Bernstein denies report of his return

Monday, April 7, 2003 | 10 a.m.

Goin' fishin' sometimes isn't all its cracked up to be.

It has been only four races since drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein retired on top of his game, but already rumors have surfaced that he is eager to get back behind the wheel.

Bernstein, 54, admits he is itching like a guy in a mosquito-infested jungle who forgot his Calamine lotion. But he says he doesn't plan to scratch.

Not in the forseeable future, anyway.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Thursday that talk around the NHRA suggests Bernstein is not through driving, and could be back in a Top Fuel car even before this season is over.

"There's never been an interest in not driving. I love to drive the car," said Bernstein, the only driver to win championships in both Top Fuel (2) and Funny Car (4), the NHRA's top professional categories, during a break in Sunday's Summit.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"But as it stands now, there's not any truth in that statement. There's nothing on the table, no plans whatsoever for me to get back in the race car this year or even next year."

But it's the way that Bernstein framed his denial that could cause one to surmise that he is leaving the door open for a comeback.

"Does that mean I'll never drive again? I make no bones about it, I miss driving the race car and I'm sure they (others in the sport) can see it on my face," Bernstein said. "But it would take some prevailing circumstances for me to get back in the car.

"And right now, I've got nothing prevailing."

Bernstein's retirement paved the way for his son, Brandon, to launch his career in the famous Budweiser King dragster. Brandon Bernstein, 30, picked up where his father left off, winning two his first three races, before being eliminated in Sunday's semifinal round.

If Bernstein would return, it most likely wouldn't be as a teammate to his son. A team source said it's doubtful that Budweiser would commit the significant sponsorship dollars it would take to run a second car.

Bernstein won 65 races during his career, and usually brought out the best in his competitors. One added some fuel to the rumors by telling the Star-Telegram that he doesn't believe Bernstein is content as a car owner.

"When Kenny talks, he doesn't seem like he's done driving yet," said Bernstein's "Beer Wars" rival Larry Dixon, driver of the Miller Lite Top Fuel car, who edged Bernstein for last year's championship.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in a car before the end of the year. I don't know how that would all pan out (team-wise), but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a car. I've heard the chatter. It's out there in the pit area."

Dixon joked that one thing that could work against Bernstein coming back is that he's 40 pounds heavier that Brandon.

"I know if we could get 40 pounds out of the car, we'd go quicker, too," Dixon said.

When told of Dixon's remarks, Bernstein issued a two word retort: An expletive followed by Dixon's name.

"Maybe 20 pounds. Not 40," Bernstein said with only the thinnest of smiles.