Brandon Bernstein Transcript

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein
(Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster) visited San Francisco on Monday, July 17,
for a chat with media members in advance of the FRAM Autolite NHRA
Nationals at Infineon Raceway, Aug. 28-30.

 

Bernstein is currently ranked third in Top Fuel points.  He has claimed
eight career Top Fuel victories, including two this season in Houston
and Columbus.  He has reached the semifinals at Infineon Raceway the
last two years and will look for his first Infineon Raceway victory in
Top Fuel later this month.

 

A transcript of the press conference is below.  

 

Napa businessman, Matt Cordeiro, will serve as an associate sponsor on
Brandon Bernstein's Budweiser dragster at the FRAM Autolite NHRA
Nationals.  Matt, talk a little about your involvement in the team and
your thoughts.

 

Matt Cordeiro: I met Brandon and Kenny Bernstein through mutual friends,
and I've always been involved with racing.  This opportunity came up to
be an associate sponsor for the team, and I thought it was great for
them to even give me a shot.  I hope to participate next year, depending
on the results we get this year.  

 

Brandon, what are your thoughts on Matt's involvement?

BB:  We're excited to have Matt involved with the team, and I'm excited
to try to get him a win in his first weekend of sponsorship.

 

Brandon, talk about your season so far and the outlook for the rest of
the season.

BB: We've definitely overcome some struggles early in the season after
having some mechanical failures.  We were 12th in points after the first
three races this season.  To work our way up to third in the points
chase has been great.  It's really a tribute to our race team.  We've
come a long way, but we're in a great position to make a run at the
championship.  This class is just so competitive - there are no easy
rounds anymore.  Just because you qualify in the top half of the field
doesn't mean you'll have an easy pass in the first round.  I think we've
had a decent season so far and we need to just keep going more rounds.

 

Can you talk about the West Coast Swing and how much it can impact the
championship?

BB: The West Coast swing can be really critical to putting you in a
position to springboard down the homestretch.  We visit tracks on the
West Coast that are usually pretty hot and they're not tracks or
conditions we'll see later in the season.  You can come out of this in a
really good position for the rest of the season.  It's important to stay
focused and consistent.  It's tough on the team because of all of the
traveling and prepping the cars for each event.

 

Infineon Raceway has set a lot of records, is this a place where you
look forward to breaking records and running fast?

BB: It's tricky because you're most likely to break records there in
qualifying because we have later sessions on Friday and Saturday, but
then during eliminations it's hotter.  The conditions during qualifying
give us a chance to go after the top qualifying spot and set records.
The track is excellent as far as the track surface - it should be a very
fast track, especially with how quickly the cars have been running this
year.

 

I noticed in the TV coverage that some of your crew guys were helping JR
Todd's team on Sunday.  Is there some type of partnership or agreement
there?

No, there's not association, but it's one of those deals that they're a
lower budget team and not used to going rounds so it's tough on them.
Our guys were done and we're friends with their crew chief.  He
mentioned that he might need some help, so we sent two of our guys to
help out.  That is the thing about drag racing that you don't really see
any more, since most of the teams are so big and well-funded, but that's
the way it used to be.  Guys helping each other get their cars ready and
to the starting line.  It was great to see it.

 

There has been some talk about your team becoming a multi-car team.  Is
that in the future for you guys?

There is always a chance.  To be honest, it would probably be my dad as
the additional driver.  We're actively looking for a major sponsor.  He
misses driving and would love to do it.  We don't have anything right
now.

 

How has your dad adjusted to not driving?

This year he's been a lot more comfortable.  He's found his areas to
stand at the starting line and things like that.  In the beginning he
didn't know where to go, but now he's more comfortable.  He's still love
to get back in it.

 

Have you ever felt any pressure from your dad?  Is that relationship
more business or father/son?

He's never put any pressure on my - he's just asked that I do my best.
It's definitely a father/son relationship, but also a boss/employee
relationship.  When it comes to work, I'm an employee and I have my
opinions, but he's the boss and that's how it is.  At the track, we have
a father/son relationship, but it's a business and we're there to
perform.

 

What are you thoughts on Melanie Troxel and her shot at the
championship?

I don't know.  I think her crew chief got a handle on the hot and cold
tracks early on, but it's tricky.  She had a lot of success early and at
times got the breaks.  Maybe that's turned on her a bit.  She's still
got a great caliber team and they're probably going to be up there at
the end.