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BRISTOL , Tenn. – At Bristol Dragway, the name ‘Kenny Bernstein’ will forever be a part of history. In 2002, Bernstein became the first racer with a grandstand named in his honor at Thunder Valley following his retirement from the cockpit of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. At the renowned Bristol Motor Speedway, fans readily identify the grandstands by the legendary drivers for which they are named.
BMS general manager Jeff Byrd brought that same approach to the drag strip when he dedicated the grandstand adjacent to the Thunder Valley Club to Bernstein.
This season, back in black, and driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, Bernstein will be looking to add to his list of performance achievements at this famed drag strip May 18-20 at the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals.
Bernstein who began participating as an owner/driver in drag racing in the early 1970s on a more part-time basis, remembers Bristol as one of the jewels of the drag racing circuit.
“It had an aura about it,” said Bernstein. “With the drag strip cut between two mountains, the powerful cackle of the nitro cars reverberates and bounces off the mountain and sounds like thunder. Many years ago we’d race late at night when it was so foggy you could barely see in front of you.
“We did pretty well at Bristol through the years before the track was rebuilt and became a part of the NHRA national event series in 2001. Early in our career we went to the final round five times, four in Funny Car and once in Top Fuel.
“The Funny Car category is pretty spectacular this season and I think fans and competitors alike are biting their fingernails in the final Saturday qualifying session. At each event this season, it’s been a battle of drivers being knocked out of the field, battling their way back into the field, only to be bumped out again. It’s great for the fans, but the drivers and crew chiefs are on edge and they have to be on the top of their game.
“We’ll see if the ghosts of our past performance are still lingering at Bristol and will favor us with a good showing at the new Bristol Dragway.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 18 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 Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at Kenny Bernstein Racing. Please visit our sponsors at Monster Energy - Unleash the Beast, 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.
KENNY BERNSTEIN HOPES PAST SUCCESS BREEDS MODERN DAY SUCCESS AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
BRISTOL , Tenn. – At Bristol Dragway, the name ‘Kenny Bernstein’ will forever be a part of history. In 2002, Bernstein became the first racer with a grandstand named in his honor at Thunder Valley following his retirement from the cockpit of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. At the renowned Bristol Motor Speedway, fans readily identify the grandstands by the legendary drivers for which they are named.
BMS general manager Jeff Byrd brought that same approach to the drag strip when he dedicated the grandstand adjacent to the Thunder Valley Club to Bernstein.
This season, back in black, and driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car, Bernstein will be looking to add to his list of performance achievements at this famed drag strip May 18-20 at the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals.
Bernstein who began participating as an owner/driver in drag racing in the early 1970s on a more part-time basis, remembers Bristol as one of the jewels of the drag racing circuit.
“It had an aura about it,” said Bernstein. “With the drag strip cut between two mountains, the powerful cackle of the nitro cars reverberates and bounces off the mountain and sounds like thunder. Many years ago we’d race late at night when it was so foggy you could barely see in front of you.
“We did pretty well at Bristol through the years before the track was rebuilt and became a part of the NHRA national event series in 2001. Early in our career we went to the final round five times, four in Funny Car and once in Top Fuel.
“The Funny Car category is pretty spectacular this season and I think fans and competitors alike are biting their fingernails in the final Saturday qualifying session. At each event this season, it’s been a battle of drivers being knocked out of the field, battling their way back into the field, only to be bumped out again. It’s great for the fans, but the drivers and crew chiefs are on edge and they have to be on the top of their game.
“We’ll see if the ghosts of our past performance are still lingering at Bristol and will favor us with a good showing at the new Bristol Dragway.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 18 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 Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car team at Kenny Bernstein Racing. Please visit our sponsors at Monster Energy - Unleash the Beast, 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.
