BERNSTEIN FACES FRIEND IN CLOSE MATCH AT ATLANTA

COMMERCE, GA. (April 27) – Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team came to Atlanta Dragway angling for an encore performance at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals. Having won the Top Fuel event here last year, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team was hoping to win their first event of the ’08 season.

When Sunday’s final eliminations got underway following a two hour rain delay, Bernstein and close friend J.R. Todd drove to the starting line to see who would take home first round bragging rights.

When the two “Brat Packers”, who inevitably race each other from time to time, find themselves across the asphalt from each other, they focus their attention on racing their lane and try to erase the fact that their friend is on the opposing side of the strip.

Bernstein and Todd left the starting line with nearly identical reaction times and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster led at every increment down the track until about the 1000-foot mark when Bernstein’s engine began to mix up cylinders and tear teeth off the blower belt. Those mechanical difficulties gave Todd the opportunity to outstretch Bernstein at the finish line to win with a .0033-second margin of victory.

“As a driver, you just wish you could have dug just a little bit deeper,” said a disappointed Bernstein. “As close as the competition is, every round matters, every point matters. It was so close but these are the matches that keep you humble in this sport.”

Bernstein qualified No. 5 with a 4.601/320.05. The second generation driver retains fifth place in NHRA POWERade point standings.