One of the big downer stories in NHRA drag racing this year was the loss of Budweiser as the team sponsor of Brandon Bernstein’s Top Fuel ride. They have been partners for decades and Brandon’s father Kenny is one of the legendary drag racers of all time. He’s also one of the sport’s great business minds, and that shone through again as the team has secured funding for 2010.
That funding will not be of the drinkable, refreshing, barley and hops derived kind. Instead it will come from Copart, which according to the NHRA announcement is, “an online vehicle remarketing company that sells more than one million cars per year.”
We have no idea what the hell “automotive remarketing” is. If it’s used car sales, please just tell us that in simple terms.
Bernstein has long said that he will not run the car on a shoestring and will only compete at a level that makes his team, on paper anyway, a championship contender. Apparently the deal with Copart will bring them to this level and they’ll be out for the whole tour in 2010. King Kenny gets it done again.
Here’s the release from NHRA.com:
Six-time NHRA champion and Hall of Famer Kenny Bernstein has named Copart, Inc., an online vehicle remarketing company that sells more than 1 million cars per year, as the primary sponsor of his legendary Top Fuel team beginning in 2010.
Copart sells vehicles using an online auction format at Copart.com, making it easy for people to search for and bid on vehicles from the comfort of their home or office.
“We are thrilled to be announcing this new relationship with Copart,” said Bernstein. “We visited Copart headquarters in July and were amazed by the technology that allows buyers from all over the world to bid on an extensive inventory of more than 50,000 vehicles each day.”
Buyers can choose from classic, early, and late model cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, jet skis and recreational vehicles – all in a variety of conditions. The vehicles are located at more than 130 facilities nationwide, making it easy to find a great deal nearby.
“This new relationship with Kenny Bernstein is a perfect fit for Copart, as there is a high percentage of do-it-yourselfers and car enthusiasts that follow NHRA who can benefit from our selection of great vehicles,” said Copart President Jay Adair. “Kenny Bernstein is a known winner, and Copart buyers also win when they are the highest bidder on a car and get a great deal. We all know that winning is awesome, and we look forward to a winning season with Kenny Bernstein!”
Bernstein added that he is also excited to announce the birth of the Copart dragster for the 2010 season, which will feature a new blue paint scheme that mirrors Copart’s colors.
Bernstein is well-known throughout the motorsports community. He holds the unique distinction of being the only race team owner to have collected wins in each of America’s three major motorsports series: NHRA drag racing, NASCAR, and IndyCar racing. There’s hardly a major NHRA award he hasn’t won, and most he’s won in multiples.
In 2009, Budweiser and Bernstein celebrate their 30th anniversary, the longest sponsor/team association in all of motorsports. In 30 years together, Budweiser and Kenny Bernstein Racing captured six NHRA titles, including four consecutive Funny Car crowns (1985-1988) and two Top Fuel titles (1996, 2001). Kenny and son Brandon, who assumed the driving duties in 2003, amassed 85 national event victories under the Budweiser flag and in 1992, Kenny became the first driver to surpass the 300 mile-per-hour barrier.
Kenny has made his mark, but his expertise goes far beyond wins and losses. He is first and foremost a businessman. Bernstein, who is famous for building the Budweiser brand identity in the motorsports community for the past three decades will now promote Copart’s brand with the same zeal.
The 2010 season will mark Brandon’s eighth as pilot of the Kenny Bernstein Racing dragster. He has 17 career victories to his credit and had the most successful career launch of any other Top Fuel or Funny Car driver. Brandon won five of his first 13 starts, including his second-ever start in the race at Phoenix, and was voted the 2003 Southern California Auto Club “Rookie of the Year.”
The Bernsteins are fan favorites and have spent years working in markets across the United States, helping to build awareness and sales for brands they represent.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the fans who have supported us through the years and to the media who have brought our story into the homes of millions these past three decades,” said Bernstein in concluding remarks. “We are happy that we will continue to race and field the Copart team in NHRA drag racing. We think we have been one of the marquee teams in this sport for the past three decades and we bring with us 30 years of fan base. NHRA drag racing is our home
