---

NHRA: Bernstein Tops In Tucson Testing on Friday

20 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Kenny Bernstein was impressive in his Budweiser King dragster Friday during several pre-season testing runs to open the 2001 NHRA Spring Training at Southwestern International Raceway. After struggling during a three-day test session last weekend at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, Bernstein recorded the quickest run to 1,000 feet during a day full of aborted runs, reaching that marker in less than four seconds. No team was able to clock a full pass.

NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams are using the test session to prepare for the 41st annual AutoZone Winternationals at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway, Feb. 1-4. The $1.9 million race is the first of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series for 2001, NHRA's 50th anniversary season.

Bernstein's 1,000-foot effort was not only the quickest of the day, his incremental times on that run were also the quickest at each intermediate clock, starting with a 0.842 60-foot time, 2.143 seconds 330 feet, 3.085 seconds and 265.22 mph at half track, and 3.948 at 1,000 feet.

During limited test runs on Thursday, Bernstein recorded the best 60-foot time of the weekend, an impressive .830 second effort.

Mike Dunn recorded the second quickest run Friday. He was clocked at 0.845 at 60 feet, 2.172 at 330, 3.106/268.49 at half track, and 4.057 at 1,000 feet, followed by Gary Scelzi with intermediate clockings of 0.869, 2.174, 3.117/262.08, and 4.008.

None of the Funny Car drivers got to the 1,000-foot marker under full power. Scotty Cannon posted the quickest run to 330 feet, 2.302 seconds, followed by Tony Pedregon (in both Castrol cars), Bruce Sarver, and Dean Skuza, all with 2.33 or 2.34 second 330-foot times.

Testing continues Saturday at 10 a.m.

Top Fuel --

Kenny Bernstein - First pass, 0.854 60-foot time, 2.163 at 330 feet, then shut off, the car out of the groove near the centerline. Second pass, 0.842 60-foot time, 2.143 at 330, 3.085/265.22 at 660, 3.948 at 1,000 feet, then shut off, coasting to a 4.897 at 216.17.

Andrew Cowin - 0.884 60-foot time, 2.227 at 330 feet, then shut it off.

Mike Dunn - First pass, 0.845 at 60 feet, 2.172 at 330, 3.106/268.49 at 660, 4.057 at 1,000 feet. Second try, instant tire smoke with a 0.877 60-foot time. Dunn pedaled once, then gave it up.

Tim Gibson - First pass, 0.934 60-foot time with the car sideways, spinning the tires. Second 0.874 60-foot time with lots of shake.

David Grubnic - First pass, 0.900 60-foot time, 2.333 at 330, then shut it off. Second try, 0.886 60-foot time, 2.272 at 330 feet, 3.266/252.57 mph at half track, then shut it off.

Doug Herbert - First try, 0.886 60-foot time, 2.243 at 330, 3.200/264.18 at half track, 4.037 at 1,000, then shut it off, coasting across with a 4.948/221.96.

Gary Scelzi - First try, first PRO car down the track Friday, 0.869 at 60 feet, 2.174 at 330, 3.117/262.08 mph at half track, 4.008 at 1,000 feet, then shut off, coasting across at 5.011/202.36. Second try, 0.872 at 60 feet, then shake and shut off. Third try much like second, 0.880 and severe shake.

Funny Car --

Scotty Cannon - First try, 0.898 at 60 feet, then tire shake. Second try, 0.895 at 609 feet, 2.302 at 330 feet, then the car lurched and there was raw fuel from the headers.

Gary Densham - First try, 0.934 at 60 feet, 2.404 at 330, then shut it off. Second try, 0.930 at 60 feet, 2.379 at 330, 3.417/246.54 mph at 660 feet, then shut it off.

Chuck Etchells - First try, 0.948 60-foot time with lots of shake.

Tony Pedregon - First try, in John Force's car, 0.889 at 60 feet, 2.330 at 330, then shut it off. Second try, also in Force's car, 0.884 at 60 feet, then shake. Third try, in Tony's car, 0.878 at 60 feet, 2.335 at 330, 3.393/230.37 mph at half track, then shut it off.

Bruce Sarver - First try, 0.897 60-foot time, then shake about 100 feet out. Second try, 0.904 60-foot time, 2.333 at 330 feet, 3.345/250.04 mph at half track, then shut it off, the car out of the groove and near the centerline.

Dean Skuza - First try, 0.914 at 60 feet, then tire smoke about 100 feet out. Second try, 0.909 at 60 feet, 2.345 at 330, 3.425/211.23 at half track, the car smoking the tires and fishtailing before reaching half track.

Del Worsham - First try, 0.897 60-foot time, then shake.

Text Provided By Anthony Vestal

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.