Drag Racing Online: The Magazine

Under threatening skies at the 25th annual Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd (MN) International Raceway, Brandon Bernstein picked up his third Top Fuel win in 2006, Tommy Johnson Jr. raced to his second Funny Car title of the year, Dave Connolly scored in Pro Stock for a class-leading fourth time this season, and Antron Brown took over the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead with
his second event win this
year. And as always, in
quotes taken from NHRA
and team press releases,
the racers told the story
in their own words.

"I never
saw him or
heard him.”
— Brandon
Bernstein
after going
4.510 at
329.34 mph,
while final-
round
opponent Tony Schumacher coasted through after losing traction early

"It's always nice to end up number one, but you still have to make it pay off on raceday.”— Schumacher after securing his eighth top starting position this year with a 4.499-seconds pass at 330.72 mph on Friday evening

“I don't believe it's the car as much as the knobs they're turning. They've turned the right knobs this weekend and the car is responding well so far.”— Larry Dixon after qualifying 3rd

“His best run
isn't much
quicker than
ours, so to me it's a toss-up
race.”— David Baca after qualifying 9th, on his first-round match
against points leader Doug Kalitta

"We have a big responsibility tomorrow. We completely understand how all the different scenarios could play out, but the one sure thing is, if we win, we advance and that's what our plans are for Sunday."— Morgan Lucas after qualifying 11th, on the points ramifications of his first-round match against Cory McClenathan

"We are definitely on the right track.” — Bob Vandergriff after qualifying 13th for raceday