Championship Drag Racing

Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals
Chandler, AZ
(February 24-26)

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Driver Profile

Brandon Bernstein MAV TV/Lucas Oil dragster

, prerace: Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel crew chief Tim Richards, well known as a superstitious veteran tuner, has dubbed this season “The Turn-It-Around Tour”. In addition to denoting winning more races, Richards has turned the long sleek dragster the opposite way in the pits and the Suburban tow vehicle also resides in an opposite position from years past.

For his part, driver Brandon Bernstein is sporting a new platinum hair color, bringing new energy and new attitude to the ’06 season.

Bernstein, the crew, and team owner Kenny Bernstein are looking to capitalize on past successes at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

Second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein has won two of the past three years at the Arizona track. Like his father, six-time NHRA champion Kenny, Brandon celebrated his first career Top Fuel victory at this track. Brandon won here in only his second outing as a professional Top Fuel driver, taking the trophy first in 2003 and again in 2004. Kenny’s first Top Fuel victory was 1991, and he drove to winner’s circle here again in 1996, the year of his fifth NHRA World Championship. Kenny also was victorious in Arizona during his Funny Car reign in 1986.

“We tested well at Firebird in January,” said Brandon. “We were very enthusiastic to get the season underway and then in the season-opener in Pomona, a fuel system malfunction forced us out in the first round.

“There’s no question this season is going to be even tougher than years past in terms of competition, but we have the talent within this team to be right in the hunt. Phoenix would be the place for us to ‘turn it around’ to paraphrase Tim.

“Gone are the days when it used to be just the beer wars…our red car vs. the blue car. It’s all out war in the category now and any of the qualified cars are capable of winning. You just can’t stumble.

“Toward the end of last year we had a number of races where we’d be low elapsed time of the round on race day and we were looking pretty tough. Then the next round we’d smoke the tires.

"I’m working really hard on doing my part in the cockpit on the driving side, and the team is working on consistency. We are so close.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of camaraderie among our team members and a real desire to win. We’re all pulling together.”

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