BERNSTEIN SETS SIGHTS ON GAINING POSITIONS IN COUNTDOWN POINT BATTLE AT VIRGINIA NATIONALS

RICHMOND, Va. –The heat is on as the NHRA Countdown to 1 enters the final stages of racing. As the NHRA drag racing circuit makes a stop at the Virginia Nationals Oct. 10-12, and with only three races to go before champions are crowned, Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein hopes to continue to capitalize on the consistency his team has shown recently.

“Certainly our goal is to win the championship,” said Bernstein, “but the leader has begun to out-distance himself from the field. So these next three races are critical.

“But there’s an interesting scenario building in the top half of the Countdown field.

We sit sixth as we head to Virginia , but our team is less than two rounds, or just 35 points out of second. You could throw a blanket over positions two through six right now and we’re going to make an attempt to shuffle the deck in our favor.

“For the two races leading into this event our Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has received the Full Throttle award for excellence and consistency in qualifying. Tim (Richards, crew chief) had this car on a string. If we can keep this consistency and if I can contribute from the cockpit, then we have a solid shot at making some moves up the point ladder.”

Bernstein finished in the final four in the Dallas and Memphis events preceding the Virginia Nationals, and he has four runner-up finishes to his credit this season.

“The top ten teams that are in the Countdown to 1 are all first-rate teams capable of winning races. And there are many teams that aren’t in the Countdown that are capable of winning and working as spoilers. Each race and each round is a nail biter. A stumble means a tumble in the point standings, it’s that close.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 10 at 2 p. m. with a second session at 4:30 p. m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 and 3 p. m. with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a. m.