- Results
- Top Sportsman
- Brandon Bernstein
Words by Glen Grissom
Photo by Ian Tocher
5/8/06
Cory Mac’s wild Top Fuel crash at Bristol was still a hot topic of discussion a week later at Atlanta Dragway during the Summit Racing Southern Nationals, and its somber and tense repercussions were in the background here all weekend. They will be felt and influencing the Top Fuel ranks for weeks to come. In the deep background of Mac’s crash was the memory of Darrell Russell’s death a couple of years ago in a similar Top Fuel accident involving a broken frame.
Atlanta is not usually noted for setting massive times because the spring climate is usually so much like a sauna there, and the air is too heavy and the track gets too greasy to lay down big numbers – and correspondingly stress Top Fuel chassis. That would not be the case this weekend though because of the rain delays and resulting cool temps that prevailed, and the track preparation made for perfect conditions for fast times, short tempers, challenged confidence, and wringing hands.
THE ECHO
Cory’s highlight reel incident at Bristol was strongly echoed on Friday night’s under-the-lights qualifying at Atlanta’s speed strip. Brandon Bernstein’s Budweiser Top Fueler had a left-rear tire “go down” just after he crossed the finish line (setting Low ET), and the chutes were out. Let us translate: the Goodyear tire instantly turned to shards and strips of torn rubber, and the left-rear wheel and rim began grinding into the track. Brandon was suddenly trying to control the world’s fastest tricycle.
The mood and people at the end of the track instantly went from “Stay Alert” to “Help Him Now!” in the time it takes you to read it. DRO had a spare pair of eyes and ears on the spot to offer this up-close and unique view of a “hairy run” and the aftermath.
The first indication of any problems with Brandon’s run for the observers near the turn-out was when, just past the finish line, the left-rear rim began throwing off white-hot sparking metal chips as it ground into the track. The car was angling way over to the left, and in a bit of very impressive driving, he kept the Budweiser/Lucas Oil car off the walls and from crossing into the right lane. He was fortunate the flapping tire shards didn’t take out the rear wing and really make the car much more than the handful it was at this speed. Brandon later noted he had felt a vibration moments before the rear tire became pieces.
Equally impressive was that the Safety Safari equipment and people were out on the track and closing in on Brandon even while he was still moving at a plenty fast clip and not stopped. You have to admire and respect those safety people. They have the training to face fire and mayhem, but they still must have major fortitude to drive straight at potential danger at a full clip with no hesitation.