Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
EVENT HOME
Tickets
Event schedule
Results
Star Tracks
Audio Broadcast
Photo Galleries
Video highlights
Entry List
Driver Appearances
Preview
|
Brandon Bernstein Budweiser Lucas Oil Top Fueler |
Reports: Monday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Monday: All drivers dream of winning the "Big Go", the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Brandon Bernstein will have to pursue this goal next year, though he and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team had hoped to present team owner Kenny Bernstein with a birthday present.
"It isn't often that Dad's birthday falls on the actual race day," said Brandon. "It would have been awesome to be able to present him with a trophy."
Bernstein qualified sixth for the 50th anniversary of NHRA's marquee event at Indianapolis Raceway Park with a 4.593 second elapsed time at 324.51 miles per hour.
The team was optimistic after their opening round win against Brady Kalivoda with a 4.676/317.57. Kalivoda smoked the tires and limped across the finish line with a 9.022/83.22.
In the quarterfinals, Bernstein lined up against Scott Kalitta. The race was close at the start, but by the 330 foot mark, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster had slowed, a victim of tire smoke, and Kalitta scored the round victory.
"We hate to give up points this late in the season," said Bernstein. "We're getting ready to leave the hot weather and the slippery tracks for Reading, Pa. where it is traditionally cool with lots of trees and oxygen. Maybe the change of pace will bring us a change in our luck. The team is doing a good job, but it's like a war zone out there. Everyone's got the heavy artillery out."
Bernstein continues to hold third place in NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings, 80 points out of second place and 240 points out of the lead.
Indianapolis, pre-race: The 50th anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will mark second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein's first effort in the marquee event driving the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster.
Bernstein's father, Kenny, the only driver in NHRA history to have won championships in both Funny Car and Top Fuel, won the premier race in 1983 and 1987 in Funny Car and 1991 in Top Fuel. Brandon has fond memories of his father's performance at Indy.
"Indy is the race I attended most often as a kid," said Brandon. "I remember when Dad won the Bud Shootout and the U.S. Nationals on the same weekend in 1983. It was the first time any one had "doubled" in a specialty event and a national event. I was just 11, wearing my jam shorts, but it was so cool to be part of the victory celebration.
"Having the opportunity to race at Indy is going to be awesome. Of course every driver's dream is to win at Indianapolis Raceway Park. If you could only win one event, that would be the victory that would have the most prestige.
"And it would be the best gift I could give my father for his (60th) birthday, which falls on Monday of the race this year.
"Our team started out the season going stride for stride with the point leader. We fell off a bit in mid-season, and part of that was I was a little off my game. We need a strong rally from here to the end of the season."
Bernstein enters the golden anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals third in NHRA POWERade point standings, 36 points out of second place and 177 points out of the lead.
The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has three victories and one runner-up finish in the record books this year, celebrating their last victory at Topeka, Kan. May 30.
"This is about a six or seven-car battle this season," said Bernstein, "not merely a battle of the beer cars as it's been in the past. Everyone's under a lot of pressure."
Return to Team Reports Archive
Return to the Home Page