BRANDON BERNSTEIN LOOKING FOR LUCAS OIL NATIONALS HAT TRICK
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/b_bernstein.jpg" alt="b_bernstein" align="right"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster is looking to defend last year’s Top Fuel victory at his sponsor’s title rights race, The Lucas Oil Nationals, Aug. 8-10.
The two-time Lucas Oil Nationals Top Fuel champ is, in fact, looking for his third straight victory at Brainerd International Raceway.
“We’ve been fortunate to have won this race the last two years,” said Bernstein. “This is a track where Tim (Richards, crew chief) seems to excel. Our past performance gives us a boost of confidence going into this event.
“At this track we’ve always been able to go rounds and our record is two wins, two showings in the final four. We really need to keep rolling through rounds in Brainerd. With three races remaining before the field of 10 is set to begin the six-race playoff series, we have a chance of gaining some positions in the point standings.
“At this juncture we’re sixth in NHRA Top Fuel standings, one point out of fifth and 15 points out of fourth. The points are reset as we enter the playoffs and they tighten up. The point swing from fourth to sixth is 20 points, which is a round. That could be critical to our tea m.
“In the past, our Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has won races early in the season. This year we have four runner-up finishes and we seem to be peaking more right now. That could be advantageous to us in the long run.
“Tim has been coaxing a lot of consistency out of the car and there have been race day rounds where we’ve run low elapsed time of the round. I don’t envy Tim; the stress of all the changes that crew chiefs have had to adapt to which include a change in the nitromethane mixture (up from 85 percent to 90), a heavier chassis (to accommodate safety changes) and recently a change in the length of the race (also a safety consideration).
“We’ve got our fingers crossed and we’re hoping for the best.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Lucas Oil Nationals begins Friday, Aug.8 at 3:30 p. m. with a second round at 6:15 p. m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, noon and 3 p. m. , with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a. m.
Budweiser drivers Bernstein and Kasey Kahne to make appearances at 68th Annual Sturgis (S.D.) Motorcycle Rally. On Monday, August 4th, Bernstein and NASCAR-favorite Kasey Kahne will team up to make visits on behalf of Budweiser at Glencoe Campground, Full Throttle and the legendary Buffalo Chip Campground. They will make their appearances between 5 and 7 p. m. that evening.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/b_bernstein.jpg" alt="b_bernstein" align="right"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster is looking to defend last year’s Top Fuel victory at his sponsor’s title rights race, The Lucas Oil Nationals, Aug. 8-10.
The two-time Lucas Oil Nationals Top Fuel champ is, in fact, looking for his third straight victory at Brainerd International Raceway.
“We’ve been fortunate to have won this race the last two years,” said Bernstein. “This is a track where Tim (Richards, crew chief) seems to excel. Our past performance gives us a boost of confidence going into this event.
“At this track we’ve always been able to go rounds and our record is two wins, two showings in the final four. We really need to keep rolling through rounds in Brainerd. With three races remaining before the field of 10 is set to begin the six-race playoff series, we have a chance of gaining some positions in the point standings.
“At this juncture we’re sixth in NHRA Top Fuel standings, one point out of fifth and 15 points out of fourth. The points are reset as we enter the playoffs and they tighten up. The point swing from fourth to sixth is 20 points, which is a round. That could be critical to our tea m.
“In the past, our Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has won races early in the season. This year we have four runner-up finishes and we seem to be peaking more right now. That could be advantageous to us in the long run.
“Tim has been coaxing a lot of consistency out of the car and there have been race day rounds where we’ve run low elapsed time of the round. I don’t envy Tim; the stress of all the changes that crew chiefs have had to adapt to which include a change in the nitromethane mixture (up from 85 percent to 90), a heavier chassis (to accommodate safety changes) and recently a change in the length of the race (also a safety consideration).
“We’ve got our fingers crossed and we’re hoping for the best.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Lucas Oil Nationals begins Friday, Aug.8 at 3:30 p. m. with a second round at 6:15 p. m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, noon and 3 p. m. , with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a. m.
Budweiser drivers Bernstein and Kasey Kahne to make appearances at 68th Annual Sturgis (S.D.) Motorcycle Rally. On Monday, August 4th, Bernstein and NASCAR-favorite Kasey Kahne will team up to make visits on behalf of Budweiser at Glencoe Campground, Full Throttle and the legendary Buffalo Chip Campground. They will make their appearances between 5 and 7 p. m. that evening.
