Bernstein Says Team Has Talent to Repeat Consecutive Homestretch Victories

ENNIS, Tex. -- The championship pressure is on and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team feels the heat as the NHRA circuit makes its 20th stop of the 23-race series at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals Sept. 22-24.

"With the Top Fuel point standings as close as they are, you're under pressure to go rounds," said driver Brandon Bernstein. "Ideally you have to make it to the finals of every race to keep pace and make gains. It's the only way. With three or four of us still battling, you can't stumble.

"Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team have proven they can win under pressure. In 2003 when I suffered back injuries in Englishtown, N.J., dad jumped back in the cockpit to finish the season. That year the team won four of the last five events.

"Tim is a stabilizing force. He helps me stay focused and gives me confidence that every time we pull to the line, we have a car that can win. Even when we get to the final rounds, I have to think of it as just another round.

"Dad and I will have family and friends at this event. It will be nice to have a lot of fans pulling for you to win.

"On race day, I am very, very focused until first round and spend a lot of time going through my routine in my head. If we make it through the first round, then I can come back and mix with my friends and family, then sign some autographs for the fans, but then it's back into game day mode and so it goes round to round."

Bernstein has been to six final rounds this season, with an even win-runner-up split, three each. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team won the O'Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston in April, the Pontiac Performance Nationals in Columbus, Oh. in May. Runner-up performances include the O'Reilly Summernationals in Topeka in May, the O'Reilly Midwest Nationals in St. Louis in June and the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in September. He has qualified No. 1 three times this year.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m. with a second session at 7:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. with final eliminations Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.