Thursday, April 24, 1997

Bernstein seeking third Top Fuel win

When Kenny Bernstein's Budweiser King rolls into the Texas Motorplex in Ennis next week, his fans will no doubt be licking their chops.

Entering this weekend's NHRA races in Dinwiddie, Va., Bernstein will be looking for his third consecutive Top Fuel win. His current hot streak is reason enough to think that the Lubbock native might shatter some of his own Top Fuel records.

Bernstein was the first Top Fuel driver to eclipse the 300 mile per hour mark, doing so in Gainesville, Fla. in 1992, and he still owns the fastest speed in NHRA histroy at 318.69 miles per hour, achieving that at the Chief Auto Parts Nationals in October of 1996 at Texas Motorplex.

The all-concrete track at Texas Motorplex could easily yield several record-shattering performances next week, weather permitting.

Bernstein availed himself on a conference call Wednesday about returning to his home state and racing before his throng of fans.

"I get to see a lot of the friends I grew up with and raced with," he said. "My family's in Dallas, and Billy Meyer has a gorgeous facility down there. It's enjoyable - lots of asphalt and lots of room."

Bernstein, the defending Top Fuel points champion, is currently third but climbing the ladder to the top very quickly. His recent surge in the point standings hasn't been due to any strategy change as much as just good fortune and the correct lane choies.

"We try to run the Bud King as hard as we can with the atmosphere. We never leave anything on the table," Bernstein said. "On every run, we go after it the same way. We treat all the tracks pretty much the same."

Although top fuelers are a little faster than funny cars, Bernstein says racing in both classes provides an equally exhilarating challenge.

"As far as G-force, the top fuel is obviously a little quicker. It leaves harder than the funny car, and it's a little easier to drive becase the motor is behind you.

"You have to finesse the top fuel cars while you pretty much have to manhandle the funny cars. We used to be decidedly faster than the funny cars, but now they're getting to where they're almost as fast as top fuel now."

And if Bernstein wins another Top Fuel championship, where does he go from there?

"We're fortunate to have Budweiser with us through the 1999 season so I'll be running that for 2-1/2 more years. How much longer after that? The standard answer is as long as my health is good.

"After that I don't want to get back into 3 or 4 different race teams. If we do continue on, I might want to put Brandon (his son) in the car."

Pro Stock driver Bruce Allen of Arlington also participated in the conference call and is making a strong comeback. Allen finished in the top five in the Winston point standings from 1985-89 but has slipped until recently.

Allen achieved his first final round since 1992 when he was the runner-up at the Slick 50 Nationals in Houston several weeks ago.

He's currently fifth in the NHRA point standings.

Ernie's bumper

Anybody want a piece of the front bumper that Ernie Irvan tore off his Texaco car in the Interstate Batteries 500 at Texas Motor Speedway?

Well, that bumper will go to the highest bidder in a silent auction sponsored by KTXS. The bumper will be on display today through 4 p.m. Friday during business hours at Slim's Collectibles, 3501 South First St.

Bids will be accepted at at Slim's Collectibles with the final bids being taken Saturday night at Abilene Speedway.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit Ben Richey's Boys Ranch.