Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002 | 10:24 a.m.
Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4089.
Kenny Bernstein admitted he would be feeling a little nostalgic when the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series heads to Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway in two weeks for the Mac Tools Gatornationals.
This year's race will mark Bernstein's 10-year anniversary of becoming the first drag racer to break the 300-mph barrier with his run of 301.70. Bernstein is retiring at the end of this season and it will be his final visit as a driver to the historic quarter-mile.
"Out of all the races and championships we've won through the years, if I had to pick one crowning achievement, it would have to be March 20, 1992, the day we were the first to penetrate the 300 mph barrier," Bernstein said. "That happened during the first day of qualifying, on Friday, right here at Gainesville Raceway, and it was totally unexpected.
"When I rounded the corner at the top end of the racetrack after the run, one of the (NHRA) Safety Safari members held up three fingers. I thought he meant we were in third place in qualifying and I was a little disappointed because that ride felt really quick. When I got my helmet off, he congratulated me and said we were the first to go 300 miles per hour. I couldn't believe it. It's probably the last major milestone we'll see for some time to come."
Bernstein's 300-mph run set the stage for another memorable achievement in his career. Two months later, the Indy Car team that Bernstein owned at the time won the pole for the Indianapolis 500, with Roberto Guerrero driving.
Bernstein, who is in fourth place in the Top Fuel standings after two events, hopes to parlay his four career wins (three in Funny Car) at Gainesville into a successful final run next month.
"We hope we can capitalize off some of the past success we've had at this track; we always want to leave with the trophy," Bernstein said. "Our performance last year was phenomenal with eight victories and 12 final-round appearances out of 24 races. We raised the performance bar pretty high.
"We're anxious for our first victory of the season and Gainesville holds a lot of memories for us. What better place for us to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the barrier run."
Osborne, who was the third-fastest qualifier at the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., said the death this winter of his brother had forced him to spend extra time in the family's excavation, mining, and trucking business.
Nickens said he is searching for a replacement driver for Osborne and intends to have him in the team's Dodge Neon R/T in time for the Gatornationals.
Force earned his 99th win at the season-opening Winternationals by defeating Worsham in the finals and Worsham said he was determined to get the upper hand Sunday.
"I didn't want to be known as the guy who gave John his 100th win," Worsham said after his eighth career victory. "We all know it's eventually going to happen and I might still be the guy, but we're glad we won this one. He has beaten us all by six-inches over the years and I was determined that it wasn't going to happen today."
Force downplayed the loss.
"I've had plenty of wins and I'll get more, but today just wasn't my day,' Force said. "It's kind of like it was destiny; the kid was due."
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