BRANDON BERNSTEIN HOPES TO KEEP HIS WINNING MOMENTUM ROLLING IN SEATTLE
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.
