Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Top Fuel driver Russell happy despite losing in LV

Thursday, April 11, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Taking into account everything Joe Amato's Top Fuel team went through last weekend, it is no wonder driver Darrell Russell considered his second-round loss a huge morale booster.

Before he ever got behind the wheel of his Bilstein Engine Flush System dragster at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Russell and the Amato team had to contend with a broken-down transporter and a walkout by four of their crew members.

After scrambling to get his equipment transported from Arizona -- where the hauler had broken down -- to Las Vegas in the pre-dawn hours Friday, Amato learned that four members of his crew had quit in protest over the recent firing of crew chief Jimmy Walsh. New crew chief Wayne Dupuy was forced to call in a few friends as a makeshift crew.

Russell, the 2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year, shook off the distractions, qualified 12th and scored a first-round win over Yuichi Oyama -- Russell's first elimination-round victory of the season. Russell was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Tony Schumacher, but still considered the weekend a success.

"I'm absolutely busting with pride about this group," Russell said of his team. "They turned a very bad situation into something very, very good.

"We might have only won one round, but it might be the biggest round win I've ever had. This was all about grit and determination and people showing each other what they're capable of."

Russell's first-round win propelled him into 10th place in the Top Fuel standings for the first time this season.

In Friday's edition of The Los Angeles Times, John Force related a phone conversation he had with Kenny Bernstein in which he said Bernstein told him, "I'm going to beat that Dixon kid just to prove I can beat him, and then I'm going to retire."

Bernstein outdueled Dixon for the Top Fuel crown last year but trails Dixon by 147 points after four races this season. The two already had a natural rivalry based upon their respective beer-company sponsorships.

"I am glad he is motivated," was Dixon's only comment when he was informed of Bernstein's remarks.

Dixon never got the chance to face Bernstein head-to-head last weekend in Las Vegas; Bernstein was eliminated in the semifinals by Cory McClenathan while Dixon won the event from the other side of the bracket.

E.T. Bracket racing will resume at The Strip Saturday evening. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with time trials at 5:30 and eliminations at 8:30.