mw6789
Nitro Member
I shared the same experience with the driver at Pomona in 2010. Only jerk I ran into during the whole meet.
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What Happened to COPART
- Thread starter nitro-trucker
- Start date
I shared the same experience with the driver at Pomona in 2010. Only jerk I ran into during the whole meet.
mick
Nitro Member
here's the car and donnie, had to look twice to recognize him.
Top Fuel drag racing is a perfect application for high-speed cameras
Top Fuel drag racing is a perfect application for high-speed cameras
Crew Chief Pro
Nitro Member
Todd Smith is the Crew Chief on Jack Beckman's Funny Car. Doing a fantastic job also.
Donny Bender works for several teams on and off, and I believe he goes overseas to help teams also.
Donny Bender works for several teams on and off, and I believe he goes overseas to help teams also.
mick
Nitro Member
i am aware that todd smith tunes for beckman.
did you watch the video?...donny in finland with janne ahonen TF'r
sisu power
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
All of my interactions with Kenny Bernstein were positive, whether it was at the track "when the cameras were off" or when I ran into him at McCarron Airport in Las Vegas or when I ran into him in a restaurant in Pomona. I always walked up and shook his hand and he was always willing to give a minute of his time. You don't keep Budweiser as a sponsor for 30 years if you are a d!ck. I would even venture a guess to say if the Busch family still owned their brand rather than a foreign entity, you would probably still see a Budweiser Top Fueler on tour.
The only negative thing I will say about the Bernsteins is that Brandon has put on too much weight since he got married and had a kid. I am sure his crew chief would love to see him drop some of that "daddy fat" LOL.
The only negative thing I will say about the Bernsteins is that Brandon has put on too much weight since he got married and had a kid. I am sure his crew chief would love to see him drop some of that "daddy fat" LOL.
DrRocket
Nitro Member
DING DING DING!! It soon after the Busch family handed control of the business to InBev that KB racing lost the sponsorship.
All of my interactions with Kenny were positive as well.
TooTall999
Nitro Member
HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION BATMAN !!! 
mick
Nitro Member
HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION BATMAN !!!
came across this article discussing the ahonen team and was fairly certain
that is who bought at least one of the copart chassis and other parts, so looked
for a proper (and former) thread to make a comment
Larry
Nitro Member
Please give us a little Red Meat ! Still can't figure out the Copart Angle !
They go European Racing ? Wouldn't make much sense if they don't have European holdings !
All things economic are in the dumpster right now !
Business is essential to a high standard of living !
I expect things to turn around shortly !
Be more pie for everyone willing to participate !
They go European Racing ? Wouldn't make much sense if they don't have European holdings !
All things economic are in the dumpster right now !
Business is essential to a high standard of living !
I expect things to turn around shortly !
Be more pie for everyone willing to participate !
DragFan2
Nitro Member
Has nothing to do with the COPART company as he referenced. Looks like Mike Larson was just mentioning where one of the chassis apparently went, and if that is Donnie Bender, then he may have been part of the package. Cool video and definitely fun to watch in slo-mo with such clarity. Haven't seen one on ESPN shows this interesting.
robinjackson
Nitro Member
Janne Ahonen bought an ex-Bernstein car plus equipment last winter, dealing via Donnie Bender. Donnie came to Europe to assist and advise Janne during this season.
Janne did not compete at Santa Pod's recent European Finals so Donnie assisted fellow Finnish racer Anita Mäkelä. Anita won the race.
Janne did not compete at Santa Pod's recent European Finals so Donnie assisted fellow Finnish racer Anita Mäkelä. Anita won the race.
mw6789
Nitro Member
Never had a bad experience with Kenny, but cant say the same for his offspring.
mick
Nitro Member
exactly...thanks Kurt
Since it is NHRA, It would not surprise me if they stole Copart from KB and he was so fed up he quit because of it.
It would not be the first sponsor they stole
Just a thought!
Ding ding ding....we have a winner!
Brandon's always been cool to me....Kenny? Nevermind...
I used to be a huge KB fan until I met the guy. I was walking by his area, when I saw him coming to the ropes to sign. I was not planning on stopping until I saw him, then I grabbed a card, politely handed it to him and he signed it. He looked like a man who hated having to interact with the public, but I remained polite and said, "thanks, Kenny" he could not have looked more disinterested if he tried and completely ignored me. If anyone wants to see the complete opposite of that kind of person, seek out Gary Densham sometime. Talk about a riot to speak with, that man has personality in spades! Likewise with Tony Bartone, Bob Glidden and Frank Iaconio, all of them are great guys. Life's too short to spend it idolizing snobs in my opinion.
Over the past 20+ years going to these races, I couldn't count the number of Racers who were complete Jerks at the track, but regular people away from it! Don Prudhomme was just like that....at the track he was the jerk from Hell, you see him at a Restrurant or the airport they were different people all together!
Right after last year’s Finals I interviewed Kenny about his retirement. And I believe what he told me about the Copart situation. You can read it here:
Competition Plus - Drag Racing Magazine - TALKING WITH BERNSTEIN: THE KING ABDICATES HIS THRONE.
I’ve been in touch with Kenny since his retirement and can assure you that as much as he loved drag racing, and as much as the sport gave him – and he gave to the sport – he’s happy in retirement. He’s remaining incredibly active, bought himself a Ford Raptor 4X4 truck, and right now there’s not a fish or wild animal in Colorado that’s safe if he’s around.
It’s my understanding that KB brought Copart to NHRA, not the other way around.
Regarding the departure of Budweiser, I continue to believe that was a major marketing error. The InBev people who bought Anheuser-Busch seem to lack an understanding of beer marketing to an American audience (the company is based in Belgium), and considering the money they had to invest in drag racing, the returns were significant. But, we shouldn’t be surprised. When companies change hands, or even a new marketing manager comes in, the first thing he or she wants to do is put their own imprint on the company’s programs. That often means goodbye to good promotional programs, but it happens all the time. The sale of Miller (now Miller-Coors) to a South African-based company probably played a role in Prudhomme losing his deal with them.
Yes, NHRA did have a rule in place regarding what a company had to do to become involved, but I’m under the impression they’re ignoring that rule in tough economic times. As one NHRA executive said to me after they’d signed what appeared to be a less than ideal program, “At this point we’ll take anything.”
While I hate to say it, Joe Sherwood’s post is pretty accurate. I’ve been doing this a long time and have absolutely seen this kind of thing happen. I have also seen a team lose a big associate sponsor after NHRA convinced the sponsor that a title rights program would be a great plan. Despite assurances that it wouldn’t happen, the racer lost the sponsor the following season, and a year after that the sponsor bolted on a very bad title rights deal.
There is no question that every single racer out there has, at one point or another, lost his temper or otherwise spouted off either directly to, or within hearing of a spectator. We have to understand that racers are human and will show their emotions if pushed in the right direction. I have seen fans walk up to a Top Fuel car when the driver’s already strapped in and shove a program into the driver’s face for an autograph. When told by the driver or a crewman to come back later, those fans often walk away badmouthing the driver. Is that fair to the driver? No.
Drivers are not out there for our personal enjoyment. They’re out there to put on a show for everyone. They’re racing and literally risking their lives, so I think we need to give them a break once in a while if they temporarily lose it.
Jon Asher
Competition Plus - Drag Racing Magazine - TALKING WITH BERNSTEIN: THE KING ABDICATES HIS THRONE.
I’ve been in touch with Kenny since his retirement and can assure you that as much as he loved drag racing, and as much as the sport gave him – and he gave to the sport – he’s happy in retirement. He’s remaining incredibly active, bought himself a Ford Raptor 4X4 truck, and right now there’s not a fish or wild animal in Colorado that’s safe if he’s around.
It’s my understanding that KB brought Copart to NHRA, not the other way around.
Regarding the departure of Budweiser, I continue to believe that was a major marketing error. The InBev people who bought Anheuser-Busch seem to lack an understanding of beer marketing to an American audience (the company is based in Belgium), and considering the money they had to invest in drag racing, the returns were significant. But, we shouldn’t be surprised. When companies change hands, or even a new marketing manager comes in, the first thing he or she wants to do is put their own imprint on the company’s programs. That often means goodbye to good promotional programs, but it happens all the time. The sale of Miller (now Miller-Coors) to a South African-based company probably played a role in Prudhomme losing his deal with them.
Yes, NHRA did have a rule in place regarding what a company had to do to become involved, but I’m under the impression they’re ignoring that rule in tough economic times. As one NHRA executive said to me after they’d signed what appeared to be a less than ideal program, “At this point we’ll take anything.”
While I hate to say it, Joe Sherwood’s post is pretty accurate. I’ve been doing this a long time and have absolutely seen this kind of thing happen. I have also seen a team lose a big associate sponsor after NHRA convinced the sponsor that a title rights program would be a great plan. Despite assurances that it wouldn’t happen, the racer lost the sponsor the following season, and a year after that the sponsor bolted on a very bad title rights deal.
There is no question that every single racer out there has, at one point or another, lost his temper or otherwise spouted off either directly to, or within hearing of a spectator. We have to understand that racers are human and will show their emotions if pushed in the right direction. I have seen fans walk up to a Top Fuel car when the driver’s already strapped in and shove a program into the driver’s face for an autograph. When told by the driver or a crewman to come back later, those fans often walk away badmouthing the driver. Is that fair to the driver? No.
Drivers are not out there for our personal enjoyment. They’re out there to put on a show for everyone. They’re racing and literally risking their lives, so I think we need to give them a break once in a while if they temporarily lose it.
Jon Asher
Jim
Nitro Member
I think I have posted this here a time or two but here goes again.
Reading in 92 I happened to stay at the Hampton Hotel where some of the drivers and crews were staying. Sunday morning eating breakfast in the lobby, Snake and Ed McCoullough were there. They both walked by to get food they both said hi to me before I could say it to them. Nothing more just a simple hi, but I thought it was pretty cool. A few min later waiting for our friend to come back from the room Kenny walks by with Cheryl a few steps behind. Said hi to Kenny as we walked by each other and we hear him mutter "yeah, yeah, whatever" without even looking at us. I turned around in disbelief as to what I just heard to watch him walk out the double set of doors letting each door close on Cheryl's face. Didn't even try to hold them open.
My dad used to work for a major NHRA sponsor and was working the trailer on the midway when Kenny appeared asking some questions to one of his co-workers trying to solve some sort of issues he was having. They answered his questions and ended up giving him some parts he needed for free. His co-worker waits a bit and walks over to Kenny's trailer to see if he needed anything else. As soon as he gets inside the ropes Kenny says "I don't have time for you, leave." No "thanks," or "hey I appreciate it, but could you come back in a bit" Needless to say after that all employes knew that Kenny was not welcome at the trailer any more and was not to get any parts unless he paid. His co-workers still talked about that more then 10 years after it happened.
At another race, I think it was E-town, Kenny went out in the first or second round. I was walking around the pits after that round and saw Kenny and Cheryl walking with luggage to a rental car parked next to the Bud Trailer. You could tell Kenny was not happy going out so early so no one was bothering him for an autograph etc. He gets in the car and had to back up a little to pull out. He slammed the car into reverse hitting a 55 gal metal trash drum pushing it about 5 feet amlsot knocking it over. The crowd started cheering, clapping , etc. Kenny must have heard this as he slammed it back into drive and pulled out at a very fast rate of speed for crowded pits. A couple people had to all but dive out of the way.
Reading in 92 I happened to stay at the Hampton Hotel where some of the drivers and crews were staying. Sunday morning eating breakfast in the lobby, Snake and Ed McCoullough were there. They both walked by to get food they both said hi to me before I could say it to them. Nothing more just a simple hi, but I thought it was pretty cool. A few min later waiting for our friend to come back from the room Kenny walks by with Cheryl a few steps behind. Said hi to Kenny as we walked by each other and we hear him mutter "yeah, yeah, whatever" without even looking at us. I turned around in disbelief as to what I just heard to watch him walk out the double set of doors letting each door close on Cheryl's face. Didn't even try to hold them open.
My dad used to work for a major NHRA sponsor and was working the trailer on the midway when Kenny appeared asking some questions to one of his co-workers trying to solve some sort of issues he was having. They answered his questions and ended up giving him some parts he needed for free. His co-worker waits a bit and walks over to Kenny's trailer to see if he needed anything else. As soon as he gets inside the ropes Kenny says "I don't have time for you, leave." No "thanks," or "hey I appreciate it, but could you come back in a bit" Needless to say after that all employes knew that Kenny was not welcome at the trailer any more and was not to get any parts unless he paid. His co-workers still talked about that more then 10 years after it happened.
At another race, I think it was E-town, Kenny went out in the first or second round. I was walking around the pits after that round and saw Kenny and Cheryl walking with luggage to a rental car parked next to the Bud Trailer. You could tell Kenny was not happy going out so early so no one was bothering him for an autograph etc. He gets in the car and had to back up a little to pull out. He slammed the car into reverse hitting a 55 gal metal trash drum pushing it about 5 feet amlsot knocking it over. The crowd started cheering, clapping , etc. Kenny must have heard this as he slammed it back into drive and pulled out at a very fast rate of speed for crowded pits. A couple people had to all but dive out of the way.
