Brandon Bernstein has a certain affection for Firebird International Raceway.  The Firebird quarter-mile was the site of his first Top Fuel victory in his 2003 rookie season, and he defended that win with another in 2004.  Brandon followed in his father’s footsteps as this was also the track where six-time NHRA champion Kenny won his first Top Fuel event in 1991.

Additionally, Brandon and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team hold the current mile per hour record in Phoenix at 333.74 mph set in 2005.

When the NHRA circuit makes its second tour stop Feb. 22-24 at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals, Bernstein and the team hope to return to that winning groove.

BERNSTEIN HOPING FOR THIRD WIN AT FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Brandon Bernstein has a certain affection for Firebird International Raceway.  The Firebird quarter-mile was the site of his first Top Fuel victory in his 2003 rookie season, and he defended that win with another in 2004.  Brandon followed in his father’s footsteps as this was also the track where six-time NHRA champion Kenny won his first Top Fuel event in 1991.

Additionally, Brandon and the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team hold the current mile per hour record in Phoenix at 333.74 mph set in 2005.

When the NHRA circuit makes its second tour stop Feb. 22-24 at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals, Bernstein and the team hope to return to that winning groove. 

“Our success at this track isn’t something you can put your figure on,” said Bernstein.  “Tim (Richards, crew chief) just seems to be able to get a good read on this track. We tested well here in the pre-season sessions and every indication is that we should be right in the hunt.

“NHRA has mandated some rule changes for 2008, adding more weight and allowing an increase from 85 to 90 percent nitromethane to fuel these 7,000 horsepower engines.  It sure hasn’t slowed the crew chiefs on the technology side.  And judging from the competition at the season-opener in Pomona, we just ratcheted up the Top Fuel battles a little more.”

Bernstein scored a personal season-high five victories in 2007 and chased the NHRA Top Fuel championship to the semifinals of the last event, finishing third in the final point standings, less than two rounds away from the coveted championship.

 “We hope to use everything we learned and all our success last year as a building block for this year,” said Bernstein.