CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Chicago
(Sept. 25-28)
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Kenny Bernstein Budweiser Lucas Oil Top Fueler |
Reports: Sunday Pre-race |
Chicago, Sunday: Kenny Bernstein celebrated his 66th career victory, his 36th in Top Fuel at the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, and dedicated the win to his son Brandon who was sidelined for the season following an accident May 18 in Englishtown, N.J. The victory also moved Bernstein to second, passing Don Garlits, on the NHRA Top Fuel win list.
"Winning is the ultimate," said Bernstein. "But this was a special one. This was for Brandon. He suffered so much and you have no idea what he went through for a couple of months there. He did it like a trooper. He was the one who should have been driving the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. We've been trying to win since Englishtown, and we finally got it done. This is a very appropriate place to do it. We shared victory circle here with Brandon in 2001 when he was driving the A Fuel dragster.
"As far as moving to second on the all-time Top Fuel win list, it's an honor to even be in the same room with Don Garlits," said Bernstein. "I consider him a legend and the king of our sport. He helped perpetuate the sport and to happen to pass him in Top Fuel victories is an honor. Who would ever think a kid like me, who watched him race when I was 19 or 20 years old when I was just wiping tires and being a gopher, would be able to catch someone like Garlits in wins."
Bernstein qualified third for the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals, turning in one of his best elapsed times of the season, 4.498 seconds at 323.50 mph.
In his march to victory, Bernstein defeated David Grubnic in the opening round, 4.539/329.10 vs. 5.234/187.63, and then ran his quickest elapsed time of the year, 4.494/328.38 to defeat Paul Romine who fouled with a red light start in the quarterfinals.
Two legends squared off in the semifinals, Bernstein and Shirley Muldowney, with Bernstein running a consistent 4.511/331.69 to best Muldowney's 4.612/320.05.
In the 43rd career meeting of the beer cars, the 10th final round battle between the two, the red team emerged victorious over Larry Dixon and the blue team, 4.503/328.46 vs. a very competitive 4.638/321.35.
"The team was so excited when we won," said Bernstein, "that I was hoping nobody would jump on Brandon's back. I guess now we'll know how strong he is. It feels good to win for the team and for Brandon."
Bernstein moved into 10th position in NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings.
Chicago, pre-race: Kenny Bernstein will be making his ninth, and perhaps his last final appearance at the third annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
Bernstein retired at the end of the 2002 season, giving his son Brandon one of the most coveted opportunities on the NHRA circuit, the chance to drive the legendary Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster.
Brandon followed in his father's footsteps, winning his first Top Fuel event in Phoenix, the same track where his father claimed his first Top Fuel victory. Brandon won three events in eight outings before he suffered injuries in a May 18 crash in Englishtown, N.J., that sidelined him for the season.
Kenny stepped back into the role of Top Fuel driver, substituting for his son for the remainder of the season. Brandon, on the road to a complete recovery, will resume the role of pilot of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster at the beginning of the 2004 season.
In the meanwhile, the six-time NHRA champion returns to Route 66 Raceway where he has been in the final round of competition five times in eight outings, winning the 2001 fall race, the 1998 and 2001 spring races, and finishing runner-up in the 1999 and 2003 spring events.
There are also sentimental memories at this track. Bernstein set the existing NHRA world elapsed time record here of 4.477 seconds in the spring of 2001, and for the second time that year and the second time in NHRA history, he shared victory circle with his son Brandon who was driving an alcohol dragster in the sportsman category.
"When we review our career performance, being able to share the podium with Brandon rates very high on our list of top accomplishments," said Kenny. "We are not in the hunt for the championship this year because points stay with the driver, not the car. When we jumped in after one-third of the season was complete, there was no way to catch the frontrunners. But make no mistake, our team is 100 percent focused on winning. We can still make room on our trophy shelf for a few more of the gold 'Wallys'.
"We enjoy racing in Joliet. This is certainly one of the premier facilities we have to showcase our sport."
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