Trio wins again in 2nd trip to Strip

Monday, April 9, 2001 | 10:14 a.m.

You can bet that nobody is looking forward to the second National Hot Rod Association national event this year in Las Vegas more than Kenny Bernstein.

Except, perhaps, for Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Or maybe Bob Panella Jr.

Bernstein (Top Fuel), Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Panella (Pro Stock Truck) each repeated as category winners in the second annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

And all three are eagerly awaiting a return to Las Vegas in October for the inaugural fall event.

For Bernstein, the 56-year-old five-time NHRA champion, Sunday's win took on even more significance when his son, Brandon, also won Sunday's Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Dragster final at LVMS.

"Today is one of the proudest days in drag racing that I have ever had," the elder Bernstein said. "We're both very proud."

Bernstein, who recorded his 54th career victory Sunday by defeating Andrew Cowin in the final, ranked the afternoon just behind the day he became the first driver in NHRA history to break the 300-mph barrier.

More importantly, the win reaffirmed Bernstein's belief that his Bud King Racing Team is back on track after a two-year slump that saw him win only one race -- last year's event in Las Vegas.

"We needed that, didn't we?" said Bernstein, who recently brought Tim Richards aboard as crew chief.

Bernstein has said he plans to retire either at the end of this or next season and turn the reigns of the Bud King Dragster over to Brandon.

"This makes me feel good ... retirement is close by -- either this year or next -- and I never wanted to go out (running) the way we were the last two years. Probably the only thing that has kept me going is that I wouldn't give up on that; I just didn't want to quit under those circumstances.

"I just didn't have the right package working and hopefully this is it -- I certainly feel it is -- and maybe it will make retirement much easier now."

Bernstein's performance in Las Vegas was nothing short of dominant. In winning his 24th Top Fuel title, Bernstein also was the top qualifier, posted the low elapsed time and the top speed. It marked the first time he "ran the table" in an event since 1989 when he was competing in the Funny Car ranks.

Tommy Johnson Jr., the third-fastest qualifier, was the only category winner Sunday who did not visit the winner's circle in Las Vegas a year ago. Johnson, who is driving for his third in a little more than two seasons, nipped Whit Bazemore in the Funny Car final for his first title of the season.

"The last few years have been tough," said Johnson, who now is driving for team owner Don Prudhomme. "To get the opportunity to drive for somebody like Don Prudhomme ... it's the envy of all jobs out here to be able to be associated with a team like this.

"I've got a three-year deal, it gives me a lot of security and I don't have to worry about my job next year -- all I have to do is go out and drive racecars and win races."

Coughlin, the defending NHRA Winston Pro Stock champion, edged Jim Yates in the final for his first victory of the season.

"Winning here in Vegas is certainly a big feat for us," Coughlin, the 10th seed going into Sunday's finals, said. "We struggled a little bit this year and got our act together here slowly.

"We struggled a little bit early on in qualifying but we got it sorted out and sort of clawed our way through the field today and made all four of our runs down the right lane -- which was not the preferred lane. I think we're headed in the right direction now and I think this (win) is a sign of things to come."

Panella earned his first win of 2001 by edging Greg Stanfield in the Pro Stock Truck final -- which, he said, should have come as no surprise.

"Greg and I usually always put on if not the best race of the day, one of the best races of the day," Panella, the top qualifier, said. "Fortunately, I've been able to come out on top a few more times.

"I got a little loose there in high gear but we pulled it out and I can't tell you how good it feels."