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NHRA: Bernstein, Epler end victory droughts at NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals

10 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

LAS VEGAS - The NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series' newest venue was officially inaugurated by a couple of the sport's Top Fuel legends Sunday, as Kenny Bernstein defeated Joe Amato in a thrilling side-by-side, tire-smoking finish at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals.

Jim Epler, Jeg Coughlin, Angelle Seeling and Bob Panella also were winners in their respective categories before a standing-room-only crowd at the spectacular Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The $1.8 million race was the fourth of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Bernstein, 55, from Lake Forest, Calif., finessed his Budweiser King dragster to a 4.907-second run at 282.78 mph, ousting fellow 55-year-old Amato, who lost traction and ran 5.213 at 314.09 in his Dynomax dragster. It was Bernstein's 23rd Top Fuel victory, and 53rd overall.

After disposing of first round foe Bobby Baldwin, Bernstein took the easy ride into the semifinals when Tony Schumacher turned on the red-light. Bernstein then overpowered Gary Scelzi in the semis before passing Amato in the final.

"To win today against the best out there is a great feeling," said No. 1 qualifier Bernstein, who debuted a new Hadman chassis at this event. "We had to race Schumacher, Scelzi and Amato. All the drivers out here are tough, but that's a pretty tough day's work as far as I'm concerned."

His second round match with points leader Schumacher was especially critical. Schumacher, who received a reprieve when first round opponent Tim Gibson was disqualified for using too much nitromethane in his fuel mixture, seemed destined to reach his fourth straight final. Five-time NHRA Winston champion Bernstein had other plans.

"These youngsters are great kids and great drivers, but when you can get the total package together on a certain day -- meaning the mechanical side, the crew chief side, the driving and a little bit of luck -- then you can get it done," he said. "We had all of those elements working for us today. It was a great effort for the team. We've got a long year ahead of us and we're just tickled to get (a win) at this stage."

It is the first victory for Bernstein since the 1998 NHRA Finals. "This is a big one," Bernstein said. "We've had a year-and-a-half drought and the pressure was starting to build for the team. That's a long time to go without a win. It's not the normal deal for us. The guys can take a breath now and say, 'OK, we got it accomplished, now let's move on.' We've been saying for five months that we just need to win one."

Perhaps an inaugural event was all that the King of Speed needed to get back into the winner's circle. He's got a strong record in inaugural events: he won the 1998 debut of the Route 66 Raceway near Chicago and posted a runner-up finish in the 1997 grand-opening at the Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

"Maybe these guys need to keep on building these great facilities so we can keep on winning races," said a grinning Bernstein, who earned approximately $50,000 for the victory. "This Vegas deal has been phenomenal. I can't begin to tell you how much support we've felt in the community."

Despite the second round exit, Schumacher remained in the Winston points lead, nine in front of Scelzi. With the victory, Bernstein moved into third in the standings, 56 behind the leader.

Epler, from Phoenix, scored his third career Funny Car victory and first since 1993, knocking off Tony Pedregon in the final. Epler's WWF Racing Chevy Camaro produced a winning 4.983 at 302.21, while Pedregon's Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang lost traction near the finish and recorded a 5.417 at 197.02.

"It's been six-and-a-half years since I've won," said Epler, who debuted a new paint scheme on his Camaro featuring WWF wrestler 'Kane.' "I'm just really happy to get it done again. Jerry (Toliver, team owner) has done such an exceptional job of putting together a winning team that it makes racing a lot of fun. The car was just on a string every run today. It was flawless."

Epler's victory march included consecutive low five second runs in round wins over Cristen Powell, Al Hofmann and Dean Skuza. He earned approximately $50,000 for the victory.

"It just takes a great team effort to win out here and that's what we have now," said Epler, who teamed with Toliver last season at the U.S. Nationals following consecutive engine explosions during races at Seattle and Sonoma, Calif. while he campaigned as an independent car owner. "That was probably the first time that I actually thought about quitting. The only reason I'm out here is to win and have fun. I wasn't having any fun at that time. But fortunately I got to talk with Jerry and this opportunity came about. It sort of clicked right away at Indy when we were runner-up."

It was Epler's ninth career final round. He posted two of those runner-up finishes last season and one in '98 at Englishtown, N.J. He had no final round appearances from '95 to '97.

"During my dry spell I really never gave up hope that I could win again," Epler said. "I always knew I could do it. The great team we have now pulled through this weekend. The 4.98 we ran in the final says it all."

Two-time season winner Toliver, who debuted a new paint scheme featuring WWF wrestler 'The Rock,' remains the Winston points leader after suffering an uncharacteristic first round loss to Skuza. Runner-up Pedregon moved into second in the standings, followed by nine-time champion John Force in third. With the win, Epler took over the fifth spot in the standings.

Coughlin, from Columbus, Ohio, drove his Jeg's Mail Order Oldsmobile Cutlass to his third Pro Stock victory of the season, defeating rival Warren Johnson's Pontiac Firebird. Coughlin covered the distance in 7.072 at 195.56, to edge Johnson, who posted a 7.100 at 195.51.

With his 11th career victory, Coughlin extended his points lead over the five-time series champion.

"We've tried to capitalize on our opportunities and not make mistakes and so far it's worked," said Coughlin, who defeated Mike Trumble, Jamie Yates and Mark Pawuk to earn a spot in the final round match with Johnson. "We've still got a long season ahead of us and we'll try to keep our ducks in a row and keep on going rounds. Warren's always a tough competitor and he's the defending champion, but our plan it to turn that 1-2 finish around the other way this year."

Seeling, from New Orleans, claimed her first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of the season and 11th overall, outrunning Tony Mullen in a battle of Suzukis. Seeling's bike ran 7.405 at 177.28, while Mullen shut his bike off early due to mechanical problems.

"I really focused on doing a good job all weekend," said Seeling, who posted consecutive low 7.40s to defeat Brian DeLong, Geno Scali and Craig Treble and advance to the final. "I really had good lights and I think I did a good job shifting and going straight. The credit goes to the guys at Star Racing because they give my Team Winston Suzuki the power that it needs. I've sort of learned how to control my emotions after winning, but today I let it all go and started crying. It's really special to win an inaugural event like this."

Runner-up Mullen moved into the Winston points lead for the first time in his career. He holds a two point advantage over Seeling.

Defending Pro Stock Truck series champion Panella, from Stockton, Calif., earned his second victory of the season and sixth overall, powering away from fellow Chevy S-10 driver Randy Daniels at the finish. Panella recorded a 7.680 at 176.24 to Daniels' 7.719 at 175.75.

"I wish we could figure out why my yellow S-10 likes these new racetracks," Panella said. "We go to tracks at sea level like Gainesville and struggle and come to high elevation tracks like this one and go to tracks where it's hot like Chicago and do well. If we can figure out what our advantage is in those situations, we may be on to something."

With the victory, Panella moved back into the points lead, 51 ahead of fellow Chevy S-10 driver Greg Stanfield.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 13th annual O'Reilly Nationals presented by Pennzoil, April 13-16, at Houston Raceway Park.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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