Motorsports

Son rises to Top (Fuel)

Brandon Bernstein tops John Smith in the final to win at Gatornationals.

By KRISTEN LEIGH PORTER
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 17, 2003

GAINESVILLE -- Brandon Bernstein first tested a Top Fuel car after last year's NHRA Gatornationals. So it was fitting that the rookie and his dragster sped through Sunday's final to take the third of 23 NHRA events this season.

Gary Densham (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike) were the other event champions at the Gainesville Raceway. None of 2002 event winners made the finals.

Bernstein notched his second victory with a pass of 4.594 seconds at 326.67 mph on the quarter-mile track, besting John Smith's 4.718, 315.90. He also won Feb.23 in Phoenix.

"I've got to pinch myself now, the first one was amazing and now to win back-to-back, that says a lot," Bernstein said.

The 30-year-old took over for his father, Kenny, who retired at the end of last season and kept the same crew chief and team. The elder Bernstein was the first NHRA driver to record a run of more than 300 mph, at Gainesville in 1992.

"For the final, he just said, 'Just do the same job and you'll be fine, and (crew chief) Tim (Richards) will have it set right and it will be great.' " said Brandon Bernstein, who set a track speed record on Saturday. Bernstein moved into second in points behind 2002 Gatornationals champ Larry Dixon, whom he beat in the semifinals. Bernstein also beat Dixon in the final at Phoenix.

Densham, 56, took the lead in Funny Car points for the second time in his career. It was the fifth win for the former high school auto shop teacher, who had a run of 4.876 at 320.85 mph to beat Del Worsham.

After losing in the final in Phoenix to Ron Capps, Densham was a little stressed.

"We had the best car again all day and you're thinking, 'What stupid thing could possibly happen in the final this time?' " he said.

Densham is 5-12 against Worsham. Earlier, Worsham defeated top qualifier Tony Pedregon.

"When you're racing somebody with as good a team as Worsham, you never know what they're going to throw at you," Densham said. "Del's obviously a great driver."

Johnson notched his first win at Gainesville Raceway with a pass of 6.825 at 202.65 mph over Jeg Coughlin Jr. at 6.840, 201.29. He said the 45-car field was tough.

"There's so many good drivers and the cars are so close that it's like Winston Cup racing in a quarter-mile right here," he said.

That field included his father, Warren Johnson, who was the runner-up in Gainesville in 1976. Kurt, who has been coming to Gainesville for 27 years, first to follow his father's races, was happy for the win.

"The first time we came here I was runner-up (1999)," Kurt Johnson said. "This place really sticks in my mind. It's a good place to race, the track's wide."

It was the 24th win for the 39-year-old. His 203.71 mph run during qualifying broke the Gainesville Raceway record. It was the first time Johnson ran the 2003 bodywork on his Cavalier, which was completed just over one week ago and spent Tuesday in the wind tunnel.

Savoie not only had a new Suzuki bike but is with a new team with Antron Brown.

With those factors, the 29-time winner said she could not believe she qualified No. 1 and took the final over Geno Scali. She posted a 7.240 at 182.333; her competitor started too soon.

"After you see those reds, to make it down the track is a miracle because I was already screaming in my helmet knowing I had won and here I'm trying to shift," she said.

The next event is the NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals April 3-6 in Las Vegas.

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