Championship Drag Racing

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Brainerd, MN
(August 9-12)

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Driver Profile

Brandon Bernstein MAV TV/Lucas Oil dragster

Brainerd, prerace: Brandon Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team have clinched a spot in the countdown to eight playoff field. With only two races remaining before the countdown field is set, many teams will be under pressure, jockeying for the three spots that are still open in the Top Fuel category when competition begins Aug. 10 at the Lucas Oil Nationals.

Bernstein, who has won four races this season and finished runner-up at two, is looking to defend last year’s Top Fuel victory at Brainerd International Raceway for two reasons.

“Since Lucas Oil is the title rights sponsor of this event, we always want to win for them,” said Bernstein. “Forrest and Charlotte Lucas have been a sponsor with Dad’s teams for several years now and they’re like family to us. Their son Morgan is a close friend of mine.

“Secondly, four race wins in a season is our career best. Having been fortunate enough to win four events already this season, we have eight races left to try to bag another win and raise the bar to five event wins this year.

“Tim (Richards, crew chief), Kim (Richards) and the team really work well under pressure, make no mistake about that. But it’s nice to have a couple of races to breathe easy before the dogfight begins for the next leg of the countdown.

“Three races from now, at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the crunch begins to set the field for the countdown to four. Consistency wins races and championships. There won’t be much room for a bobble. That means as a driver I have to be on my game and do my part to help the team.

“We’re very excited to be a part of this new NHRA championship format.”

Bernstein and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team added victories to their career total this year at Las Vegas, Atlanta, Topeka, and Bristol, Tenn. They are third in NHRA Top Fuel point standings.

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