Bernstein Heads for a Weekend of Racing and Rocking in Richmond

RICHMOND , Va. - With three races remaining until the NHRA POWERade champions are crowned, second generation driver Brandon Bernstein is neck and neck with second place and both are challenging the Top Fuel leader. The Top Fuel race can't get much more intense as the NHRA circuit makes its 21st stop at the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals Oct. 6-8. It's been five years since an NHRA national event was contested at Virginia Motorsports Park.

"This is going to be an interesting test," said Bernstein, driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster. "I have never driven at this track. Though Tim (Richards, crew chief) and several of the other crew chiefs have had experience tuning here, a lot has changed on the race cars since we last raced in Virgina from tire compounds to ignition systems and a lot of other parts and pieces. I think everyone will be starting from the ground floor and it's going to depend on who can get a handle on the race track first. You can't afford to get behind in qualifying so you have to hope you can get a good baseline run on the first qualifying pass and fine tune from there.

"This race throws an interesting component into the championship battle.

"Plus this is the fourth consecutive weekend the teams have been on the road and it wears on the stamina of the crew members as well as the inventory of parts and pieces on the trailer.

"We have a battle-tested crew chief and a focused team. I'm looking forward to a good showing in Richmond."

Bernstein is third going into the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, 10 points behind second place and 62 points out of the lead with 12 rounds of racing remaining until the final bell tolls. The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has tallied four victories and three runner-up finishes so far this season.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m. with a second round of qualifying at 6:30 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at 11 a.m.