Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Odds against Bernstein going out on top

Friday, Oct. 18, 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.

Kenny Bernstein knows he has his work cut out if he is to end his brilliant career with one more NHRA championship.

Bernstein, who has won four Funny Car and two Top Fuel championships since 1985, trails Larry Dixon by 108 points going into next weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With two races remaining on the 2002 NHRA schedule and a maximum of 138 points available at each race, Dixon can clinch his first Top Fuel championship if he leaves Las Vegas with a lead of 139 points or greater.

"It's just a real long shot," Bernstein admitted of his opportunity to catch Dixon in the final two races. "We've still got a slight chance and funnier things have happened. Everybody counted us out of there at one point (this summer) when he was 260 points ahead, so all you can do is keep fighting at it."

Bernstein eliminated Dixon in the quarterfinals last weekend at the Texas Motorplex but lost to race winner Doug Kalitta in the semifinals and gained only 19 points on Dixon. Had Bernstein gone on to win, he could have gained 60 points on his rival.

"We had a golden opportunity in Dallas last week and I wish we could have taken big advantage of it. We knocked Larry out -- which we had to do -- in the second round and if we could have just finished it up, it would have made it real exciting at Vegas.

"But (we) didn't and that's the way it is. He could get beat in the first round and we could win the race and pick up 80 points and -- bingo -- we're only 20 behind; you just never know. We'll just keep going as hard as we can go and do what we've been doing all year."

But even a sweep of the final two races won't guarantee Bernstein the championship in his final season as driver.

"Even if we won both of them, it doesn't mean we would (win the championship) because if he runners-up at both, all we gain is 40 points. It would just be nice to win two more races and finish it up that way."

Bernstein has enjoyed his share of success at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He won the first two spring events in Las Vegas (in 2000 and 2001) and was runner-up at the inaugural fall event here last year. In this year's spring race at The Strip, Bernstein lost to Cory McClenathan in the semifinals and Dixon went on to win.

Vasser was at Lowe's Motor Speedway last weekend talking with ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series team owner Todd Braun. During the CART race weekend in Miami two weeks ago, Vasser told reporters he didn't expect to be back with Team Rahal in CART next year and that a Busch Series ride would appeal to him because it would allow him to continue to run the Indianapolis 500.

"Team Rahal is not in position to keep the team intact, or so I'm told," Vasser told the Indianapolis Star. 'There's interest all around the paddock but nobody's able to make a commitment. Nobody's ever won a CART championship and a Winston Cup championship, and I'd like to be the first. But, at this point, it's hard to make choices until there's some options."

Jamie McMurray, subbing for the injured Sterling Marlin, drove the car to victory Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway in only his second Winston Cup start. Bliss will fill in for McMurray for one race because McMurray is committed to driving in the Busch Series race Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park.