through the years. Coupled with the success we’ve had on the racetrack while flying the Budweiser colors, including six NHRA championships and 85 national event victories between Brandon and me, then it’s a very attractive opportunity for another sponsor.
“We think we have been one of the marquee teams in this sport for the past three decades and we bring with us 30 years of fan base. NHRA drag racing is our home.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, April 3 at 1 p. m. with a second session at 4 p. m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 and 3:30 p. m. with Top Fuel scheduled to kick off eliminations at 11 a. m. Sunday.
Six-time NHRA champion team owner Kenny Bernstein has extended his team’s official hotel relationship with the newly remodeled contemporary New York-New York Hotel & Casino for the NHRA national events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
“We invite fans who may be planning to attend the race to book their rooms at our favorite Las Vegas resort,” said Bernstein. “Our team loved ROK Vegas™ and they’re looking forward to returning.”
ROK Vegas™ is the sexy new nightclub opened last year mesmerizing party-goers with riveting mash-ups and rock-inspired imagery. ROK features the first-ever 360-degree video screen in a Las Vegas nightclub. From every angle, guests are surrounded by concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation all chosen by the intuitive Video Jockey (VJ). Club-goers revel in the “concert-like” setting as ROK’s DJ spins mash-ups choreographed in time with remarkable video imagery displayed above. ROK’s intimate setting also includes an exclusive outdoor VIP lounge just steps away from the pulsating Las Vegas Strip.
New York - New York showcases a remodeled contemporary 84,000-square-foot casino.
Set against a backdrop of famous New York landmarks, the gaming area includes 70 gaming tables. More than 50 televisions broadcast major sporting events in the casino’s table game areas allowing players to experience the energy and excitement of gaming along with the exhilaration and intensity of sporting events. For those who follow professional sports, New York - New York offers a Race & Sports Book. Located adjacent to ESPN Zone, the book features 46 televisions, 12 61-inch big screen televisions, comfortable seating, beverage service and electronic satellite wagering.
Inspired by the famous energy and landmarks of New York City , New York - New York features 12 New York-style skyscrapers showcasing 2,023 guest rooms and suites. Other featured Big Apple icons include a 150-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty; and a 300-foot-long replica of the Brooklyn Bridge . Within the resort are award-winning restaurants including Gallagher ' s Steakhouse, Il Fornaio and Nine Fine Irishmen, an authentic pub offering the best of Irish drink, food and music. New York - New York also offers the provocative and sensuous Cirque du Soleil production, Zumanity. New York - New York is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM MIRAGE™. For more information and reservations, visit the web site at Las Vegas Hotel - New York New York Hotel & Casino, or call toll free at (800) 693-6763.
Notable: Kenny Bernstein was named as one of seven who will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in its annual ceremony Wednesday, August 12
at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit . Each inductee receives the Hall of Fame’s prestigious original bronze statuette “Horsepower” award.
SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY
Qualifying – April 4 – ESPN2 8-10 p. m. ET
NHRA Race Day – April 5 – ESPN2 11 – 11:30 a. m. ET
Eliminations – April 5 – ESPN2 4 – 7 p. m. ET
Budweiser Lager Lesson: In the mid-nineteenth century, German-American brewers perfected the crisp, refreshing beer style now called American lager, changing not only Americans’ choice of beers, but how and where Americans enjoyed beer, ultimately converting America into a country of beer lovers.
