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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 Kenny Bernstein Sponsors for 2006. Please visit our sponsors at Budweiser, Lucas Oil, Initializing...., AlphaTrade.com - Get real time stock quotes, charts, market news, level 2, portfolios and more (OTCBB:APTD) and AlphaTrade FN - Free stock quotes, stock market news & personal finance..
BRANDON BERNSTEIN DEDICATES LAS VEGAS VICTORY TO ERIC MEDLEN; PRESENTS TROPHY TO ERIC’S MOTHER
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 Kenny Bernstein Sponsors for 2006. Please visit our sponsors at Budweiser, Lucas Oil, Initializing...., AlphaTrade.com - Get real time stock quotes, charts, market news, level 2, portfolios and more (OTCBB:APTD) and AlphaTrade FN - Free stock quotes, stock market news & personal finance..
