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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 Kenny Bernstein Racing. 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 LOOKING FOR FOURTH WIN OF SEASON IN BRISTOL
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 Kenny Bernstein Racing. 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..
