Championship Drag Racing

ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals
Las Vegas, NV
(October 25-28)

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Kenny Bernstein Monster Energy Drink Dodge

Las Vegas, prerace: Lady Luck has smiled on Kenny Bernstein three times since the inaugural race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2000.

Bernstein is casting an optimistic eye toward the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals Oct. 26-28, hoping that might be the site of his 70th victory. After all, he won the first race at The Strip in 2000 and followed it with a defending victory in 2001. He won the ACDelco fall race in 2003 the final year of his tenure at the wheel of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel car.

Bernstein returned to action this season driving the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car. He has finished runner-up twice, but is looking for that elusive milestone victory.

“We got off to a slower start than I would have liked,” said Bernstein, “but at the same time it’s rewarding to see the progress made by (crew chief) Jimmy Walsh and the team. We’re very competitive when we pull to the line and have a chance to go some rounds on race day. Competition in the Funny Car field is fierce and it’s a battle for every qualifying position and round win.

“We suffered a bit of a setback after the collision with John Force in Dallas. First of all, we’re in touch with John and know he’s going to be okay, but he has a tough 60 days or so in front of him to get rehabilitated from his leg, ankle and wrist injuries. We’re thankful that he’ll drive again.

“We had to regroup after Dallas, and we plumbed another chassis and put a new Dodge Charger body on top for the last event at Richmond. It was a scramble, but the team did a great job. We came out and qualified No. 4 which is admirable. We’re getting better and better and we’re actually making some progress toward next year.

“Our 2007 season would look really good with a trophy to top the year.”

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