NHRA NEWS: O'REILLY FALL NATIONALS ADVANCE PACKAGE (TEXAS
MOTORPLEX)
O'REILLY NHRA FALL NATIONALS presented by Castrol Syntec FACT SHEET
WHAT: 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals presented
by Castrol Syntec, the 20th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional competitors in three
categories earn points leading to 2006 NHRA POWERade Series world
championships. Sportsman competitors in six categories earn points
leading to 2006 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Texas Motorplex, 7500 W. Hwy. 287, Ennis, Texas.
Follow I-45 or I-35E to Hwy 287, then follow 287 to the track.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 21-24.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.5
million.
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Sept. 21
Sportsman qualifying, begins at 10 a.m.
FRIDAY, Sept. 22
Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, begins at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4 and 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 23
Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, begin at 8 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 24
Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Sept. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast two hours of
qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET)
Sunday, Sept. 24, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a
30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 24, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final
eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, Sept. 22, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11/Transponder 15K (12003
MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Sept. 23, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11/Transponder 15K (12003
MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Sept. 24, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11/Transponder 15K (12003
MHz, horizontal)
2005 EVENT CHAMPIONS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny
Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 4.441 seconds by Doug Herbert, Oct. 2005; 333.95 mph by Scott
Kalitta, Oct. 2003.
Funny Car -- 4.694 seconds by Ron Capps, Oct. 2005; 330.31 mph by Robert
Hight, Oct. 2005
Pro Stock - 6.647 seconds by Greg Anderson, Oct. 2005; 207.40 mph by
Anderson, Oct. 2005
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel -- 4.437 sec. (Sept. '05, Joliet, Ill.) and 336.15 mph (May
'05, Columbus, Ohio) by Tony Schumacher.
Funny Car -- 4.665 sec. (Oct. '04, Joliet, Ill.) and 333.58 mph (Oct.
'04, Joliet, Ill.) by John Force.
Pro Stock -- 6.631 sec. (July '06, Sonoma, Calif.,) and 208.23 mph
(March '05, Gainesville, Fla.) by Greg Anderson.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) MOTORPLEX (668-6775). Tickets
also are available at texasmotorplex.com.
RESERVED SEATS - Thursday: Adult, $10; Junior (12 years and under), $5.
Friday: Adult, $30-46; Junior (12 years and under), $5-20. Saturday:
Adult, $30-53; Junior (12 years and under), $5-28. Sunday: Adult,
$36-62; Junior (12 years and under), $5-30.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761.
BERNSTEIN IN TIGHTEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE OF CAREER;
FATHER PREPARES RETURN TO DRIVER'S SEAT
ENNIS, Texas - He may be Dallas' fastest son, but Brandon Bernstein
isn't, in his words, "a country kind of guy." He grew up in Dallas with
his mother, attended Dallas Jesuit High School and graduated from Texas
A&M with a major in Kinesiology (yes, people always ask what that
means).
He loves his native Texas, but he doesn't drive a truck, or own a gun
rack. Instead, Bernstein drives one of the most powerful machines in
motorsports - the 7,000 horsepower Budweiser Top Fuel dragster.
Bernstein is one of the brightest drivers in NHRA's "Brat Pack," a group
of young drivers who were born into the world's fastest motorsport.
The roster of young talent is impressive - Bernstein, Top Fuel driver
Morgan Lucas, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen and the soon-to-be
professional Ashley Force, star of the A&E real life television show
"Driving Force." It's the best of the best of NHRA pedigree, and
Bernstein, son of the legendary Kenny Bernstein, continues to impress as
he builds a formidable reputation behind the wheel of the Budweiser Top
Fuel dragster his father turned over to him in 2003.
Bernstein and the rest of the elite drivers come to Dallas for the 21st
annual O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, Sept.
21-24 at Texas Motorplex, the world's only all-concrete quarter-mile
drag strip. The $1.7 million race is the 19th of 23 events in the $50
million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
This season he'll return home deep in the closest POWERade point chases
of his life. Bernstein is third in the POWERade standings entering the
race, just 96 points behind leader Doug Kalitta, and 42 behind
second-place Tony Schumacher, the reigning and three-time world champion
who clinched the 2005 title with a win in Dallas last year. Bernstein
feels more at home in his ride than ever.
"Every year it just seems like I get more and more comfortable,"
Bernstein said. "Every time I make a run down the track it feels more
natural. It becomes an easy process when you do it so many times."
Every year marks an ascent in the learning curve for the 34-year-old who
raced to an impressive three wins before his outstanding rookie debut
was cut short by a season-ending crash at Englishtown in 2003.
Before the accident, Bernstein was ecstatic -- happy to be
driving the dragster. After his return, Bernstein focused on getting
back in the driver's seat.
"It all came back quickly and naturally," he said. "In my
first year I pushed a little too far, with the crash. By the second year
I knew there would be other days you could race. Just let it go if it's
not there. We can always race again."
This season is about feeling completely at ease behind the
wheel, and resuming his quest for a first world championship title that
ended abruptly with the accident three years ago.
"This year's been a great season so far," Bernstein said.
"I've felt really, really comfortable, having a full year behind me.
This year's been one of those years when everything has been natural.
We've had some success (with wins at Houston, Columbus, Ohio and
Brainerd, Minn.) and we're right there for the championship."
He also returns home fresh off of an announcement that shocked the drag
racing world. Just weeks ago, Kenny Bernstein announced he will return
to fulltime POWERade competition behind the Monster Energy Drink Funny
Car.
Brandon calls the announcement "a relief."
"It's just cool to have that out in the open now," said Brandon, who may
make a test run or two in the Funny Car but will remain focused on his
Top Fuel entry. Kenny's return to Funny Car was one of the closest
guarded secrets in NHRA history. "I just think about how it's going to
be fun having him back in a Funny Car."
While Kalitta and Schumacher stand in his way, the most
successful woman on the current tour, Melanie Troxel, is challenging
from the fourth spot. Dave Grubnic rounds out the top five contenders in
Top Fuel.
While his Don Schumacher-owned teammates try to move up in
the Top Fuel standings, Ron Capps looks to earn his first Funny Car
world championship title against the likes of 13-time champion John
Force, the 2005 event winner, and Force's son-in-law, Robert Hight.
Pro Stock is a battle of the teammates with Jason Line at
No. 1 over his Summit Racing Equipment partner Greg Anderson, the
three-time and defending world champion who won at Texas Motorplex last
year. Young gun Dave Connolly is in third place with four victories. The
battles continue in Dallas.
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for
4 and 7 p.m. on Sept. 22, and noon and 3 p.m. on Sept. 23. Eliminations
start at 11 a.m. on Sept. 24.
TICKETS: For tickets, call NHRA, at (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also
are available at Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com or nhra.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying at 11
p.m. (ET) on Sept. 23. ESPN2 will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly
news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of
eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sept. 24.
ON THE WEB: Quick access to NHRA media relations department press
releases, electronic images and other information is available on the
Internet at http://media.nhra.com.
2006 NHRA POWERADE POINT STANDINGS
(Following 18 of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing
Series)
UPDATED 9/4/2006 (Victories in parentheses)
TOP FUEL
Place Driver
Points
1. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (5)
1,306
2. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (3)
1,252
3. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., Budweiser/Lucas Oil
dragster (3) 1,210
4. Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels
dragster (2) 1,166
5. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., StriVectin-SD dragster (1)
1,019
6. Rod Fuller, Las Vegas, David Powers Homes/Valvoline dragster
(2) 1,012
7. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite dragster
968
8. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil dragster
862
9. Hillary Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., KB Racing dragster
834
10. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., FRAM Boost dragster
815
FUNNY CAR
1. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Charger R/T (5)
1,300
2. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
(2) 1,281
3. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of So. Calif.
Ford Mustang (2) 1,141
4. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo (3) 1,112
5. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang (1)
1,069
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo (2) 1,008
7. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger (1)
1,001
8. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Charger (1)
956
9. Cruz Pedregon, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., Advance Auto Parts
Chevy Monte Carlo (1) 759
10. Phil Burkart, Yorkville, N.Y., Checker Schuck's Kragen
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 756
PRO STOCK
1. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (3)
1,301
2. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO
(2) 1,242
3. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Skull Gear Chevrolet Cobalt (4)
1,166
4. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt (3)
1,005
5. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar
Dodge Stratus R/T (1) 987
6. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Young Life Pontiac GTO (2)
960
7. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., SeaRay Boats Pontiac GTO (1)
938
8. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Synthetic Blend Dodge
Stratus R/T 875
9. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, zMax Micro Lubricants Dodge
Stratus R/T 846
10. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., PiranaZ Pontiac GTO
798
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following 12 of 15 events)
1. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson
(2) 907
2. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki (2)
899
3. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki (3)
809
4. Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin
(2) 794
5. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Torco/Skull Gear S&S Buell V-Twin
(2) 697
6. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki
637
7. Ryan Schnitz, Decatur, Ind., Trim-Tex Drywall Products Buell
V-Twin (1) 634
8. Tom Bradford, Eagle, Wis., Hal's Speed Shop/Flying Doc Buell
V-Twin 568
9. Matt Guidera, Rocklin, Calif., Rocklin Motorsports Buell
V-Twin 525
10. Geno Scali, Lake in the Hills, Ill., Performance Machine Suzuki
488
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