POWERADE SERIES
NATIONAL EVENTS
  2005 Schedule
  2004 Results
  2005 TV Schedule
  2004 Points Standings

LUCAS OIL SERIES
DIVISIONAL EVENTS
  2005 Schedule
  2004 Results
  2004 TV Schedule
  2004 Point Standings

TEAMS
  Driver Profiles
  Driver Fan Clubs

BECOME A MEMBER
  NHRA Membership
  Jr. DRAGSTER

INSIDE THE NHRA
  Official Sponsors
  Contingency Sponsors
  The Basics (Tutorial)
  NHRA Museum
  Hot Rod Reunions

RACING INFORMATION
  2004 Rule Revisions
  Class Indexes
  National Records
  Classification Guides
  Engine Blueprints

MULTIMEDIA
  Movies
  Photo Gallery
  Photo of the Week
  Sportsman Photos

MEMBER TRACKS
  Track Directory
  Member Track Programs

NHRA NEWSSTAND
  National DRAGSTER
  Jr. DRAGSTER

COMMERCIAL CLASSIFIEDS
  Performance Directory
  Dragmart (For Sale)

MEDIA SECTION

NHRA STORE

HELP
  Contact NHRA
  Division Directors

"It reminded me that I've been missing driving the car." – Kenny Bernstein

Retired six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein caused quite a stir Monday when he executed a full pass in son Brandon's Budweiser Top Fuel dragster down The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Contrary to numerous rumors the pass generated, Kenny, the only driver in NHRA history to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, was merely keeping his license current in the event he is ever called upon to drive the car again. Kenny last drove the instantly-recognizable Bud King rail for the final 15 races of the 2003 season when he filled in for Brandon after his debilitating accident in Englishtown, N.J.

"By rule, you can keep your license current as long as you make at least one competitive pass per year," Kenny said. "If I let my license expire in December then I would need to re-apply and make at least three passes to earn it back. We were just trying to save time in the unlikely event I would need to drive again. I think Brandon's accident last year remind us all that anything can happen."

Kenny looked every bit the seasoned pro that won 69 national events in NHRA competition, 39 in Top Fuel and 30 in Funny Car. He easily covered The Strip in 4.55 seconds at 321 mph in his lone attempt to successfully add another year to his competition license.

"I'm not going to lie, it was a blast," Kenny said. "It's been a year since I've made a pass and 321 mph seemed faster then I remember but all the same feelings came rushing back like I'd never left. It reminded me that I've been missing driving the car.

"It's good to have the extension on my license because you never know what could happen but I probably would like to make a few more passes in testing before driving in a race again just because I could feel that my mind and my eyes were a little behind the car.

"We have three new guys on the team that have come on board since I had retired and when they came to get me at the other end they got a kick out of seeing me all pumped up. I told them, 'Boys, you just don't know. This feeling is better than anything you can imagine,' and that's the truth."

This story is copyright 2004 National Hot Rod Association. It may not be reprinted or retransmitted in any form without the express written permission of NHRA.com.