NHRA News: NHRA trophies to salute Kenny Bernstein (4/1/2004)

NHRA trophies to salute Kenny Bernstein

By Rob B. Mifriend, NHRA Insider
4/1/2004

Kenny Bernstein

Drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein will now become the object of desire amongst NHRA competitors as top officials within the association, along with a panel of former and current drivers, have voted unanimously to change the bronze trophy presented to national event winners from "the Wally" to "the Kenny."

"Since 1969, NHRA competitors have poured out their hearts to win a 'Wally' through hard work and lots of sweat equity," NHRA President Tom Compton said. "Now, in homage to a man who has meant so much to our sport, professional racers who win any of the 23 national events on the POWERade Drag Racing Series, starting with this weekend's fifth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals, will be awarded a 'Kenny.' "

Crafted exclusively for NHRA by American Trophy of Chicago, "the Kenny" will closely resemble "the Wally." Each statue will stand just over 18 inches tall, including the solid walnut base, and will weigh in at 12 pounds. As always, winner's names and the logo of the national event they have won will be engraved on an antique brass plate affixed to the base.

Hand-sculpted by blind monks in Argentina, the original "Kenny" will have a permanent home in the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum.

"It's quite an honor," Bernstein said. "I heard it came down to me or 'Snake' [longtime rival Don Prudhomme] and I was selected by a one-vote margin. It was that close. It's quite a thrill and I would like to thank NHRA for this tremendous distinction. Hats off to all the people who voted for me."

The only driver to have won NHRA championships in the sport's top two categories, Top Fuel and Funny Car, Bernstein has six championships and 69 national event "Wally's" to his credit. He can also take credit for four victories as a team owner since son Brandon took over his powerful Top Fuel dragster in 2003.

"I've already talked to the guys at American Trophy and they're working on a way to retrofit all of my 'Wallys' with heads from the new 'Kennys.' I can't wait to get them changed over," Bernstein said. "That will be so cool to go sit in the trophy room at the house and see 69 of me staring back at me."

The change to the new design will take place immediately with the first "Kennys" given out this weekend to the three professional winners at the fifth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The first four championship "Kennys," which are slightly larger then regular "Kennys" with gold plating rather than bronze, will be distributed at year's end.

"I don't really know what to make of this," said a bewildered John Force, who has earned more "Wallys" – 109 national event and 12 championship trophies – then any other competitor on tour. "The whole thing seems a little spooky to me. I just don't know if I can get as fired up about this as I have in the past. I mean, Kenny's okay but I don't know if I can bring myself to kiss a little statue version of him every time I win a race."

The NHRA is also entertaining the idea of changing all Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series trophies to "Franks," in recognition of Frank Manzo, and all NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series trophies to "Kubos," for racer Lisa Kubo.

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