Kenny Bernstein's Monster Energy Dodge Charger rolled off the trailer around nine o'clock Saturday morning, but it didn't roll down the track. In fact, according to an NHRA technical official, it didn't pass the tech inspection because the rods were too narrow underneath. So the crew, under the direction of veterans Ray Alley and Johnny West, worked the rest of the day to make adjustments.

Bernstein, who has four Funny Car series titles among his six championships, said he knew "we had a lot of work to do." Still, he said he had hoped to "try to go make something happen today." Kenny Bernstein's Monster Energy Dodge Charger rolled off the trailer around nine o'clock Saturday morning, but it didn't roll down the track. In fact, according to an NHRA technical official, it didn't pass the tech inspection because the rods were too narrow underneath. So the crew, under the direction of veterans Ray Alley and Johnny West, worked the rest of the day to make adjustments.

Bernstein, who has four Funny Car series titles among his six championships, said he knew "we had a lot of work to do." Still, he said he had hoped to "try to go make something happen today."

He had planned to execute a burnout and make a short spurt in his first trip to the starting line in a Funny Car since 1989. "It'll be a short one," he said early Saturday.

"We'll do a burnout, and it won't be more than 330 (feet) by any means," he said. I don't think it'll be any more than that. Ray (crew chief Alley) needs to look at the engine and make sure he's in his game plan."

What surprised and disappointed Bernstein is that he didn't get to make a pass at all. He still needs to refresh his Funny Car license by making two runs at 5.50 seconds or better at 250 mph or better.

"It's relatively easy, if you've got your act together," Bernstein said, laughing. "That's a question of whether we can do that." He also recognized that the cool temperatures, coupled with the "greenness" of the track (or lack of rubber laid down to break in the surface and help with traction) could cause unpredictable problems.

He said his first time or two out would amount to "a shakedown, trying to get it all figured out, trying to get somewhat comfortable."

Said Bernstein, "I've got to get me to know where I know where the gas pedal is. I've got to find it in there."