Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Bernstein, Force, Marnell favored in LVMS races

Thursday, March 28, 2002 | 10:59 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.

Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Las Vegas' own George Marnell are favored to win their respective categories in next weekend's SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, according to odds posted at Station Casinos sports books.

Bernstein, who has won two Top Fuel titles in three trips to The Strip, is listed a 5-2 favorite to capture the Top Fuel crown. The 57-year-old Bernstein has advanced to the final round of eliminations twice this season but still is searching for his first victory of 2002.

"We've been to the final round two out of three races this season," Bernstein said. "We've had a lot of success at The Strip, winning both spring races since the track opened. We hope to be able to capitalize on that success, and roll the dice for another win."

Larry Dixon, who has advanced to the final round of eliminations at all three races this season and has two victories, is listed at 7-2 to win the Top Fuel title here.

Force, who comes to Las Vegas looking to earn his 100th career NHRA victory, also is a 5-2 favorite in the Funny Car category although the 11-time NHRA champion has yet to win at The Strip in three tries.

Del Worsham, who has one win in two final-round appearances this season, is 4-1 at Station Casinos properties.

Marnell, who has not qualified for the final round eliminations at either of the two previous spring races at The Strip, is a 3-1 favorite to capture the Pro Stock title in his hometown race.

Marnell, a successful Las Vegas businessman, earned his second career NHRA victory at the season-opening Winternationals last month in Pomona, Calif., and is leading the Pro Stock points standings after three races.

Marnell did not rule out the possibility of having the sponsorship deal extended beyond the May 19 race.

"Who knows what the future holds?" Marnell said. "For now, I know we'll do everything we can for Matco Tools and hopefully it's enough that we work something else out for the long run."

Dixon said he admires Bernstein, who is retiring as a driver at the end of this season, for going out "on his own terms" with his "Forever Red -- A Run to Remember" farewell tour.

"He is having a (farewell) tour and that is a great thing for him," Dixon said. "Not too many people get to go out on their own terms. Snake (Dixon's team owner Don Prudhomme) got to do it with the Final Strike Tour ... (and) Richard Petty, Mario Andretti.

"Other people lose their sponsorship and can't get it and they still want to keep racing. But being able to go out on your own terms is the way to go. Getting to go out and not just people phasing you out or sponsors not wanting you anymore -- there is a lot to be said for that."

Savoie, the two-time reigning NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, has been without a primary sponsor since Winston was forced to drop its funding at the end of last season due to the Master Settlement Agreement between the tobacco companies and the state attorneys general.