BERNSTEIN TAKES NO. 1 QUALIFYING SPOT IN PHOENIX
PHOENIX (Feb. 24) – Brandon Bernstein notched his 12th career No. 1 qualifying effort at the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster during the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals.
Rain washed out racetrack activity Friday and the 16-car elimination field was set after two Saturday qualifying sessions. With the best two quick, consistent runs, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team was awarded the $3000 Top Fuel Full Throttle check for overall performance and consistency based on the event’s qualifying rounds.
It was Bernstein’s first top qualifying position at Firebird International Raceway (4.515./330.31).
“It was a great run,” said Bernstein in a post-qualifying press interview. “I knew Tim (Richards, crew chief) was going to try to swing for the fences and do a low 4.50, maybe even a 4.49. The car left really hard and at half track it had the front end up. When I pulled the ‘chute I knew it was a quick, fast run.
“We’re just fortunate to get the No. 1 spot.”
In the opening round of eliminations, Bernstein crossed the finish line first with a 4.623/323.50 to defeat Steve Chrisman, who lost traction at the hit of the throttle (11.340/109.44).
In the quarterfinals against Larry Dixon, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster suffered from tire spin and loss of traction while Dixon tripped the win light with a 4.609/319.82.
“It’s just one of those unfortunate things that happens to every team at one time or another,” said Bernstein. “The track just gets tricky to maneuver.”
Bernstein climbed to eighth position in Top Fuel point standings.
Brandon Bernstein took the reins to the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster from his father, Kenny, whose 39 Top Fuel victories and 30 Funny Car victories make him No. 2 driver on the career nitro win list. Brandon was named Southern California Auto Club Rookie of the Year in 2003, and has amassed 17 career victories to date including a career-high five wins and a third-place overall finish in the 2007 NHRA POWERAde Series.
Just like the Bernstein family legacy on the track, Budweiser American-style lager follows the same family recipe used by five generations of Busch family brew masters. Brewed with only the finest hand-selected ingredients and Beechwood aged for the perfect balance of flavor and refreshment, Budweiser is “the Great American Lager.”
