Two of Brandon Bernstein’s biggest passions are drag racing and golf. But after a life filled with them, it’s the two reasons the standout Top Fuel standout pinpointed for his upcoming back surgery to repair a herniated disk.
Bernstein is racing this weekend at Englishtown at the NHRA’s Summernationals, but will miss the next two races at Bristol and Epping, N.H. His back continued to give him problems this season, something Bernstein chalked up to gradual wear and tear from years behind the wheel and on the golf course.
Two of Brandon Bernstein’s biggest passions are drag racing and golf. But after a life filled with them, it’s the two reasons the standout Top Fuel standout pinpointed for his upcoming back surgery to repair a herniated disk.
Bernstein is racing this weekend at Englishtown at the NHRA’s Summernationals, but will miss the next two races at Bristol and Epping, N.H. His back continued to give him problems this season, something Bernstein chalked up to gradual wear and tear from years behind the wheel and on the golf course.
“I think it’s just over time. It’s always been a certain problem of mine in that right area, but I think it’s just over time hitting the throttle so many times. The other part of it is playing golf doesn’t help, and I just think it’s combination of different events,” Bernstein said. “It flared up last year in the summer and I thought we got it calmed down and would be all right, but it’s in on the nerve and you can’t keep going on anymore with this.”
J.R. Todd, one of Bernstein’s closest friends, will replace Bernstein during the two-race stretch, and Bernstein, who is currently seventh in the Top Fuel standings, is hoping to return for the NHRA event in Chicago in late June.
The decision to step out of the car wasn’t an ideal one, but one Bernstein knew he had to make. The pain had continued to get worse, and stopgap measures weren’t doing the trick.
When Bernstein realized that, he knew surgery was the only reasonable solution to the growing problem.
“It’s real difficult. I’ve been thinking about this for days and days, and I’ve been in so much pain the last three weeks. Nothing has helped or gotten rid of it. It’s just time. I’ve got two of the best doctors in the country telling me to have surgery. I’ve just got to do it,” Bernstein said.
“The downside to not getting out of the car is that I could lose all of the feeling in my right foot. That’s not just career-ending, it’s quality-of-life ending. It’s tough for me to get out, it really is. I’m a competitor and I want to race. I feel bad for our team and Morgan Lucas racing, but Morgan’s been super-supportive and just said I need to get it done now, and get it over with. We’re going to move in that direction and hopefully surgery goes okay and we’re back in the car in Chicago.”
That support from Lucas certainly made the decision easier, and all signs point to a full and quick recovery.
It’s also an entirely different situation from the last time Bernstein had to take a leave of absence from driving. The first time occurred after a severe crash in his rookie season in 2002 left him with a broken back. His legendary father, Kenny, returned to fill in for him, but the circumstances are vastly different this time around.
“I think it’s a huge difference. That was my rookie year and it was crash-related, and I’ve owned up to it many times that it was my fault. It was just a totally different deal,” Bernstein said. “Now, it’s in the middle of the season and it’s one of those instances that I have to get this done. There’s no other direction to go with that.”
Bernstein joked that his father would “probably want to try” to fill in, but the decision to turn to the talented Todd was an easy one. In fact, Todd was the first pick for both Lucas and Bernstein.
“That would have been my first pick, anyway. That’s somebody who is the right size. We don’t have to move anything in the car, he’s a great driver and he’ll fit in perfectly with these guys. It’s a perfect fit, it really is,” Bernstein said. “He’s my best bud, too, so it makes it a lot easier that way. It’s cool to have your best friend get in there and drive for you.”
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