In April, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team toured the Las Vegas Nellis Air Force Base and when they saw the USAF mission statement, "Fly, fight and win," they decided to adapt it to

"Drive, fight and win!"

"I think our team embodies that mission statement," said Bernstein. "We got a win at the last race in Richmond after hard-fought months of trying. Our team never gave up. We kept morale up, we continued to get better and better, and we finally had our break-through victory.

"We were runner-up in Vegas in April and we'd sure like another trip to the finals this time around. We've had a great car these past few races, but we weren't able to capitalize on our performance until the last race in Richmond. I think that victory gives us momentum and incentive to finish the year out with a flourish.

"With only Vegas and Pomona left on our calendar this year, it's a dogfight. Nearly every one of the drivers in the top 10 in the Countdown has won a race this year. So obviously that means everyone is capable and it's a nail biter for each of the crew members and all the drivers. Everyone is under the microscope and has to do their job.

"It also means every bonus point in each qualifying round is critical and there's a 20-point bonus, equivalent to a round, if you set a national record. We're coming into some cool weather and quick tracks, so anything's possible. The fans are in for a treat on Halloween weekend in Vegas!

"We are also anxious to take our friends at New York-New York Hotel and Casino to victory. They were with us for our win in 2007. If we can take them to victory again this time, our team will be big-time celebrating Sunday night at New York-New York."

Bernstein is currently fifth in NHRA Full Throttle point standings. Besides the recent victory in Richmond, the Budweiser/Lucas Oil team has four runner-up finishes on their scorecard this year.

Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 4 p.m. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

LAS VEGAS NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY
Qualifying - October 31 - ESPN2 10 p.m. - 12 a.m. ET
NHRA Race Day - November 1 - ESPN2
11-11:30 a.m. ET
Eliminations - November 2 - ESPN2
7- 10 p.m. ET

Six-time NHRA champion team owner Kenny Bernstein has extended his team's official hotel relationship with the newly remodeled contemporary New York-New York Hotel & Casino for the NHRA national events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"We invite fans who may be planning to attend the race to book their rooms at our favorite Las Vegas resort," said Bernstein. "Our team loved ROK VegasT and they're looking forward to returning."

ROK Vegas is the sexy new nightclub opened last year mesmerizing party-goers with riveting mash-ups and rock-inspired imagery. ROK features the first-ever 360-degree video screen in a Las Vegas nightclub. From every angle, guests are surrounded by concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation all chosen by the intuitive Video Jockey (VJ). Club-goers revel in the "concert-like" setting as ROK's DJ spins mash-ups choreographed in time with remarkable video imagery displayed above. ROK's intimate setting also includes an exclusive outdoor VIP lounge just steps away from the pulsating Las Vegas Strip.

New York-New York showcases a remodeled contemporary 84,000-square-foot casino.

Set against a backdrop of famous New York landmarks, the gaming area includes 70 gaming tables. More than 50 televisions broadcast major sporting events in the casino's table game areas allowing players to experience the energy and excitement of gaming along with the exhilaration and intensity of sporting events. For those who follow professional sports, New York-New York offers a Race & Sports Book. Located adjacent to ESPN Zone, the book features 46 televisions, 12 61-inch big screen televisions, comfortable seating, beverage service and electronic satellite wagering.

Inspired by the famous energy and landmarks of New York City, New York-New York features 12 New York-style skyscrapers showcasing 2,023 guest rooms and suites. Other featured Big Apple icons include a 150-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty; and a 300-foot-long replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. Within the resort are award-winning restaurants including Gallagher's Steakhouse, Il Fornaio and Nine Fine Irishmen, an authentic pub offering the best of Irish drink, food and music. New York-New York also offers the provocative and sensuous Cirque du Soleil production, Zumanity. New York-New York is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM MIRAGET. For more information and reservations, visit the web site at http://www.nynyhotelcasino.com, or call toll free at (800) 693-6763.

Notable: This year marks the 30th anniversary of Budweiser and the Bernstein team. It is an unprecedented watermark and the longest sponsor/team association in all of autosports. Budweiser has announced that it will leave the team at the end of the season. Copart, Inc.,

an online vehicle auction company, will be the primary sponsor of the Kenny Bernstein Racing dragster in 2010.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to all the Budweiser executives, brand and sports management personnel that have touched our lives through these past three decades," said Bernstein. "Budweiser helped a Texas boy's racing dreams come true.

"At the same time, we welcome Copart president Jay Adair, CEO and founder Willis Johnson, and the Copart family. They bring a lot of energy to our team and we are looking forward to a new look and a great 2010 season.

"Being able to announce a sponsor for next season in this tough economic climate shows the value of our sport. We owe a debt of gratitude to NHRA for helping to get Copart interested in our sport, and to our friend and Vacaville, Calif. restaurateur Joe Murdaca who networked with us to get Copart president Jay Adair to the race in Sonoma and used his knowledge of our team and our sport to help solidify the deal."

"We urge all our fans to log onto http://www.copart.com and check out the motorized inventory - cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, you name it - offered for sale. The fans will love the virtual bidding, VB2."

Budweiser Lager Lesson: Budweiser is one of the most difficult beers to brew because it is fermented at cooler temperatures, thus taking more time to brew, yet resulting in a clean, crisp taste that you don't get from other beers.

Courtesy of Susie Arnold