Brandon Bernstein, left, and father Kenny, joined by Kenny's wife, Sheryl, have won 86 races and six world championships flying Budweiser colors.

After three decades, the familiar red Budweiser Top Fuel dragster owned and driven by six-time NHRA world champion Kenny Bernstein, and now piloted by son Brandon, will take its final bow at the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, and the Bernstein family would like to end its 30-year Bud involvement with a trip to the winner's circle.

“This final race is going to be very emotional for our family,” said Budweiser/Lucas Oil team owner Kenny Bernstein. “We owe a debt of gratitude to all the executives, brand management and sports marketing team members and wholesalers who have touched our lives during our tenure at Anheuser-Busch. All of these folks made it possible for a young man from Texas to follow his dream. We have enjoyed success that was way beyond my wildest imagination when I was a teenager reading hot rod magazines in high school. It’s been a great ride.”

While flying the Budweiser banner, the Bernstein duo has combined for 86 national event wins: 68 Top Fuel and Funny Car victories for Kenny, 18 Top Fuel trophies for Brandon. Kenny won four consecutive Funny Car world championships from 1985-1988, then capped that achievement with Top Fuel world championships in 1996 and 2001. Kenny will forever be remembered as the first to surpass the 300-mph barrier in Gainesville March 20, 1992.

The Bernsteins made history in 2001 as the first father-son tandem to share the winner's circle. Kenny won in Top Fuel and Brandon in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Kenny won four consecutive NHRA Funny Car world championships from 1985 to 1988.

One of the Bud team's defining moments was the shattering of the 300-mph barrier at the 1992 Gatornationals.

They became the first father and son in NHRA history to win at the same national event in Las Vegas in April 2001 when Brandon won in Top Alcohol Dragster, sharing thw winner's circle with his father, who won Top Fuel honors driving his Budweiser dragster.

Brandon was in the hunt for the 2007 championship, which came down to the deciding round between Bernstein and Tony Schumacher in the semifinals at the season finale in Pomona. Bernstein finished third in the NHRA points standings that year for the third time.

Brandon’s last event win was two races ago in Richmond. He has also taken runner-up honors four times this season and has five semifinal showings.

“We started the season strong,” said Brandon, “and then bogged down a bit during the summer. We have had a resurgence these last several events and think we have a good chance to take Budweiser to victory circle one last time. It would be the icing on the cake if we could make that happen.

“After this event, we’ll be trading paint. The team will hotfoot it back to our race shop in Brownsburg, Ind., and by the end of that week, we’ll be applying our first coat of Copart blue paint.

“We were fortunate enough to obtain Copart sponsorship for 2010 with the help of NHRA and our friend Vacaville, Calif., restaurateur Joe Murdaca. We are looking forward to a new chapter with Copart, an online vehicle auction company. This is their first experience with NHRA Drag Racing, and they are energized! We are all excited about the coming season.

“We are also thrilled that Lucas Oil will remain with us, and we’re looking forward to the debut of the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster. Mac Tools will also be celebrating their 23rd year with us, and La Paz will commemorate their 32nd season.”