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LAS VEGAS – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, is looking forward to defending his Top Fuel title at the SummitRacing.com Nationals April 11-13. A look at the team players should sway some of the Las Vegas odds in their favor again this year.
Led by Tim Richards, the winningest Top Fuel crew chief in the history of the sport, the Kenny Bernstein team is deep in talent and last year celebrated five victories. Richards has led various teams to a career total of 67 victories, 33 of those with the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team.
Six-time NHRA champion and team owner Kenny Bernstein scored three victories at the track before passing the helmet to his son Brandon.
Driver Brandon Bernstein attacks life with emotion, high energy, a competitive nature as well as concern and respect for others; the same way his friend Funny Car driver Eric Medlen did. On March 23, 2007, Medlen succumbed to injuries suffered in a testing accident in Gainesville , Fla.
Last year, following the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team’s victory at the SummitRacing.com Nationals less than a month after Medlen’s loss, Bernstein climbed from the cockpit of his 8,000 horsepower machine, and turned tearful eyes to heaven, holding up four fingers to honor Medlen who was No. 4 in point standings at the end of the 2006 season.
In victory circle, flanked by his father and members of the race team, Bernstein presented the trophy to Medlen’s mother, Mimi.
“I know Vegas is going to bring back a lot of memories,” said Bernstein. “I’ve already gotten a message from Mimi that she’s planning to be in Vegas and I know it would mean a lot to her if we could repeat our victory there.
“Additionally Summit Racing is one of our new sponsors this season and we have New York-New York on board in Vegas. This will be our third season with New York - New York , and we were proud to get a victory for them last year.
“For these reasons, and for Budweiser, Lucas Oil, and Mac Tools we would like to repeat our victory. We also need to gain some points. We are fourth in Top Fuel standings right now, but there are a lot of us bunched together so we’d like to earn more points to give us some wiggle room.
“We were runner-up at Gainesville , but we’re looking for the ‘Wally’ in Vegas.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, April 11 at 1:30 p.m. with a second session at 4:30 p.m. There are two Saturday qualifying sessions scheduled at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations set to kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday.
BRANDON BERNSTEIN LOOKING TO DEFEND LAS VEGAS TOP FUEL TITLE FOR FALLEN FRIEND AND GAIN POINTS TOWARD CHAMPIONSHIP
LAS VEGAS – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, is looking forward to defending his Top Fuel title at the SummitRacing.com Nationals April 11-13. A look at the team players should sway some of the Las Vegas odds in their favor again this year.
Led by Tim Richards, the winningest Top Fuel crew chief in the history of the sport, the Kenny Bernstein team is deep in talent and last year celebrated five victories. Richards has led various teams to a career total of 67 victories, 33 of those with the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team.
Six-time NHRA champion and team owner Kenny Bernstein scored three victories at the track before passing the helmet to his son Brandon.
Driver Brandon Bernstein attacks life with emotion, high energy, a competitive nature as well as concern and respect for others; the same way his friend Funny Car driver Eric Medlen did. On March 23, 2007, Medlen succumbed to injuries suffered in a testing accident in Gainesville , Fla.
Last year, following the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team’s victory at the SummitRacing.com Nationals less than a month after Medlen’s loss, Bernstein climbed from the cockpit of his 8,000 horsepower machine, and turned tearful eyes to heaven, holding up four fingers to honor Medlen who was No. 4 in point standings at the end of the 2006 season.
In victory circle, flanked by his father and members of the race team, Bernstein presented the trophy to Medlen’s mother, Mimi.
“I know Vegas is going to bring back a lot of memories,” said Bernstein. “I’ve already gotten a message from Mimi that she’s planning to be in Vegas and I know it would mean a lot to her if we could repeat our victory there.
“Additionally Summit Racing is one of our new sponsors this season and we have New York-New York on board in Vegas. This will be our third season with New York - New York , and we were proud to get a victory for them last year.
“For these reasons, and for Budweiser, Lucas Oil, and Mac Tools we would like to repeat our victory. We also need to gain some points. We are fourth in Top Fuel standings right now, but there are a lot of us bunched together so we’d like to earn more points to give us some wiggle room.
“We were runner-up at Gainesville , but we’re looking for the ‘Wally’ in Vegas.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, April 11 at 1:30 p.m. with a second session at 4:30 p.m. There are two Saturday qualifying sessions scheduled at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations set to kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday.
