BERNSTEIN SETS INFINEON TOP FUEL ELAPSED TIME RECORD;
ENDS WEST COAST SWING LESS THAN ONE ROUND OUT OF FOURTH PLACE

SONOMA, Calif. (July 31) – Another strong showing by driver Brandon Bernstein and the Kenny Bernstein-owned Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team reaped an elapsed time track record at Infineon Raceway, home of the Fram Autolite Nationals. The team also claimed low elapsed time of the first two rounds, before loss of traction against Doug Herbert in the semifinals ended their day.

“All in all, we gained significant ground in the point chase in these last two races,” summarized Bernstein. “Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team have put an awesome performance package together and it’s paying dividends. We were the No. 1 qualifier in Denver and we ran stout numbers last week in Seattle and today in Sonoma. We’ve got a lot of momentum going and we hope we can continue gaining ground through the last eight races left this season.”

For the second consecutive race, Bernstein qualified in the No. 8 slot (4.574/325.92).

On Sunday, Bernstein and first round opponent David Grubnic turned in very competitive runs with Bernstein winning the opening round, 4.524/328.86 to Grubnic's 4.575/325.06. Bernstein’s 4.524-second elapsed time lowered the track record and was low elapsed time of the round.

"That was an awesome pass and a great tuning call by Tim,” said Bernstein. “I hope we can keep it going."

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein faced off against point leader Tony Schumacher. Bernstein went wire to wire, transferring to the semifinals with a 4.558/325.92, while Schumacher lost traction and smoked the tires (5.786/158.41). The Budweiser/Lucas Oil team again was low elapsed time of the round.

"Tony and the U.S. Army team are tough to beat,” said Bernstein. “We're just trying to go rounds and fortunately we've gotten some good runs under our belt."

In the semifinals against Doug Herbert, it was the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster that suffered loss of traction (6.432/130.40) while Herbert crossed the finish line first (4.702/306.25).

“The track was pretty hot for the semis,” said Bernstein. “We launched well and had the advantage until we started to spin the tires about half track and that was all she wrote.”

Bernstein remains sixth in NHRA POWERade Top fuel standings, with only 13 points separating him from fifth place, and 15 points from fourth place.

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BUDWEISER/LUCAS OIL TEAM HOPE TO BOOST VICTORY TALLY TO END WEST COAST SWING

SONOMA, Calif. -- Though the Budweiser/Lucas Oil celebrated an exciting, but emotional victory at the Sears Craftsman Nationals in St. Louis, June 26, it has been a rollercoaster year for the Kenny Bernstein-owned team.

Second generation driver Brandon Bernstein, who won three races in his crash-shortened 2003 rookie season and three races last year, is looking to add more of the coveted gold “Wallys” to the race shop trophy room. The Fram Autolite Nationals July 29-31 at Infineon Raceway, the final of three races on the West Coast Swing, will provide another opportunity for the popular team to score another victory.

“For a variety of reasons, we’ve had one of the most unpredictable years,” said Brandon Bernstein. “We have a great race car. Tim (Richards) and the team have put some really awesome numbers on the scoreboard. Maybe we’ll have the best elapsed time in one of the qualifying sessions or in one or two rounds on race day, but then something goes array and we’re done for the day when we least expected it.

“Here’s an example of how it’s been going for us. At St. Louis we celebrated a fantastic victory, and there were no lucky dog rounds. We were low elapsed time in three of four rounds on race day. So we think maybe we’ve turned the corner. Then we go to the next race in Denver, qualify No. 1, and shatter the track speed record by 12 mph during qualifying, becoming the first team to hit the 330 mph mark at that track. Then in the first round of Sunday’s competition we break on the burnout.

“All I can say is that with all the weird things that have happened to us this year, I hope it all comes out on the good side sometime real soon.”

This will be Brandon’s second start at Infineon driving the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster. He won at this track in 2001 driving the A Fuel Dragster and was eliminated in the semifinals last year. His father piloted the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster in 2003, substituting for his injured son.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Fram Autolite Nationals begins Friday, July 29 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a second round at 7:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 3:30 p.m. with eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

FRAM AUTOLITE NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – July 30 – ESPN2
8 – 10 p.m. ET

Eliminations – July 31- ESPN2
9 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET