BERNSTEIN EXPLAINS DECISION
Wed, 2007-12-19 08:03
Six-time NHRA Champion tells Speedfreaks.tv why he stepped away from driving again …
Kenny Bernstein said it was a personal thought process that inspired
him to step away from driving his Monster Energy drink Funny Car and
subsequently hiring veteran Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson, Jr.
That’s what the six-time NHRA POWERade World Champion told the Speedfreaks in a recent interview. The full interview can be heard on the Speedfreaks.tv website. Click HERE to listen to the full interview.
Even though Bernstein adamantly states in the interview that his decision is not a retirement, he does add that the facts are the facts.
“We eliminated the word from our press release - retirement,” Bernstein said. “We knew no one would believe it any way. I do feel that way this minute and I don’t think that will change. There’s a big difference in that feeling this time and that it has never been there before. There’s that feeling and I’m going to be real frank about it, it’s kind of hard to say it, but it’s the facts of life. Six-time NHRA Champion tells Speedfreaks.tv why he stepped away from driving again …
Kenny Bernstein said it was a personal thought process that inspired him to step away from driving his Monster Energy drink Funny Car and subsequently hiring veteran Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson, Jr.
That’s what the six-time NHRA POWERade World Champion told the Speedfreaks in a recent interview. The full interview can be heard on the Speedfreaks.tv website. Click HERE to listen to the full interview.
Even though Bernstein adamantly states in the interview that his decision is not a retirement, he does add that the facts are the facts.
“We eliminated the word from our press release - retirement,” Bernstein said. “We knew no one would believe it any way. I do feel that way this minute and I don’t think that will change. There’s a big difference in that feeling this time and that it has never been there before. There’s that feeling and I’m going to be real frank about it, it’s kind of hard to say it, but it’s the facts of life.
“I do believe that a driver gets to a point that he feels he’s had enough and their life is fulfilled to the point they don’t want it messed up for the next ten years to where they can’t function and carry on a normal life – that it’s time to quit. That’s where I am at. Those thoughts keep popping in there and that tells me that it is time to get out of there.
”The facts are the facts. I am 63. I’m in great health, knock on wood. I’m in great shape from working out and taking great care of myself and I want to enjoy the next 15 years of my life and I don’t want to have a problem because of a race at this stage in my life. That’s what it really boils down to. I’ve come to face that fact and that music.”
Bernstein pointed out that he expected to drive the Monster Energy Drink Funny Car for a limited time anyway when he announced his return during a press conference at the 2006 U.S. Nationals in Indy.
“I had thought back a couple of months ago that I would go one more year and that was about it,” Bernstein said. “Tommy became available which changed my thought process. That didn’t happen until the World Finals on Saturday when he told me that he was available if I had anything.
“I told him that I might think about it a little with him being available because one, I like Tommy and I think he is a great driver. I think he’d be a great representative for our company and the sponsor Monster and all of the people involved. I started thinking about it some more and felt that maybe it was time to do this.
“After the wreck in Dallas, I stopped and thought a little bit about it and said, ‘Maybe at this stage in your life – maybe it’s time to go one more year, hang up this helmet and get out of Dodge and go back to being an owner again. Basically when Tommy became available, it sped that process up. I felt like at this stage in my life and my career that it was time to go ahead and get out of this car.
“Like everybody when you get to a certain age and your career has been so successful and I owe that to every crew chief and crew member over the years, the fans and the sponsors, I just had to ask myself, ‘What is it going to prove to win another race or two at this stage?' It’s probably time to get out of here when you’re able to enjoy the rest of your life the way you should enjoy it. I felt this was an important thing to do for me.
“I always had a rule for myself and that was if I ever felt like I needed to get out of the car, not from being afraid or anything, just the fact it was time to get out – that’s when you need to get out. I felt that was the reason I needed to do that.”
Johnson’s free agency in 2008 came forward as team owner Don Prudhomme revealed the Skoal-sponsored Funny Car team would be parked and the major sponsorship would transfer to the Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon.
Johnson would remain under contract and while he wouldn’t drive, Prudhomme said that he would honor the driver’s contract while searching for a sponsor replacement.
Prudhomme agreed that if Johnson found an offer he’d immediately release him from the contract. That release came when Bernstein offered Johnson the ride.
Johnson’s availability came at the right time for Bernstein, who admitted he told Monster Energy Drink that he had another two years left in him as a driver and then he planned to put someone younger in the car.
Bernstein pointed out that he returned to driving because he didn’t feel that he was completely finished with driving when he announced the program to return with Monster.
“I guess the itch was still there to drive and to perform, and to have that feeling in the race car and the competition that was inbredded in me from Day One,” Bernstein said. “The itch was still there. I think, in all honesty, that I missed the driving and the competition side of it. I enjoyed driving last year even though we didn’t do really well. When the car ran well, I enjoyed competing against the guys. It’s an itch I had to scratch and after you scratch it, it is okay. That’s the best way to explain it.”
Kenny Bernstein said it was a personal thought process that inspired
him to step away from driving his Monster Energy drink Funny Car and
subsequently hiring veteran Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson, Jr. That’s what the six-time NHRA POWERade World Champion told the Speedfreaks in a recent interview. The full interview can be heard on the Speedfreaks.tv website. Click HERE to listen to the full interview.
Even though Bernstein adamantly states in the interview that his decision is not a retirement, he does add that the facts are the facts.
“We eliminated the word from our press release - retirement,” Bernstein said. “We knew no one would believe it any way. I do feel that way this minute and I don’t think that will change. There’s a big difference in that feeling this time and that it has never been there before. There’s that feeling and I’m going to be real frank about it, it’s kind of hard to say it, but it’s the facts of life. Six-time NHRA Champion tells Speedfreaks.tv why he stepped away from driving again …
Kenny Bernstein said it was a personal thought process that inspired him to step away from driving his Monster Energy drink Funny Car and subsequently hiring veteran Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson, Jr.That’s what the six-time NHRA POWERade World Champion told the Speedfreaks in a recent interview. The full interview can be heard on the Speedfreaks.tv website. Click HERE to listen to the full interview.
Even though Bernstein adamantly states in the interview that his decision is not a retirement, he does add that the facts are the facts.
“We eliminated the word from our press release - retirement,” Bernstein said. “We knew no one would believe it any way. I do feel that way this minute and I don’t think that will change. There’s a big difference in that feeling this time and that it has never been there before. There’s that feeling and I’m going to be real frank about it, it’s kind of hard to say it, but it’s the facts of life.
“I do believe that a driver gets to a point that he feels he’s had enough and their life is fulfilled to the point they don’t want it messed up for the next ten years to where they can’t function and carry on a normal life – that it’s time to quit. That’s where I am at. Those thoughts keep popping in there and that tells me that it is time to get out of there.
”The facts are the facts. I am 63. I’m in great health, knock on wood. I’m in great shape from working out and taking great care of myself and I want to enjoy the next 15 years of my life and I don’t want to have a problem because of a race at this stage in my life. That’s what it really boils down to. I’ve come to face that fact and that music.”
Bernstein pointed out that he expected to drive the Monster Energy Drink Funny Car for a limited time anyway when he announced his return during a press conference at the 2006 U.S. Nationals in Indy.
“I had thought back a couple of months ago that I would go one more year and that was about it,” Bernstein said. “Tommy became available which changed my thought process. That didn’t happen until the World Finals on Saturday when he told me that he was available if I had anything.
“I told him that I might think about it a little with him being available because one, I like Tommy and I think he is a great driver. I think he’d be a great representative for our company and the sponsor Monster and all of the people involved. I started thinking about it some more and felt that maybe it was time to do this.“After the wreck in Dallas, I stopped and thought a little bit about it and said, ‘Maybe at this stage in your life – maybe it’s time to go one more year, hang up this helmet and get out of Dodge and go back to being an owner again. Basically when Tommy became available, it sped that process up. I felt like at this stage in my life and my career that it was time to go ahead and get out of this car.
“Like everybody when you get to a certain age and your career has been so successful and I owe that to every crew chief and crew member over the years, the fans and the sponsors, I just had to ask myself, ‘What is it going to prove to win another race or two at this stage?' It’s probably time to get out of here when you’re able to enjoy the rest of your life the way you should enjoy it. I felt this was an important thing to do for me.
“I always had a rule for myself and that was if I ever felt like I needed to get out of the car, not from being afraid or anything, just the fact it was time to get out – that’s when you need to get out. I felt that was the reason I needed to do that.”
Johnson’s free agency in 2008 came forward as team owner Don Prudhomme revealed the Skoal-sponsored Funny Car team would be parked and the major sponsorship would transfer to the Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon.
Johnson would remain under contract and while he wouldn’t drive, Prudhomme said that he would honor the driver’s contract while searching for a sponsor replacement.
Prudhomme agreed that if Johnson found an offer he’d immediately release him from the contract. That release came when Bernstein offered Johnson the ride.
Johnson’s availability came at the right time for Bernstein, who admitted he told Monster Energy Drink that he had another two years left in him as a driver and then he planned to put someone younger in the car.
Bernstein pointed out that he returned to driving because he didn’t feel that he was completely finished with driving when he announced the program to return with Monster.
“I guess the itch was still there to drive and to perform, and to have that feeling in the race car and the competition that was inbredded in me from Day One,” Bernstein said. “The itch was still there. I think, in all honesty, that I missed the driving and the competition side of it. I enjoyed driving last year even though we didn’t do really well. When the car ran well, I enjoyed competing against the guys. It’s an itch I had to scratch and after you scratch it, it is okay. That’s the best way to explain it.”
Categories:
