Birthplace: Dallas, Texas

Current Residence: Lake Forest, California

Years with Budweiser King Racing: 11th full year, fifth season as driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster

Racing experience: Son of six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein. 2003 marked Brandon’s first year in the cockpit of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster. Brandon worked part-time for the Budweiser King team during his summers away from Texas A & M University. Worked three years full-time with Budweiser King team. In 2001 he drove an Alcohol Dragster and worked part-time for the Budweiser King team. Won the Division 7 Alcohol Dragster championship and finished fourth in national Alcohol Dragster competition. With his father, Kenny, became the first father/son duo in NHRA’s 50-year history to win at the same national event when they “doubled” at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in April 2001. They doubled again at the Lucas Oil Products Nationals in Chicago in June 2001. Brandon worked as a crew member on his father’s team in 2002. Brandon had a sensational beginning to his rookie year behind the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster in 2003. He won three of the first eight events, qualified No. 1 twice and even lead the Top Fuel point standings before an injury May 18 at Englishtown, N.J. sidelined him for the season. Despite a shortened season, Bernstein’s early performance achievements won him the prestigious Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Rookie of the Year award, a prestigious honor determined by a vote from a distinguished paned of motorsports journalists. Bernstein has the distinction of having the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history, winning five of his first 13 starts. He is also a second generation “King of Speed”, having set an NHRA world speed record of 333.41 mph in Chicago in May 2004.

Education: Graduated Texas A & M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, specializing in Sports Management in 1996.

Hobbies: Computers and computer gaming, golf

BRANDON BERNSTEIN:
  CHAMPIONSHIP MATERIAL

2007 marked a season of thrilling highs and lows for the driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster, Brandon Bernstein.  From the return of his father Kenny to the strip, to the passing of a close friend and competitor, Bernstein experienced it all and yet scored a career-high five victories in seven final round appearances and a third-place finish in the NHRA POWERAde Series.

Bernstein started 2007 off on a high note with a runner-up finish in Pomona.  Just a few weeks later, he experienced an all-time low when his best friend and fellow young-gun Eric Medlen succumbed to injuries suffered in a testing accident in March. In April during an emotional ceremony, Bernstein dedicated his Las Vegas victory and first win of the season to Medlen. 
With four victories in his next five events, Bernstein topped the Top Fuel leader board twice.  He hovered near the top for the remainder of the season and in the end, finished just 37 points – or less than two rounds – away from claiming the championship crown.  Building off the team’s consistent success in ’07, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Team has all the markings of another strong run for the Series title in 2008.     

Brandon got his first chance to hold the reins of an Alcohol Dragster in 2001.  He responded with five wins, the Division 7 championship, and was voted “Driver of the Year.”  His most memorable victory during that first season came at “The Strip” at Las Vegas when he shared the winner’s circle with his father who had won the Top Fuel category.  It was the first time in the NHRA’s 50-year history that a father/son duo had won their categories at the same event.

In 2003, Kenny passed the Top Fuel helmet to Brandon and thus began the most successful Top Fuel career launch in NHRA history.  Brandon won five of his first 13 starts, including his second-ever start in the race at Phoenix, and was voted the Southern California Auto Club “Rookie of the Year.”

Brandon, now in his sixth season as driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster, has continued the winning precedent set by his six-time champion father.  At the end of the 2007 season, the second generation driver has 17 career victories in 98 races for a .174 winning percentage.

Away from the track, Brandon is a Dallas Cowboys fan, listens to alternative music and enjoys playing golf.  Brandon was a standout soccer player for Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, graduated from Texas A&M University in 1996 with a degree in kinesiology/sports management, and currently resides in Lake Forest, Calif.

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