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BRAINERD, Minn. – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team are feeling the heat of the POWERade Top Fuel championship challenge as the circuit heads to the Lucas Oil Nationals Aug. 11-13.
In the first half of the season, they made four final round appearances, winning two events. Though the team qualified well, great expectations of continuing their string of round wins went up in smoke, literally, in the West Coast Swing where they suffered first round losses in each of the three races. The team is currently fourth in POWERade Top Fuel point standings and remains optimistic that they will be in the hunt as the season winds down.
“We certainly didn’t expect that outcome on the West Coast Swing,” said second-generation driver Bernstein.
“Temperatures in Brainerd are traditionally cooler so we’re looking forward to that. However,
our performance on the West Coast Swing in qualifying was good on hot or cooler tracks. Now we have to go rounds.
“Going into Brainerd, we’re 180 points out of first place with eight races remaining in the season. If the cards go right, we can get back within striking distance of the championship. There’s still plenty of time, especially if the front runners stumble.
“A perfect example of our team’s capability to rally was in 2003 when I suffered back injuries and Dad drove the rest of the season. He won four of the last five races and had six semifinal finishes. You can rack up a lot of points going rounds like that.
“Tim (Richards, crew chief) is a seasoned veteran with a lot of talent. I know this team will remain focused.
“Also we want to perform well at Brainerd for our sponsor, Lucas Oil.”
Bernstein won the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston in April, the Pontiac Performance Nationals in Columbus, Oh. in May and was runner-up at the O’Reilly Summernationals in Topeka in May and the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals in St. Louis in June. He has qualified No. 1 three times this year.
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday at 3:30 p.m. with a second session at 6:15 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 3 p.m., with final eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday.
BERNSTEIN LOOKING TO GO ROUNDS AT SPONSOR’S RACE
BRAINERD, Minn. – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team are feeling the heat of the POWERade Top Fuel championship challenge as the circuit heads to the Lucas Oil Nationals Aug. 11-13.
In the first half of the season, they made four final round appearances, winning two events. Though the team qualified well, great expectations of continuing their string of round wins went up in smoke, literally, in the West Coast Swing where they suffered first round losses in each of the three races. The team is currently fourth in POWERade Top Fuel point standings and remains optimistic that they will be in the hunt as the season winds down.
“We certainly didn’t expect that outcome on the West Coast Swing,” said second-generation driver Bernstein.
“Temperatures in Brainerd are traditionally cooler so we’re looking forward to that. However,
our performance on the West Coast Swing in qualifying was good on hot or cooler tracks. Now we have to go rounds.
“Going into Brainerd, we’re 180 points out of first place with eight races remaining in the season. If the cards go right, we can get back within striking distance of the championship. There’s still plenty of time, especially if the front runners stumble.
“A perfect example of our team’s capability to rally was in 2003 when I suffered back injuries and Dad drove the rest of the season. He won four of the last five races and had six semifinal finishes. You can rack up a lot of points going rounds like that.
“Tim (Richards, crew chief) is a seasoned veteran with a lot of talent. I know this team will remain focused.
“Also we want to perform well at Brainerd for our sponsor, Lucas Oil.”
Bernstein won the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston in April, the Pontiac Performance Nationals in Columbus, Oh. in May and was runner-up at the O’Reilly Summernationals in Topeka in May and the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals in St. Louis in June. He has qualified No. 1 three times this year.
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday at 3:30 p.m. with a second session at 6:15 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 3 p.m., with final eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday.
