Kenny Bernstein Racing


Kenny Bernstein Racing News

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM SET TO TACKLE UNFINISHED BUSINESS
AT MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS

CLERMONT, Ind. – Brandon Bernstein and the Copart/Lucas Oil team are preparing to play hardball at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil Sept. 3-6, the most prestigious race on the NHRA circuit and the first of six races in the playoffs that will determine Full Throttle championships in the pro categories.

“This is where the spotlight really intensifies,” said driver Brandon Bernstein. “We’ve been lurking in the shadows of victory lane with three runner-up finishes so far this season, along with five semifinal appearances. We’ve been strong in qualifying. Now it’s show time. We have the talent on our team and we’re hungry for a win.

“In Indy in 2006 we were in the money round and weren’t able to close the deal.

“It was so exciting to be in the final round at Indy,” said Bernstein, “that I really had to stop and change my perspective to think of it as just another round.

“So I think we’re overdue for some good luck. Our team is very consistent, we seldom smoke the tires, and we don’t have a lot of mechanical issues. So we have some unfinished business that we need to attend to.

“We can’t think of a better place to hit our stride than Indy. Dad won here three times, twice in Funny Car (1983, 1987) and once in the Top Fuel car (1991). We’d like to continue the family tradition and etch our name in the win column.”

The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team finished sixth in NHRA regular season point standings. Points are reset in 10-point increments with the No. 1 seed awarded a 20-point bonus. The blue crew will begin the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals only 70 points out of the lead.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., followed by two rounds of qualifying Saturday, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Qualifying continues Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. with eliminations scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Presented by Lucas Oil
Television Advisory

Qualifying – Sept. 5 – ESPN2

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET

7 a.m. – 8 a.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – Sept. 5 – ESPN2

11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. ET

8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PT

Qualifying – Sept. 5 – ESPN2

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET

8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. PT

Qualifying – Sept. 5 – ESPN2

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. PT

Eliminations – Sept. 6 – ESPN2

1 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT

HARD-CHARGING COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM DEFEATED
IN BRAINERD QUARTERFINALS

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15, 2010) – Despite a strong qualifying effort at the Lucas Oil Nationals and competitive elapsed times on race day, the Copart/Lucas Oil team’s forward progress was foiled in round two at Brainerd International Raceway. With seven Brainerd victories shared between team owner Kenny Bernstein (five wins) and driver Brandon (two trophies), in addition to coming to Brainerd on the heels of a runner-up finish in Denver, the team was optimistic that they would earn trophy No. 8 in Minnesota.

“We were hoping to have a better showing for Charlotte and Forrest Lucas since it was the Lucas Oil title rights event, and of course all our sponsors, Copart, Mac Tools, and the U.S. Air Force,” said Brandon. “Every week the NHRA announcers continue to say what a great car we have and this was another promising weekend. I guess we need a little luck in the mix, but we’re not giving up. We are focused and still digging deep.”

Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to the No. 2 qualifying position (3.846/309.27), his second of the season.

In the first round of Sunday’s eliminations, Bernstein faced off against Scott Palmer. Bernstein was out of the gate and led the way to the finish line with a winning 3.900/305.56 while Palmer struggled with loss of traction at the hit of the throttle.

“Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) had the tune-up well in hand,” said Bernstein. “That was a good run and we’re happy to be going to round two.”

In the quarterfinals against David Grubnic, Bernstein had the advantage out of the gate, but Grubnic pulled out his quickest pass of the weekend to take the round win, 3.858/305.15 vs. 3.906/305.08.

“This has been a rollercoaster weekend for us,” said the second generation driver. “Friday we were the provisional No. 1 qualifier and we were elated. We struggled a bit in Saturday qualifying but we solidified the No. 2 starting berth. This morning we were back on track and came out with good numbers. We ran very respectably both rounds, but we were on the wrong side of a good race against Grubby.

“We are looking forward to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in a couple of weeks and the start of the Countdown to 1. Hopefully we’ve now sailed through the choppy water, and we can turn the tide and steer into victory circle.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team finished the regular NHRA season in sixth place in Full Throttle point standings. The points will be reset prior to the playoffs to tighten the field.

# # #

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM HOPING FOR A BRAINERD WIN IN LAST CLASH
BEFORE PLAYOFFS BEGIN

BRAINERD, Minn. – The Lucas Oil Nationals Aug. 13-15 wraps up the 17-race regular NHRA season and is the final call for crew chiefs to test any tune-up adjustments before the playoffs begin.

The Copart/Lucas Oil team comes to Brainerd International Raceway riding the coat-tails of a runner-up finish at Denver, their third of the season. Comfortable with their combination as a whole, crew chief Todd Smith and assistant crew chief Donnie Bender will be focusing on consistency.

“We’ve been so close to victory this season that we can taste it,” said Brandon Bernstein, pilot of the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster. “On one hand it has certainly been disappointing not to get that win, on the other hand we are so close that it gives us faith that we can bring home another ‘Wally’ soon. In Denver we eliminated three of the A list drivers in the first three rounds, including the Top Fuel point leader. We felt as if we’d run three final rounds before we got to the money round. Then we were out front in the final, but lost to Doug Kalitta. Perhaps our fate has been to wait until the Countdown to 1 begins, where a victory could play a very strategic role in the championship.

“Then again, we’ve celebrated back-to-back wins at Brainerd in 2006 and 2007,” continued Bernstein. “Maybe it will be our turn again this year to drive to victory circle. Lucas Oil has been an integral part of our team since they came on as a sponsor in 2002, so a win for them as well as Copart, Mac Tools and the U.S. Air Force would be sweet.

“The Lucas Oil Nationals is our last chance to take a deep breath before the stress level ratchets up a notch or two when the playoffs begin. If we can keep going rounds like we have been, then we’ll be in prime position to challenge for the championship.

“It’s going to be exciting. I always get pumped up for race days!”

Besides Denver, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team has tallied runner-up finishes at Bristol, Tenn. and Atlanta.

The Copart/Lucas Oil team is sixth in NHRA Full Throttle point standings.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Lucas Oil Nationals begins Friday, Aug. 13 at 3:30 p.m. followed by another qualifying session at 6:15 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 3 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

LUCAS OIL NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – August 14 – ESPN2

11 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET

8 p.m. – 10 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – August 15 – ESPN2

10 – 10:30 a.m. ET

7 – 7:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – August 15 – ESPN2

10 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET

7 p.m. – 10 p.m. PT

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM TALLIES THIRD
RUNNER-UP FINISH OF THE SEASON IN DENVER

DENVER, Colo. (July 25, 2010) -- The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team scored its third runner-up finish of the season at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. It was driver Brandon Bernstein’s 35th career final round appearance and his first at Bandimere Speedway.

Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to the No. 8 qualifying position (3.992/296.11).

That starting berth positioned him on the side of the Top Fuel ladder that was loaded with the category’s top point scorers setting up a battle line of seasoned warriors that he would have to conquer to make the drive to victory circle.

Though Bernstein had a 21-7 edge in career matches against McClenathan going into the opening round of Mopar Mile-High eliminations, he hadn't defeated McClenathan in their three meetings this season. That changed in the first round, when Bernstein edged Cory Mac for the win by half a car length, 3.962/301.54 vs. 3.988/310.55.

“The sun was out and beating down on the track and I was a little nervous being first pair,” said Bernstein, “because you don’t have a read on how much horsepower the track can hold. We want to give a tip of the helmet to the NHRA Safety Safari for doing a good job prepping the track. Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) made a good tuning call.”

Bernstein rolled to the Tree to face Antron Brown in round two. With a slight edge in reaction time out of the gate, Bernstein led wire to wire, crossing the finish line with a 3.975/303.03 vs.

Brown’s 4.035.300.00.

“Antron’s team is always tough,” said Bernstein. “We were side by side all the way, but our Copart/Lucas Oil team is really coming on.”

The semifinals saw a battle between Bernstein and Larry Dixon, who were tied 17 each in career victories against each other that include four semifinal victories each. The tie-breaking run went to the blue crew. Bernstein had a great reaction time out of the gate and never trailed, winning the round with a 4.003/300.13 vs. Dixon’s 4.440/195.14.

“Larry and I are good friends and we’ve had a lot of battles on the track through the years,” said Bernstein. “It’s great to be going rounds and we’re excited about going to the finals. We already feel like we’ve run three final rounds against all these A list teams and we have another one to go!”

In the money round against Doug Kalitta, Bernstein once again was on his game and first out of the starting gate, leading the way, but Kalitta was able to edge Bernstein for the win, 3.963/308.35 vs. 4.003/297.35.

“Overall it was a good day,” said Bernstein when he returned to his pit area.

“Any time you’re in the finals it’s a great day. It’s (a win) coming, but it’s frustrating getting there, especially when we know we’re right on the cusp of a victory.

“I’ve personally had a tough time here in Denver, so getting to the finals is very respectable and a good showing for our Copart/Lucas Oil team.”

Bernstein remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings with one race remaining before the playoffs begin.

# # #

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM LOOKING FOR WIRE-TO-WIRE RUN IN DENVER

DENVER, Colo. – The Mopar Mile-High Nationals July 23-25 ends the three-race succession of events known as the West Coast Swing.

“This is an unusual sequence for this race as we usually start the Swing in Denver,” said Copart/Lucas Oil pilot Brandon Bernstein. “The Mile-Highs requires a tune-up different from any other on the circuit because of the altitude. It is always challenging for the crew chiefs because the engines can’t breathe or take in oxygen as easily because of the elevation. In addition the track is normally hot.

“Counting the Denver event we have two races to finish the regular season before we head into the Countdown to 1 six-event finale.

“In one regard we’re secure because we have acquired a starting berth in the Countdown, but our Copart/Lucas Oil team wants to continue to go rounds and gain points. If we can climb one more rung on the competition point ladder it will benefit us. When we enter the playoffs, the points are reset in 10-point increments with the first-place driver awarded a 20-point bonus. So you don’t want to give away any more cushion than you have to. With only six races you don’t have much wiggle room.

“In past years in Denver we led the field in qualifying twice, 2004 and 2005, but we have never won at this track. That gives us that much more incentive to dig deep and try to rope all those other Top Fuel drivers in.

“Denver may be a bit of a grab bag, but our team is definitely capable of winning.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two Saturday qualifying runs, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. with final eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

MOPAR MILE-HIGH NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – July 24 – ESPN2

6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET

3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – July 25 – ESPN2

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET

7 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – July 25 – ESPN2

7 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET

4 p.m. – 7 p.m. PT

BERNSTEIN IN FINAL FOUR AT SONOMA AS INTENSE COMPETITION CONTINUES

SONOMA, Calif. (July 18, 2010) – A thousand Copart executives, employees and their families and friends descended upon the rolling hills of Infineon Raceway dressed in corporate blue Copart Racing shirts. They assembled en masse to support the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil racing team at the FRAM-Autolite Nationals.

“We’ve never seen anything like it,” said driver Brandon Bernstein. “A couple of times during qualifying I could sneak a peek over at the grandstand and there was this massive sea of blue shirts. It was awesome!”

Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to the No. 6 starting position on the elimination ladder with a 3.912-second elapsed time at 307.23 mph.

In pre-race ceremonies, Bernstein officially applied his name to the board bearing the short list of competitors who have clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 thus far.

“It was nice that we could have that honor at Sonoma,” remarked Bernstein. “Perfect timing.”

Bernstein began Sunday’s FRAM-Autolite competition with a victory over Troy Buff. Despite a dropped cylinder early in the run, Bernstein led wire-to-wire to take the round win with a 4.009/296.50 vs. Buff’s 4.059/289.07.

“When we dropped the cylinder, the car started moving around a lot,” explained Bernstein.

“I was afraid Troy was going to come around me, but we were able to maintain our lead to transfer to the second round.”

Bernstein had lane choice over Mike Strasburg in the quarterfinals. With a big lead out of the starting gate, Bernstein turned on the win light with a 3.928/305.91 to best Strasburg's 4.113/254.09.

“We ran on all eight cylinders that time,” said the second-generation driver, “and it was way more fun. We have our work cut out for us in the semifinals against Tony Schumacher.”

In a thrilling side-by-side semifinal match, Schumacher edged Bernstein for the win, 3.914/313.88 vs. 3.930/308.43.

“We were on the wrong side of a good race,” said a disappointed Bernstein. “We were playing a home game and we were hungry for a win here in Sonoma for all these great Copart folks who came out over the weekend to support us, as well as the people at Lucas Oil, the U.S. Air Force, and Mac Tools.

“We will continue to dig deep and give our all to get to the winner’s circle.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team remains sixth in Full Throttle point standings.

# # #

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM HAS A THOUSAND INCENTIVES TO WIN IN SONOMA

SONOMA, Calif. – Kenny and Brandon Bernstein’s vision of the end of race day at the FRAM- Autolite Nationals July 16-18 is a spot of gold surrounded by a sea of blue.

“This will be our first showing in Copart blue at Infineon Raceway,” said Copart/Lucas Oil driver Brandon Bernstein. “We are expecting nearly a thousand Copart employees to come to the track to enjoy the races. Many will be experiencing our sport for the first time.

“It would be so cool to honor all the Copart folks with a victory. Copart sells vehicles using an online auction format, and it is a perfect fit with our fan base. With 153 facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom there are lots of employees across the country who bring so much enthusiasm to our team!

“Copart also does an exceptional job of using our team as a marketing and sales tool while doing an extraordinary job of supporting the sponsorship.

“If we could write the ending for the FRAM-Autolite Nationals, we’d be standing in victory circle with hundreds of Copart employees and we’d present the gold ‘Wally’ trophy to CEO Jay Adair to put in his office. What better incentive could we have to win?

“We have a very good chance to make our Hollywood ending a reality,” continued Bernstein. “The weather in Sonoma is likely to be hot and we have a good hot weather tune-up. In the heat we have consistently run at the top of the class and we have been going rounds.”

The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team has two runner-up finishes on their resume this season along with four final four or semifinal appearances.

“We have already clinched a spot in the Countdown,” said the second-generation driver.

“I firmly believe we’ll be right in the hunt for the six-race battle, or Countdown to 1, that culminates in the championship.”

Note: Copart invites the media and general public to meet Kenny and Brandon Bernstein, along with the entire Copart/Lucas Oil team, Wednesday, July 14 from noon to 2 p.m. at Copart’s headquarters, 4665 Business Center Drive, Fairfield, CA. The Copart/Lucas Oil dragster will also be on display.

Nitro qualifying for the FRAM-Autolite Nationals begins Friday, July 16 at 4:45 p.m. with a second session at 7:15 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

FRAM-Autolite Nationals Television Advisory

Qualifying – July 17 – ESPN2

11 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET

8 p.m. – 10 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – July 18 – ESPN2

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – July 18 – ESPN2

6 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET

3 p.m. – 6 p.m. PT

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM CLINCHES SPOT IN NHRA COUNTDOWN TO 1

KENT, Wash. (July 11, 2010) –On Sunday at the Northwest Nationals Kenny Bernstein savored the news that his Copart/Lucas Oil team clinched one of the coveted spots in the NHRA playoffs. The top 10 drivers in each of the four professional categories will begin a 6-race playoff Sept. 1-6 at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. This final series of races will determine the category championships.

“That was excellent news,” said the six-time NHRA champ. “That provides us with a little breathing room for the next three events and a little time to continue to explore some different avenues on our tune-up combination. We are pleased to be able to carry our sponsor logos into the championship rounds.”

Brandon Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to the No. 6 qualifying position at Pacific Raceways with a 3.976-second elapsed time at 299.06 miles per hour.

In the opening round of Sunday’s eliminations Bernstein inched into the staging beams to face off against David Grubnic. The blue Copart/Lucas Oil dragster began to lose traction about half track while Grubnic won the round with his quickest run of the weekend.

“Yesterday in qualifying we dropped a cylinder,” said Brandon. “We made a tune-up adjustment that we thought might make the engine happier, but it turned out to be too much.

“Hearing that we clinched a spot in the Countdown was the high point of our weekend. We are very excited about that.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

# # #

BRANDON BERNSTEIN HOPES TO ADD ANOTHER VICTORY
TO LIST OF SEATTLE MEMORABLE MOMENTS

KENT, Wash. – The 23rd annual Northwest Nationals July 9-11 at Pacific Raceways kicks off the NHRA three-event West Coast Swing.

Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster has some fond memories of past seasons at the Seattle track.

“Pacific Raceways was the site of one of our sportsman wins when we were driving the A Fuel dragster in 2001 during the early days of our driving career,” reminisced the second generation driver. “We won here driving the Top Fuel dragster in 2005 and shared winner’s circle with my good friend Eric Medlen, who we lost three years ago as a result of a testing accident.

“With my dad’s team we were runner-up in 2007 and 2008 and No. 1 qualifier in 2006. So we’ve had a lot of memorable moments here.

“Of course we’ll never forget flying with the USAF Thunderbirds at McChord Air Force Base in 2008. That was one of the most awesome experiences ever. We earned our 9-G pin during the flight. In our dragster we undergo 5 Gs when we launch and another 5 Gs when we pull the parachute. But 9 Gs really pins you to the seat! If there is anything that can exceed the thrill of driving the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster, it’s flying with the Thunderbirds!

“We’ll be welcoming a USAF contingent at Pacific Raceways on Saturday and we’re looking forward to that.

“It’s also going to be a busy Copart weekend for us and we have a large group of employees coming out to enjoy the races with us. It’s exciting for us to entertain them because historically the largest majority has never been to the races before and they just love our sport!

“So it’s easy to understand that we have some compelling motivation to drive to the final round.

“We feel prepared and we’ve proven we’re a contender. With two runner-up finishes so far this season, we’re ready to go for the gold.”

The popular driver is currently sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Northwest Nationals begins Friday, July 9 at 2:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 5 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

NORTHWEST NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying - July 10 – ESPN2

10 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – July 11 – ESPN2

11 – 11:30 a.m. ET

8-8:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – July 11 – ESPN2

7 – 10 p.m. ET

4 – 7 p.m. PT

MANY POSITIVES FOR COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM
IN LAST SERIES OF FOUR RACES DESPITE SECOND ROUND LOSS IN OHIO

NORWALK, Ohio (June 27, 2010) – The Copart/Lucas Oil dragster was one of the top competitors at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, qualifying in the No. 3 position and running among the quickest elapsed times during two days of qualifying. Their strong performance continued during the first round of eliminations, but a dropped cylinder and a four-second time slip in the quarterfinals ended their day.

Brandon Bernstein captured the third rung on the 16-step elimination ladder with a 3.848-seond elapsed time at 313.15 mph.

In the first round of race day competition, the Copart/Lucas Oil team continued their consistent performance to win the round with a 3.909/306.60 while opponent Terry McMillen struggled with loss of traction early in the run.

“It’s hot, humid and brutal and we just want to go from A to B,” confided Bernstein. “This is probably going to be the coolest run of the day and the track is going to get trickier to navigate. But we’re staying alive.”

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein pulled to the starting line to face off against Cory McClenathan. Early in the run, the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster dropped a cylinder and then broke the blower belt as McClenathan navigated the track to a winning 3.953/302.48.

“We have a good hot weather tune-up,” said Bernstein, “but in this round the atmospheric conditions got a little ahead of us and we dropped a cylinder.

“This has been a grueling four-week run for everyone, and we’re looking forward to a weekend to recharge our batteries. We have a lot to accomplish in a week at home. We need to replenish parts and inventory on the transporters because we head out for three weeks on the West Coast Swing. Seven races in eight weeks is a tall order, but we’re playing hard every round.

“In this last group of four races, we were runner-up and in the final four and we’re putting some distance between ourselves and seventh and eighth places by over 200 points. We need to keep the mojo going for the West Coast Swing.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

# # #

AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE RUNNER-UP FINISHES AT NORWALK,
BERNSTEIN COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM LOOKING FOR THE GOLD

NORWALK, Ohio – Brandon Bernstein and the Copart/Lucas Oil team are on a mission. After scoring consecutive runner-up finishes at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, they are on a quest for the winner’s trophy when they compete in Norwalk June 25-27.

“We have been the bridesmaid the past two years,” said Bernstein. “It is a great accomplishment to get to the final round with the stiff competition in the Top Fuel class, but we are looking to take home the gold ‘Wally’ trophy this year.

“If you look at it from the perspective of NHRA competing at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park for the past three years, then our percentage of making the final round two of three times is pretty spectacular.

“Our Copart/Lucas Oil team is running consistent, very competitive numbers and we’re a threat every time we pull to the starting line. We’re hungry for a win.

“Because Summit Racing is one of our team sponsors, it would be nice to bring a win home for them at their namesake track and event, as well as Copart, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools, the U.S. Air Force and all those who are supporting us.”

The Kenny Bernstein-owned team currently resides in sixth place in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals begins Friday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 1 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 26 – ESPN2

7 – 9 p.m. ET

NHRA Race Day – June 27 – ESPN2

1-1:30 p.m. ET

Eliminations – June 27 – ESPN2

7 – 10 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL BLUE CREW TAKES
SECOND RUNNER-UP FINISH OF SEASON AT BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 20, 2010) – You can stand in front of the tower at Bristol Dragway, look to your right and see the Kenny Bernstein grandstand, dedicated during the six-time champ’s 2002 retirement season. If you check the record books, you’ll see Brandon Bernstein’s name etched as the 2003 and 2007 Top Fuel winner at this great facility.

At the Thunder Valley Nationals this year, the Copart/Lucas Oil team narrowly missed a third Sunday drive to victory circle. The team scored a runner-up finish, their second of the season and the 16th of Brandon’s career.

The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team continued to qualify well into the top half of the field with a 3.901/308.64 to nab the No. 4 position on the elimination ladder.

Under hot, humid conditions, pilot Brandon Bernstein drove to a first round win with a 3.919-second elapsed time at 301 mph while opponent Pat Dakin fought loss of traction.

“These are pretty brutal race conditions,” admitted the second-generation driver. “We were the only winner out of the left lane and that is a tribute to Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief). We have Copart CEO Jay Adair and his family in the house this weekend and we’re feeling racy, looking to go rounds.”

Bernstein scored a second round win against Troy Buff, despite wrestling with clutch issues that made it hard for him to roll forward to stage the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster. The blue crew celebrated with a 3.975/300.80 while Buff experienced mechanical problems, clocking 4.236/257.73.

In the semifinals against Antron Brown, despite the blazing 138 degree track temperature, the Kenny Bernstein team was able to get their tune-up to hold traction, while Brown hazed the tires. Brandon tallied the round win, 4.036/275.67 vs. Brown’s 4.186/222.77.

“Todd and Donnie seem to be pretty dialed in on the hot weather tune-up and we just keep whittling away at it,” said Bernstein.

The popular Dallas-born driver transferred to the money round for a showdown against Tony Schumacher. Bernstein had the starting line advantage and held the edge to about the 330-foot mark at which time a mechanical failure caused the engine to self destruct, robbing horsepower, finally erupting into a ball of fire. Schumacher drove around the blue dragster for the win.

“We were so close,” said Bernstein. “We really thought this was going to be our day, and I was looking forward to presenting the trophy to Dad and Jay Adair.”

“In the last seven races this team has really come together and we’re very happy with the progress we’ve made, “said team owner Kenny Bernstein. “We have been to the semifinals or better in the last six of seven races. We still had an impressive performance this weekend and it was a good Father’s Day.

“We just didn’t want to barbecue the engine in the final round,” joked Bernstein.

“We want to recognize a couple of our best friends here in Bristol. First, it was good to see Jeff Byrd, president and general manager of Bristol Dragway and Bristol Motor Speedway, who is fighting some health issues. Jeff has been a friend for more than three decades and we are praying for his recovery. He and his family helped us launch our early racing career.

“We lost our good friend Stuart Wood, owner of Holston Distributing, over Memorial Day weekend. He was a pillar of the community and a role model for more than 30 years. We miss Stuart greatly but are proud that his son Frank is carrying on in his footsteps.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle point standings.

# # #

BRANDON BERNSTEIN LOOKING FOR FATHER’S DAY TROPHY
FOR COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM OWNER DAD

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Copart/Lucas Oil team is in the middle of a grueling four-in-a-row NHRA national event series as they head into the Thunder Valley Nationals June 18-20.

“The race at Bristol Dragway marks the first of the last six events remaining in the Countdown to 10, at which point the top 10 season qualifiers will battle for the championship in a six-race finale,” said driver Brandon Bernstein.

“We won here in our 2003 rookie season and again in 2007. We were the No. 1 qualifier in 2003 and 2005, so we have a history of doing well here. Hopefully we can keep the good mojo going and drive to the final round this year.

“It’s Father’s Day weekend and I can’t think of a better Father’s Day gift for my Dad and team owner than a gold Wally trophy,” continued Bernstein. “Actually, this will be my first Father’s Day as a Dad. So a victory circle celebration is definitely in order for Dad, the team, and all our sponsors.

“There is one thing about this race that won’t be the same, though. Over Memorial week-end, we lost our good friend Stuart Wood, owner of Holston Distributing. Dad and Stuart worked together to craft the Anheuser-Busch corporate/wholesaler relationship over 30 years ago. They were great friends. Stuart was a pillar of the community and will be sorely missed.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday at noon.

THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 19 – ESPN2

7 – 9 p.m. ET

NHRA Race Day – June 20 – ESPN2

3:30-4 p.m. ET

Eliminations – June 20 – ESPN2

4 – 7 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM STEPS UP THE PACE AT NEW JERSEY’S RACEWAY PARK

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 12, 2010) – The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team made their fourth final four appearance of the season at the United Association SuperNationals. In the past six races, the blue crew has delivered four semifinal and one runner-up showing.

“We made our best qualifying effort of the season this weekend at Raceway Park,” said Bernstein. “We have every confidence we are on the cusp of a victory. We just need to roll the winning combination. We were hoping today might be the day, but we have a lot of momentum and we’ve got a lot of racing to do. We have five races in the next six weeks and we’ll be digging deep.”

Driver Brandon Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to the quickest 1000-foot elapsed time of his career, 3.807 seconds (at 313.73 mph), to secure the No. 2 qualifying spot.

In the first round of eliminations, Bernstein and the Copart/Lucas Oil team used low elapsed time of the round, 3.978 seconds (at 298.27 mph), to defeat Doug Foley’s 4.357/217.77 effort.

“There was tire smoke in every pair of Top Fuel cars that round,” said Bernstein. “While we were sitting in the cockpit waiting our turn to run, we could see that we needed to be on alert to pedal the car if needed. Even though we dropped a cylinder and lost traction near the finish line, Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) made the best tune-up call of the round and we’re going to round two.”

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein rolled to the starting line to face Lucas Oil teammate Morgan Lucas. Bernstein scored the round win with a 3.914/303.03 while Lucas struggled with loss of traction.

“Morgan and I are good friends,” commented Bernstein. “When we race each other we just concentrate on racing our lane. Neither of us wants to lose and we each try to come to the starting line with our ‘A’ game.

“That was a good run in the heat for our team and probably just on the edge of what the track could handle,” explained Bernstein following the run. “We are going to the semifinals and we’re right there with the final four in terms of performance. We have a tough round coming up against Larry Dixon.”

The semifinals battle was a great side-by-side contest, but Bernstein ran out of real estate before he could run Dixon down. Dixon clocked 3.861/314.02 vs. Bernstein’s 3.903/308.57, with half a car length separating the two at the finish stripe.

“We were just on the wrong side of a good race,” said the second-generation driver. “We’re solid and we’re serious. We’re confident we’ll uncork a victory very soon.

“For the second week in a row, we had a great contingent of Copart salvage yard employees join us at the track,” said Bernstein. “There were about 400 Copart workers from ten states and Canada that journeyed to New Jersey, many who witnessed their first drag race.

“We also entertained U.S. Air Force personnel. The enthusiasm from all our sponsors gave us an extra adrenaline rush for the weekend.”

Bernstein remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

# # #

BERNSTEIN LOOKING TO SETTLE SCORE AT ENGLISHTOWN
AND FOLLOW HIS FATHER’S ROAD TO SUCCESS

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – If there’s one track on the NHRA circuit that Brandon Bernstein would like to conquer, it’s Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The second-generation driver will have the nose of his Copart/Lucas Oil dragster aimed toward victory circle when the NHRA tour makes its 11th stop at the United Association SuperNationals June 11-13.

“This is a popular track and it holds a lot of history,” said Bernstein. “First of all, it was where my Dad experienced the most success. He won here seven times, four times in Funny Car and three in Top Fuel. I was runner-up here in 2004, but it was the track that literally broke my back in my 2003 rookie season and put me in a clamshell brace and out of contention for the remainder of the season.

“So I’d like to conquer this track.

“It’s odd when you’ve had an experience like mine, though. You know this is the track that extracted a lot of pain, but when you’re physically competing at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, you put it out of your head and you race the track. It could be any track.

“It would be a very sweet victory, though, if our Copart/Lucas Oil team could bring home a Wally this year. We have a talented team and we’re competitive every time we roll to the starting line. We are digging deep and we’re building confidence. Maybe this year we’ll get to drive to victory lane.”

Bernstein has 18 career victories on his resume.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the United Association SuperNationals begins Friday, June 17 at 4 p.m. with a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

UNITED ASSOCIATION SUPERNATIONALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 12 – ESPN2

11 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. ET

8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – June 13 – ESPN2

3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET

12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. PT

Eliminations – June 13 – ESPN2

4 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. PT

QUARTERFINALS EXIT DAMPENS THE DAY FOR COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM
AFTER SOLID QUALIFYING EFFORT

JOLIET, Ill. (June 6, 2010) – Rain delays throughout United Association Route 66 Nationals competition played havoc with teams competing in the first of seven NHRA races scheduled in eight weeks. The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team encountered and corrected clutch issues during the Chicago event while making a strong qualifying effort.

Second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein drove his father’s blue dragster to the No. 4 qualifying position with a 3.843-second elapsed time at 314.17 mph.

In Sunday’s eliminations, Bernstein defeated first round opponent David Grubnic after both drivers struggled with loss of traction and were on and off the throttle trying to get power to the ground. Bernstein crossed the finish line first with a 4.632/225.45 vs. Grubnic’s 4.888/267.48.

“We had a clutch malfunction on that run,” said Bernstein. “We’re chasing a gremlin that has popped up intermittently. We had the same issue on our Friday qualifying run, so Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) will have to take a hard look and see if they can find the problem before next round.

“But we were very happy to get the win light and transfer to the second round.”

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein and Doug Kalitta were dead even out of the starting gate and were neck and neck until the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster began to lose traction near the finish line. Kalitta got the win light with a 3.830/315.86 vs. Bernstein’s 4.230/237.25.

“The crew dug into the clutch system after the first round and we were able to isolate that problem,” said Bernstein. “We found an air bottle that was not releasing enough pressure to set off the pneumatic clutch timers. We were able to correct that, but we pushed the tune-up too far and we were too aggressive for the track conditions.

“Despite the rain delays and the abbreviated number of qualifying sessions this weekend, we ran some competitive numbers. We’re off to Englishtown, N.J. this coming weekend and we’re looking forward to some good racing.

“We want to give a tip of the helmet to over 350 Copart employees from 23 salvage yards spanning 10 states and Toronto, Ontario, Canada who came out and spent the day with us at the track on Saturday. Despite the uncooperative weather, we completed two qualifying sessions and about 70 percent of these folks witnessed their first drag race and loved it!

“It was great to see their enthusiasm.”

Bernstein remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

# # #

PASSION AND HARD WORK HAVE COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM ON SOLID GROUND
HEADING INTO LAST HALF OF NHRA REGULAR SEASON

JOLIET, Ill. – The United Association Route 66 Nationals marks the beginning of a grueling ten- week stretch of the final eight NHRA events that will define the Countdown to 10, the top 10 teams that will compete for the championship in the season’s remaining six races.

The Copart/Lucas Oil team rallied from a slow start early in the season to a succession of strong qualifying efforts and round wins to boost them to sixth in point standings. In the four races leading into the United Association Nationals, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team produced three semifinal showings and scored one runner-up finish.

“Our team has made marked improvement recently,” said Copart/Lucas Oil dragster driver Brandon Bernstein. “We made a crew chief and assistant crew chief switch after the third race of the season and since that time our new tuning duo, Todd Smith (crew chief) and Donnie Bender (assistant crew chief), has made significant performance strides. Our past four races have proved that we can run competitively in the heat or under cloudy skies in cooler temperatures.

“We are beginning to head into the hotter months, but Chicago can still be cool and fast.

We’ve seen a lot of records set at Route 66 Raceway so if it’s cool, you need to be prepared to swing for the fences in qualifying in order to secure a strong starting berth on the elimination ladder.

“We have confidence now that we can run with anybody.

“Our goal is to continue to be consistent because consistency wins rounds. We are in a dogfight with tough teams and everyone is trying to claw their way up the rungs of the point ladder. Points are reset for the final six races, so the further up the chain you are, the more cushion you have as you enter the final six races of the championship countdown.”

Bernstein was runner-up in Chicago in 2004. Six-time NHRA champion and team owner Kenny Bernstein won at Route 66 four times, 1998, twice in 2001, and again in 2003 after he climbed back into the cockpit to finish the season for his injured son.

“The Bernstein family has had a lot of success in Chicago through the years,” said Brandon. “We hope to be able to add to our trophy collection this time through the Windy City.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, June 4 at 4 pm with a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., with final eliminations set to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

UNITED ASSOCIATION ROUTE 66 NATIONALS

TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – June 5 – ESPN2

11 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET

8 p.m. -10 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – June 6 – ESPN2

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET

7 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – June 6 – ESPN2

4 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. PT

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM CONTINUES TO GO ROUNDS
NOTCHING ANOTHER FINAL FOUR APPEARANCE IN TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 23, 2010)—The Copart/Lucas Oil team battled through a smorgasbord of changing weather conditions to another final four showing at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Summer Nationals. The team served up strong elapsed times and speeds in the heat, as well as in cool, overcast conditions, getting bolder and better with each run. In the past four races, the team has tallied three semifinal and one runner-up finish.

The Kenny Bernstein-owned team matched last week’s Atlanta qualifying effort with another No. 3 starting berth (3.886/312.13) in Heartland Park Topeka.

In the first round of Sunday’s eliminations, driver Brandon Bernstein rolled into the staging beams to face Scott Palmer. The Copart/Lucas Oil team made a solid 3.897-second pass at 312.13 mph to best Palmer’s 4.278/215.98 effort.

“That was a great way to start the day,” said Bernstein. “We’re ready to slug it out for four rounds.”

Bernstein’s second round duel was against Terry McMillen. It was a good race out of the starting gate all the way to the finish line, with the blue crew taking the round win with a 3.918/306.67 to McMillen’s 3.949/297.81.

Bernstein transferred to the semifinals to challenge Cory McClenathan, but pushed the (starting line Christmas) tree too hard and fouled out while McClenathan collected the round win.

“It was a mistake on my side,” said Bernstein. “My brain said ‘go’ and my foot said ‘go’ but unfortunately the green light didn’t sync up with my thought process. You just beat yourself up when you mess up because you feel like you let the team down.

“Our Copart/Lucas Oil team led by Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) just keeps inching up, getting quicker and quicker. We can run with anybody now. We’re looking for a good run on the upcoming four-in-a-row beginning June 4-6 in Chicago. The driver will just have to have a talk with himself and get back in the groove.”

“The team’s performance is definitely improving,” said team owner and six-time NHRA champ Kenny Bernstein. “We’re right there and certainly capable of winning every time we roll to the starting line. Brandon has stumbled a bit these last couple of races which is very unusual for him. I can’t think of a driver who hasn’t had a red light in his or her career, and we’re hopeful that it’s out of his system now.

“We’ve been in the semifinals or the final round for the past four races and we hope to keep it going. You need consistency to go rounds, and with the weather conditions all over the board here in Topeka, our Copart/Lucas Oil team has proved we can run competitively in the heat or in cool conditions.”

The Bernstein team remains sixth in Full Throttle Top Fuel standings and continues to gain ground on fifth place, now only 49 points out.

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM HOPES TO CONTINUE THEIR
GOOD PERFORMANCE STREAK IN THE HEARTLAND

TOPEKA, Kan. - In the six years that Brandon Bernstein has competed at Heartland Park Topeka as the driver of his father’s legendary Top Fuel team, he has been to the final round three times, taking home the coveted “Wally” in 2004 and 2007. He was runner-up in 2006.

With a 50 percent final round appearance rate, coupled with a runner-up finish in Atlanta the weekend preceding Topeka, the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team is aiming to go four rounds at the O’Reilly Summer Nationals May 21-23.

“Heartland Park has been a good track for us,” said Bernstein. “We love coming back to Topeka because we’ve had great success here.

“We brought a new tuning duo onboard a few races back. We are going rounds now which is essential in helping Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) understand how aggressive they can be with the tune-up. Our car has components they hadn’t used before joining our team but they are making significant progress with the combination.

“We are at the halfway point of the regular season before we enter the Countdown to One, and we need to continue to work our way up the point ladder. We are currently sixth. The points are reset for the six-race Countdown finale, so the closer you are to the top of the point standings the more cushion you have for the Countdown.

“Counting this Topeka event, we have nine events before the Countdown starts.

“In our last three starts, we had two consecutive final four appearances and a runner-up last weekend, so we are definitely making progress. We hope to put our Copart/Lucas Oil dragster in winner’s circle in the Heartland.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the O’Reilly Summer Nationals begins Friday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. with a second session at 8 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

O’REILLY SUMMER NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – May 22 – EPSN2

8 – 10 p.m. ET

5 – 7 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – May 23 – ESPN2

11 – 11:30 a.m. ET

8 – 8:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – May 23 – ESPN2

9 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET

6 – 9 p.m. PT

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM SCORES RUNNER-UP HONORS IN ATLANTA

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16, 2010) – The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team delivered its best performance of the season at the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals, with pilot Brandon Bernstein driving to a runner-up finish at Atlanta Dragway. It was his 33rd career final round appearance and his 15th runner-up performance.

Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to a quick 3.913-second 312.21 mph pass to secure the No. 3 qualifying position, his best of the year.

In the opening round of race day eliminations, Bernstein defeated Terry McMillen, 3.921/313.44 to McMillen’s 4.054/296.18.

“We are excited to go rounds,” said Bernstein. “That was a pretty good run and we hope we can keep it going.”

Bernstein’s second round opponent, Pat Dakin, broke on the starting line and the Copart/Lucas Oil team transferred to the semifinals with a consistent 3.955/308.92.

Bernstein and Doug Kalitta faced off in the semifinals, each with 13 career round wins against the other. The tie-breaker in Atlanta went to Bernstein who clocked a winning 4.001/299.66 while Kalitta hazed the tires with a 4.392/240.04.

Bernstein was in a high stakes shootout with Larry Dixon in the finals and cracked the throttle before the tree activated, causing a red light elimination.

“We are really disappointed for the team,” said Bernstein. “I didn’t do my job on the starting line. On the positive side of the equation, however, a final round appearance is great. We had some luck in the second round, but we are definitely in the hunt, the car is performing on all eight cylinders, we’re going rounds, and we can feel the difference in the cockpit.”

“Todd (Smith, crew chief), Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) and the entire Copart/Lucas Oil team are making significant progress,” said six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein. “We’re competitive and overall Brandon is doing a good job. Everyone makes a mistake now and then.”

The Bernstein team continues to ride in sixth position in Full Throttle Top Fuel standings, gaining ground on fifth place.

# # #

BERNSTEIN’S COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM RIDING MOMENTUM INTO ATLANTA

COMMERCE, Ga. –As the NHRA season approaches the halfway mark before entering the Countdown to One six-event finale, the Copart/Lucas Oil team hopes to continue to go rounds and gain positions in Full Throttle point standings.

The Kenny Bernstein-owned team expects to keep the momentum rolling when they compete in the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals May 14-16.

“We had a slow start to the season,” explained driver Brandon Bernstein. “After the third race, we changed direction and switched our crew chief and assistant crew chief tuning duo. The past two races we have gotten bolder and better each step of the way, advancing to the final four in both events.

“That consistency helped us gain positions in the point standings. We are now sixth and we have energy that we would like to continue to capitalize upon.”

Bernstein won at Atlanta Dragway in 2007 and was the No. 1 qualifier in his 2003 rookie season and again in 2006.

“We have Copart executives and hundreds of Copart customers and guests joining us in Atlanta,” continued Bernstein. “We could have a huge party in victory circle if good fortune is on our side on race day.

“You can bet we’ll have those Mac Tools working overtime to try to wrench a victory for all our sponsors, and especially Dad, who is pulling out all the stops to give our team everything it needs to be successful.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 14 at 4:30 p.m. with a second session scheduled for 7 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:15 p.m. and 3 p.m., with final eliminations scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday.

Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals Television Advisory

Qualifying – May 15 – ESPN2
8 – 10 p.m. ET
5 – 7 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – May 16 – ESPN2
10-10:30 a.m. ET
7 – 7:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – May 16 – ESPN2
7 – 10 p.m. ET
4-7 p.m. PT

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM ADVANCES TO SEMIFINALS FOR
SECOND CONSECUTIVE EVENT; IMPROVES IN POINT STANDINGS

MADISON, Ill. (May 2, 2010) – The resurgent Copart/Lucas Oil team made their second consecutive final four appearance of the season at the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals. They also gained significant ground in the NHRA Full Throttle point chase, advancing two positions to sixth in Top Fuel standings.

Brandon Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to its best qualifying position of the year, capturing the No. 5 starting berth on the elimination ladder with a 3.9033-second elapsed time at 307.09 mph.

In the first round of Sunday’s racing activity at Gateway International Raceway, Bernstein defeated Shawn Langdon, who struggled with loss of traction and was on and off the throttle. The Copart/Lucas Oil dragster hazed the tires at the finish line, but took the round win handily with a 4.082/265.90 vs. Langdon’s 4.243/243.50.

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein faced off against Terry Haddock. Bernstein was first out of the gate and never trailed, crossing the finish line with a winning 3.941/305.42 vs. Haddock’s 4.253/247.75.

“Todd (Smith, crew chief) and the entire Copart/Lucas Oil team have been working really hard to get our performance back on the competitive edge,” said Bernstein. “We made an adjustment after the first round and the race car responded.”

The Kenny Bernstein-owned team transferred to the semifinals to challenge Doug Kalitta.

Driver Brandon Bernstein was out of the starting gate first, but lost traction early in the run and could only watch as Kalitta streaked to a 3.928-second round win.

“That caught us off guard,” said Bernstein. “We didn’t expect to smoke the tires. This is a tricky track with a shorter concrete pad than we normally see, so you have to make up as much ground as you can on the concrete and then calm the tune-up down to make a successful transition to the asphalt. But it is a fine line between too much wheel speed and not enough, and I think we put a little too much into the combination that time.

“Overall, we are seeing a great deal of progress. We’re getting our legs under us and we’re gaining confidence.

“This is Todd and Donnie’s fourth race calling the shots for our Copart/Lucas Oil team and they’re getting used to components they’re not familiar with. So for us to go to the semis for these last two races in a row is a nice accomplishment. We gained some ground in the point chase and hopefully we can continue to work our way up the rungs of the ladder.”

# # #

There's a new branch on the Bernstein family tree.

Brandon & Tracey Bernstein welcomed the birth of their first child, daughter
Lyla Faith
Born: Friday, April 23 (in Indianapolis)
Weight: 7 lbs, 6 oz
Length: 19 inches

BERNSTEIN LOOKING TO SCORE SECOND ST. LOUIS VICTORY

MADISON, Ill. – The Kenny Bernstein Copart/Lucas Oil team hopes to capitalize on their 2009 runner-up finish when they compete at the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals April 30-May 2.

Driver Brandon Bernstein has been to the final round at Gateway three times since he began his professional driving career in 2003. He won the event in 2005, a victory the family was able to share with Brandon’s grandfather and Kenny’s father, Bert Bernstein, shortly before he succumbed to cancer. Bernstein was runner-up in 2006 and again last year.

“We had a crew chief and assistant crew chief personnel switch after the third race of this season,” said the second-generation driver. “We have had a slower start than we had hoped, but at the last event in Las Vegas, we feel the team made some significant performance gains that took us to the final four.

“The more runs we make, the more data Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) can retrieve to continue to fine-tune the combination. We are getting a little bolder and better each step of the way.”

“We are definitely ready for a final round appearance,” said the popular driver.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying is scheduled to begin Friday, April 30 at 4 p.m. with a second session at 6:30 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., with final eliminations set to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – May 1 – ESPN2

9 – 11 p.m. ET

6 – 8 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day – May 2 – ESPN2

10-10:30 a.m. ET

7-7:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations – May 2 – ESPN2

7 – 10 p.m. ET

4 – 7 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM GOES TO FINAL FOUR
AND EARNS HARD WORKING CREW AWARD
FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (April 18, 2010) – Kenny Bernstein, owner of the Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team, was very pleased with the performance strides made by the new tuning duo of Todd Smith and Donnie Bender at the SummitRacing.com Nationals. In fact, the team’s improvement was noted by the ESPN2 television crew and as a result the Copart/Lucas Oil team earned the Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award for the Top Fuel category.

“This weekend Copart paid tribute to the U.S. Air Force, relinquishing their primary sponsorship position to salute the men and women in blue,” said Bernstein. “With Nellis Air Force Base so close to “The Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, we had many officers with us. Willis Johnson, Copart’s Chairman of the Board, along with CEO Jay Adair and a host of Copart customers also were on site. It was a perfect weekend to turn the tide.”

Driver Brandon Bernstein qualified in the top half of the quick 16 with a 4.000/306.19, earning the No. 8 starting berth.

The Copart/Lucas Oil team used their quickest elapsed time of the weekend (3.984/303.28) to win the opening round of eliminations against Terry McMillen, who lost traction early in the run.

In the quarterfinals, Bernstein faced off against Antron Brown. Another consistent 4.041/302.28 activated Bernstein’s win light as Brown struggled with loss of traction before the 330-foot mark.

“We stayed to test after the Houston event, and conditions there were similar to the hot track conditions in Las Vegas,” said Brandon. “I think we learned a few things that helped us this weekend. This was a very important round win for us.

“As we go rounds, Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) continue to gather information which is helping to determine what the car wants and how far they can push the combination.”

Bernstein’s victory against Brown, transferred him to the semifinals to challenge Cory McClenathan. The two friends left the starting line together and battled to the 1000-foot mark with McClenathan crossing the finish line first with a 3.986/304.39 to Bernstein’s 4.062/303.30.

“It was a great weekend for our team,” summed up owner Kenny Bernstein. “We didn’t smoke the tires, and it’s apparent that Todd and Donnie are getting a better handle on the tune-up. Brandon did a great job driving and it was a good showing for the Air Force car. We just got out run in the match against Cory, but we are definitely improving.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team moved up to eighth in NHRA Full Throttle point standings, just seven points out of seventh place.

# # #

COPART TO MAKE PATRIOTIC SALUTE TO U.S. AIR FORCE
AT SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS

LAS VEGAS – Copart, major sponsor on the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team, will pay tribute to the U.S. Air Force at the SummitRacing.com Nationals April 16-18 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In a patriotic salute, Copart has relinquished their primary position on the race car to the U.S. Air Force for this event only.

“All of us at Copart have a tremendous appreciation for our service men and women who keep America safe and fight for our freedoms,” said Copart CEO Jay Adair. “Our founder, Willis Johnson, is a Vietnam veteran and many of our employees have served in the Armed Forces or are currently serving in the Reserves. Copart is also headquartered in Fairfield, California, home to Travis Air Force Base, so we are honored to be able to give the Air Force some recognition by giving them the primary sponsorship position on the Bernstein dragster.”

“It’s rewarding to see the synergy, respect and mutual admiration among our family of sponsors,” said Bernstein. “With Nellis Air Force Base so close to the track it opens up a lot of opportunities to cross-promote. Additionally, we want to join Copart in paying tribute to all the men and women who continue to fight for our freedom abroad and keep us safe at home.”

The Bernsteins have enjoyed great success in Las Vegas. Kenny won the inaugural event at The Strip in 2001 and followed with an encore performance in 2002. In addition to back-to-back victories, he was also the No. 1 qualifier at both events.

Brandon won in 2007 and was runner-up here last year.

“We are in a perfect position to launch our resurgence,” said Copart/Lucas Oil pilot Brandon Bernstein. “We have Todd Smith and Donnie Bender guiding our performance efforts and we feel we have our legs under us and we’re ready to ‘drive, fight, and win,’ to take a little liberty with the Air Force ‘fly, fight, and win’ mission statement.

“We are focused and energized and ready to turn on the afterburners to get back to our winning ways.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the SummitRacing.com Nationals begins Friday, April 16 at 1 p.m. with a second session at 4 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, noon and 3 p.m. with final eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Six-time NHRA champion team owner Kenny Bernstein has extended his team’s official hotel relationship with the remodeled contemporary New York-New York Hotel & Casino for the NHRA national events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“We invite fans who may be planning to attend the race to book their rooms at our favorite Las Vegas resort,” said Bernstein. “This is the third season our team has stayed at New York- New York. Everyone on the Copart/Lucas Oil team looks forward to race week and the time they are able to spend at the hotel. ROK Vegas™ is one of their favorite evening stops.”

ROK Vegas™ is the sexy nightclub that mesmerizes party-goers with riveting mash-ups and rock-inspired imagery. ROK features the first-ever 360-degree video screen in a Las Vegas nightclub. >From every angle, guests are surrounded by concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation all chosen by the intuitive Video Jockey (VJ). Club-goers revel in the “concert-like” setting as ROK’s DJ spins mash-ups choreographed in time with remarkable video imagery displayed above. ROK’s intimate setting also includes an exclusive outdoor VIP lounge just steps away from the pulsating Las Vegas Strip

New York-New York showcases a remodeled contemporary 84,000-square-foot casino.

Set against a backdrop of famous New York landmarks, the gaming area includes 70 gaming tables. More than 50 televisions broadcast major sporting events in the casino’s table game areas allowing players to experience the energy and excitement of gaming along with the exhilaration and intensity of sporting events. For those who follow professional sports, New York-New York offers a Race & Sports Book. Located adjacent to ESPN Zone, the book features 46 televisions, 12 61-inch big screen televisions, comfortable seating, beverage service and electronic satellite wagering.

Inspired by the famous energy and landmarks of New York City, New York-New York features 12 New York-style skyscrapers showcasing 2,023 guest rooms and suites. Other featured Big Apple icons include a 150-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty; and a 300-foot-long replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. Within the resort are award-winning restaurants including Gallagher's Steakhouse, Il Fornaio and Nine Fine Irishmen, an authentic pub offering the best of Irish drink, food and music. New York-New York also offers the provocative and sensuous Cirque du Soleil production, Zumanity. New York-New York is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM MIRAGE™. For more information and reservations, visit the web site at www.nynyhotelcasino.com, or call toll free at (800) 693-6763.

Brandon Bernstein will participate in the Full Throttle Driver Autograph Signing Thurs., April 15 from 7-8 p.m. at Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd., South. The event is free to race fans who want to attend and will feature live music, race car displays and activities. Brandon will be joined by Lucas Oil teammates Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon in addition to other stars.

SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – April 17 – ESPN2

6 – 8 p.m. ET

NHRA Race Day – April 18 – ESPN2

10-10:30 a.m. ET

Eliminations – April 18 – ESPN2

7 – 10 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM MAKES PROGRESS;
TAKES BIG ROUND WIN IN HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 11) – The Copart/Lucas Oil team celebrated an important first round victory at the NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals and took a step toward repairing some of the clutch malfunctions that have been plaguing the team’s tune-up.

Driver Brandon Bernstein was the No. 14 qualifier at Houston Raceway Park with a 4.040/298.47.

In the opening round of eliminations, the Copart/Lucas Oil team defeated Tony Schumacher, ending Schumacher’s 19-race string of no first round losses. Bernstein clocked 4.004/309.06 while Schumacher lost traction at the hit of the throttle.

"We really needed that scoreboard to light up in our lane,” said Bernstein. “We have been struggling. This is the second event with our new crew chief and assistant crew chief, and we needed to get the car down the track so we could get some data.

“This was a huge victory for us and a big morale boost for the team who have been putting in a lot of hours. Finally they can see a reward for their efforts.”

Bernstein transferred to the quarterfinals to face Morgan Lucas, but a mechanical malfunction during the burn out prevented Bernstein from being able to back up to return to the starting line.

“Racing is fickle,” said Bernstein. “As soon as you begin to feel you have turned the corner, something else happens to humble you again.”

“Looking back over the weekend, we still have mechanical areas that need attention, but we are somewhat encouraged,” said team owner Kenny Bernstein. “We were able to eliminate some of the problems causing us trouble and we have a direction to pursue to fix our biggest gremlin which is the clutch area.

“The first round win, though it wasn’t beautiful, saw the car respond exactly as it should have to make headway in solving our clutch issues.

“It was a huge disappointment to lose in the second round with a mechanical problem that was 100 percent fixable with one bolt. A nut vibrated loose which in turn caused the bolt to fall out of the clutch pedal linkage. That is a problem we’ve never had during our entire career, and it will probably never happen again. It’s just a shame that it happened at all.”

“We plan to test in Houston Monday before heading to Las Vegas.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team will remain ninth in point standings.

# # #

COPART TO MAKE PATRIOTIC SALUTE TO U.S. AIR FORCE
AT SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS

In a patriotic salute, Copart has relinquished their primary position on the race car to the U.S. Air Force for this event only.

Brandon won in 2007 and was runner-up here last year.

“We are focused and energized and ready to turn on the afterburners to get back to our winning ways.”

New York-New York showcases a remodeled contemporary 84,000-square-foot casino.

SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – April 17 – ESPN2

6 – 8 p.m. ET

NHRA Race Day – April 18 – ESPN2

10-10:30 a.m. ET

Eliminations – April 18 – ESPN2

7 – 10 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM FOCUSED AND COMMITTED
AS NHRA COMPETITION HEADS TO HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas -Brandon Bernstein, a two-time winner at Houston Raceway Park, is hoping to turn the tide of the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team in his home state of Texas when the NHRA makes its fifth stop of the 23-race season April 9-11 at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals.

“We always enjoy competing in Texas,” said the second-generation driver. “We grew up in Dallas and went to college at Texas A & M, so we have a contingent of family and friends that come out to cheer us on.

“We have had a slow start this season and had a personnel change after the Gainesville, Fl. event. We are working on getting up to speed and our new crew chief, Todd Smith, is burning the midnight oil to try to make significant performance strides as we come off the trailer in Houston.”

Bernstein won the Top Fuel trophy in Houston in 2004 and 2006. He has 18 career victories to his credit, the last victory achieved in Richmond, Va. last October.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, April 9 at 3:30 p.m., with a second session scheduled for 6 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:15 p.m. and 3 p.m., with final eliminations set to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

O’REILLY SPRING NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying – April 10-ESPN2

11 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET

NHRA Race Day – April 11 – ESPN2

2:30 p.m.-3 p.m. ET

Eliminations – April 11 – ESPN2

8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET

Visit www.kennybernstein.com for the latest Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Team news, round by round race results, photographs and official Team merchandise! For Twitter updates visit: https://twitter.com/BernsteinB

BERNSTEIN DISAPPOINTED BY EARLY EXIT AT FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
BUT LOOKS TOWARD HARD WORK AND LONG-TERM GAIN

CONCORD, N.C. (March 28) – One of the most anticipated drag racing spectacles of the year was the Inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals contested at zMax Dragway.

For the first time in NHRA national event history, qualifying and eliminations for the professional categories were conducted four-wide instead of the traditional two.

In the first round quad of eliminations, Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster, struggled with loss of traction and did not advance.

“It was a difficult weekend for our team,” acknowledged team owner Kenny Bernstein. “We made a change in crew chiefs following the last race in Gainesville as you know, and it takes time for adjustments to be made. We are not disappointed in our decision to elevate Todd Smith to the crew chief position. No matter how rough this weekend was, we feel we will be better off in the long run.

“Obviously, we wish we had made bigger performance strides. I can only reiterate that we will continue to do everything possible to bring the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster back to being as competitive as any car in the field. We will leave no stone unturned and we will make no excuses.

“We will keep going forward as fast and as hard as we possibly can,” concluded Bernstein.

The Copart/Lucas Oil team remains ninth in NHRA Top Fuel Full Throttle point standings.

# # #

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE JOINS KENNY BERNSTEIN
COPART/LUCAS OIL TOP FUEL TEAM
AS AN ASSOCIATE SPONSOR

CONCORD, N.C. (March 26, 2010) –“It is with a great deal of patriotic pride that we welcome the United States Air Force as an associate sponsor on our Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster beginning this weekend at the Inaugural Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway,” said team owner and six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein.

“Our team will be used as a marketing and recruiting tool for the Air Force for the remainder of the 2010 season and will be instrumental in working with influencers who will in turn open doors for recruiters.

"We are excited about our new partnership with the Kenny Bernstein Racing Team for the 2010 NHRA race season," said Brig Gen AJ Stewart, Commander of Air Force Recruiting Service. "We know how professional the KBR team is and believe they reflect the standards that personify the Air Force personnel. I'm positive this will lead to an increase in exposure for our Air Force and allow us to reach out to those eligible men and women who may be interested in joining our team."

“I guess you could say that my wife Sheryl and I have had United States Air Force blood running through our veins since we were born,” added Bernstein. “My father was a bombardier navigator in World War II and was a veteran of many missions.

“I was born in Clovis, N.M. while my dad was stationed at what is now Cannon Air Force Base, and I spent the young years of my life in an Air Force environment. I remember going to air shows with my father and being around the buddies that he flew with.

“My wife Sheryl was delivered by a flight surgeon while her father was in the service at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona.”

“I gained a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the Air Force when I had the opportunity to fly with the Thunderbirds two years ago,” said Copart/Lucas Oil dragster pilot Brandon Bernstein. “We went through several hours of pre-flight instruction. You couldn’t help noticing how meticulous all the flight personnel were from the airplane crew members who make sure the planes are safe, the personnel who did the flight suit fitting, the flight surgeon, and of course the pilots.

“The pilots depend on their crew members to keep the planes safe just as we depend on our crew members to go through all the systems on our race car to keep us safe. The Thunderbirds are the epitome of pride, precision and professionalism, the same principles that we try to adhere to on our team.

“We will be proud to fly the Air Force colors and be ambassadors for the men and women in blue.”

# # #

The Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will compete in the Inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, Charlotte, North Carolina.

INAUGURAL NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

Qualifying

Saturday, March 27, 2010
ESPN2
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT

NHRA Race Day

Sunday, March 28, 2010
ESPN2
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET
7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. PT

Eliminations

Sunday, March 28, 2010
ESPN2
5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT

We hope to have the Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster in the finals for you to watch. We will have continuous internet updates daily. Follow the Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team at www.kennybernstein.com , www.brandonbernstein.com and www.twitter.com/bernsteinb.

BERNSTEINS MOTIVATED FOR HISTORICAL FOUR-WIDE COMPETITION IN CHARLOTTE

CONCORD, N.C. – Brandon Bernstein, driver of the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil dragster, is looking forward to the challenges of the Inaugural Four-Wide Nationals March 26-28 at zMax Dragway, the first time in NHRA national event history where qualifying and eliminations for the professional categories will be conducted four-wide instead of the traditional two.

“This track is one of the finest facilities there is,” said Bernstein, “and this is the only drag strip where four-wide racing can be contested as we speak today. It is going to be a real fan sensory overload, and we’re excited that we’re going to be on-site for this historical occasion.

“With two 8,000-horsepower nitro breathing dragsters or Funny Cars on the ready line, it’s bone-rattling, but with 32,000 horsepower on the starting grid, it’s pretty indescribable.

“We were fortunate to have had an opportunity to participate in the four-wide exhibition run last September, so we have an idea what to expect. Basically from inside the cockpit, my job is the same. However, you have the added challenge of trying to concentrate on what three other drivers are doing instead of just one. It will be easy to become distracted with a lot going on during the staging process so focusing on my Christmas tree and my lane will be my objective.

“It’s wild to think that if you’re fortunate enough to make it to the finals, you have three other teams to beat to win the trophy instead of one.

“We’ll get to ‘warm up’ with some qualifying runs so that will give us more time to adjust. I think it will be pretty awesome for the fans.”

The Copart/Lucas Oil team will be directed by new crew chief Todd Smith, who moved into the leadership role from assistant crew chief following a personnel change after the Gainesville, Fla. event.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying is scheduled to begin Friday, March 26 at 2 p.m. with a second session at 4:30 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. with Top Fuel kicking off eliminations Sunday at noon.

INAUGURAL FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS TELEVISION SCHEDULE

Qualifying – March 27 – ESPN2

7 – 9 p.m. ET

NHRA Race Day – March 28 – ESPN2

10-10:30 a.m. ET

Eliminations – March 28 – ESPN2

5 – 7:30 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM BATTLES TUNE-UP CHALLENGES IN GAINESVILLE

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2010) – The historic Gainesville Raceway holds many memories for the Bernstein family where both father and son have triumphed in past years and where six-time NHRA champion Kenny became the first to surpass the 300 mile-per-hour barrier.

Despite a gallant effort and a first round victory at this weekend’s Tire Kingdom Gatornationals, competition for the Copart/Lucas Oil team came to an end earlier than they had hoped.

Brandon Bernstein drove the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster to the No. 11 qualifying position with a 3.906-second elapsed time at 310.34 mph.

The Kenny Bernstein-owned team scored an opening-round victory against David Grubnic using their best elapsed time of the weekend, 3.891 seconds at 313.22 mph, coupled with Bernstein’s .034-second reaction time, the quickest of the day in both nitro categories.

Bernstein faced Larry Dixon in round two of eliminations. Bernstein struggled off the starting line and lost traction early in the run ending the weekend’s endeavors.

“We continue to struggle with set-ups and we are working extremely hard,” said owner, Kenny Bernstein. “We realize we are struggling tremendously and it’s frustrating. Bottom line, we need to be more competitive. These issues have a way of working out over time and we’ll keep after it until we figure it out.”

Bernstein is ninth in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings as the series heads to Charlotte March 26-28 for the Inaugural Four-Wide Nationals.

# # #

KENNY BERNSTEIN-OWNED COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM
HOPES TO CAPITALIZE ON MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN GAINESVILLE

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – >From all the accolades that have spanned the thirty-year career of Kenny Bernstein, the six-time champ counts as his greatest feat becoming the first to eclipse the 300-miles-per-hour barrier in Gainesville, Fla., March 20, 1992.

In his 2003 rookie season, Brandon Bernstein continued the family tradition winning his second event in three outings at Gainesville, and setting a 327.27 mph speed record during the weekend’s racing activity.

Brandon, piloting the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster, hopes to draw from the Bernstein success at Gainesville Raceway, and is looking for a final round showing at the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals March 12-14.

“This is the third race of a 23-event season,” said Brandon. “Our goal is to score an early victory for Copart, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools, LaPaz, and all the other sponsors who have supported us through the years.”

The second-generation driver has 18 career victories to his credit, the last win achieved in Richmond, Va. last October.

“We have high hopes for this season,” said Brandon, “but at the moment our Rob Flynn-led team is focusing on coaxing more performance out of our Copart/Lucas Oil dragster in the middle of the track. Our 60-foot times are good, and knock on wood, we haven’t had much problem with loss of traction. If we can keep power to the ground and get a little more aggressive with our clutch set-up, then we should pick up elapsed times and speeds. This sounds like an easier tweak than it really is. Too much power puts you right back into loss of traction. It’s just sort of ‘aggressive finesse’.”

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, March 12 at 12:45 p.m., with a second qualifying round at 3:30 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions scheduled Saturday, 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday.

TIRE KINGDOM GATORNATIONALS TELEVISION SCHEDULE

NHRA Race Day – March 14 – ESPN2

11-11:30 a.m. ET

Eliminations – March 14 – ESPN2

6 – 9 p.m. ET

BERNSTEIN UPSET IN ROUND ONE IN PHOENIX;
COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM TO TEST PRIOR TO GAINESVILLE

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2010) – The Copart/Lucas Oil team put all their determination on the line during the running of the Arizona Nationals.

Improving with every qualifying round, the Kenny Bernstein-owned team nabbed a spot in the top half of the quick 16 for Sunday’s eliminations.

Solid in the No. 7 berth with a 3.863-second elapsed time at 312.13 miles per hour, driver Brandon Bernstein rolled to the starting line Sunday to face first round opponent David Grubnic. It was a close race, but Grubnic was first to the finish line with a 3.843/313.07 besting Bernstein’s 3.896/309.13.

“We need to pick up a little momentum in the middle of the track,” said the second generation driver. “So we are going to test before the next event in Gainesville, Fla. to see if we can finesse the tune-up and coax a little more out of the combination. We have a talented crew with some good ideas and we believe we can make some gains through testing.”

Bernstein is 10th in NHRA Top Fuel Full Throttle point standings.

# # #

The Copart/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will compete in the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
at Firebird Int’l Raceway, in Phoenix, AZ.

NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

NHRA Race Day

Sunday, February 21, 2010

ESPN2

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PT/11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

Eliminations

Sunday, February 21, 2010

ESPN2

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET

COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM HOPES PAST SUCCESS
BREEDS ANOTHER VICTORY AT ARIZONA NATIONALS

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team and driver Brandon Bernstein hope to take a page out of their winning handbook when they compete Feb. 19-21 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Ironically both six-time champion Kenny and his son Brandon won their first Top Fuel events at Firebird International Raceway. Brandon notched his first career victory in his 2003 rookie season at this track in only his second outing. He defended the win in 2004 and was runner-up last year.

“We’ve had three final round appearances at Firebird,” said Brandon, “and having won at this track in the past gives you a bit more confidence going into race weekend.

“In January, we had our choice of going to Firebird for pre-season testing or a non-national event track in Florida. We chose Firebird because we felt we could compile some usable data for this year’s Arizona Nationals. Our elapsed time and speed numbers were good when we were here in January and hopefully we can parlay the testing combinations into a winning tune-up!

“We’re looking for a strong start to the season for Copart, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools and all our sponsors!”

Phoenix victories run in the family and the foundation was laid by Kenny as early as his first Firebird Funny Car victory in 1986. Kenny is a five-time finalist at the Phoenix event, having also scored victories in ’91 and ’96 in Top Fuel. He was runner-up in ’97 and ’99 driving his Top Fuel dragster.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Arizona Nationals begins Friday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. with a second session at 4:30 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. with eliminations Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.

ARIZONA NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY

NHRA Race Day – Feb. 21 – ESPN2

11-11:30 a.m. ET

Eliminations – Feb. 21 – ESPN2

7 – 10 p.m. ET

HALL OF FAMER KENNY BERNSTEIN LAUNCHES NEW COPART/LUCAS OIL TEAM
AT KRAGEN O’REILLY 50TH WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. – The season opening Kragen O’Reilly 50th Winternationals found the legend, six-time champion Kenny Bernstein, and his son Brandon, decked out in blue for the first time in three decades. The new blue Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart/Lucas Oil team was the epitome of corporate America with all its newly painted, shiny support equipment bearing a trendy graphics package and team members decked out in tailored crew uniforms.

Kenny, well-known for his marketing and sales acumen, understands brand awareness. Having won 69 NHRA national events in his career, he understands winning sells.

Bernstein is all-in and is anxious to help Copart, a company that’s already at the top of its game in its industry, become a household name.

A dozen or more Copart corporate executives were in Pomona for the inaugural launch of the Copart/Lucas Oil dragster, entertaining customers, networking with fans and meeting new potential business partners.

While Copart entertained, the Kenny Bernstein team got down to the business of racing.

In Sunday’s opening round of eliminations, driver Brandon Bernstein faced off against Thomas Nataas, a second generation drag racer from Norway. The Copart/Lucas Oil dragster made a straight, trouble-free run right down the groove and Bernstein won the round with a 3.887/312.64.

"That was a huge win for our Copart/Lucas Oil team,” said Bernstein as he exited the car in the shut down area. “We wanted to start the season off right for our sponsors.”

Bernstein transferred to the quarterfinals to meet Larry Dixon and the Al-Anabi team.

With Bernstein’s strong reaction time advantage out of the gate (.070 seconds vs. Dixon’s .101 seconds), it was a fight to the finish with Dixon inching Bernstein for the win, 3.854/316.82 vs 3.929/309.34.

“Our team has been consistent this weekend,” said Bernstein. “We ran well on a warm track without losing traction. We just need to pick up the pace a couple of ticks.

“We are sixth in Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings after the first race, and we’re headed to Phoenix. Hopefully some of the data we recorded during pre-season testing will be helpful and can benefit our tune-up combination for the national event. We’re looking to make a move up the point ladder.”

# # #