Big Numbers at Route 66

By Susan Wade
Photos by AutoImagery
10/1/03

JOLIET, Ill. -- Poet Carl Sandburg called Chicago the "City of the Big Shoulders." Had he been at the NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals Sept. 25-28 to pen a verse about nearby Joliet, he might have chosen "City of the Big Numbers . . . and Big Surprises."

Cold temperatures, a stiff tailwind, ideal air, and a smooth track produced some sizzling elapsed times and speeds in a wild weekend of drag racing at Route 66 Raceway that a Friday rainstorm couldn't spoil.

The nephew-uncle Mac Tools Dragster combo of driver Doug Kalitta and crew chief Connie Kalitta claimed Top Fuel's No. 1 qualifying spot and low elapsed time of the event with a 4.428-second pass. In the process, they rewrote Larry Dixon's five-month-old national speed record of 332.75 miles an hour with a 333.00-mph run.

Cory McClenathan qualified second, also threatening Kenny Bernstein's 4.477-second national-record e.t. record that has stood since June 2, 2001 on this same surface. At the time, it was the second-quickest e.t. in NHRA history. And Tony Schumacher, whose U.S. Army Dragster had marched to two wins in the previous three final rounds, clocked a 4.464-second Round 2 pass in eliminating Kalitta.

In the end, Kenny Bernstein got what counted: the victory, with a 4.503-second pass at 328.46 mph in the final round against Dixon's 4.638/321.35. Dixon retained his points lead, but Bernstein -- who has been back in the Budweiser King/Lucas Oil Dragster only since the Topeka race -- cracked the top 10.

It was a sentimental victory for Bernstein and son Brandon. They had stood together in the winners circle at Route 66 Raceway in June 2001. The six-time National Hot Rod Association champion was there again, this time dedicating the triumph to the rookie whose sensational season was cut short.

Joining him were Tony Pedregon, who regained the Funny Car points lead from Round 1 loser Whit Bazemore this weekend and won as final-round foe Phil Burkhart watched his car break at the starting line, and Pro Stock winner Jeg Coughlin Jr., who benefited from points leader Greg Anderson's red-light disqualification.

Since the day that Kenny Bernstein won here in Top Fuel and Brandon in Top Alcohol Dragster, their lives changed dramatically. Bernstein retired last November, and Brandon took over the driving duties. He won three of the first eight races this year, then suffered a broken back in a first-round crash May 18 at Englishtown, N.J.

Kenny Bernstein returned to the cockpit, substituting for his son, and this first victory in this first final-round appearance carried a special significance.

"This one's for Brandon," Bernstein said of the $40,000 victory. "He suffered so much. You just have no idea what he went through . . . and he did it like a trouper. He's really supposed to be in the car. We've tried to do this since Englishtown and just hadn't got it done. Finally, today we did. This is a great and appropriate place to do it."