26 Facts About Kenny Bernstein

Kenneth Dale Bernstein was born on September 6,1944 and is an American drag racer and former NASCAR and IndyCar team owner.

Kenny Bernstein is nicknamed "the Bud King" for his success in the Budweiser King funny car and dragster.

Kenny Bernstein has been nicknamed "the King of Speed," because he was the first driver to break 300 miles per hour in the standing-start quarter mile.

Kenny Bernstein owned King Racing, which he drove for in the NHRA and fielded various cars in other racing series such as IndyCar and NASCAR.

Kenny Bernstein retired from full-time competition in 2002 and moved his son Brandon into the Bud King Top Fuel dragster, but returned to finish the season in place of his son after Brandon suffered a severe injury.

Kenny Bernstein attended Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas; he played on the high school's football team.

Kenny Bernstein was attending the Arlington State College in 1966 for business administration when he decided to quit to become a drag racer.

Kenny Bernstein did not have enough money, so he became a traveling salesman for Whistle Stop.

Kenny Bernstein drove throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee in a Cadillac.

At the 1978 NHRA Summernationals at Englishtown, Kenny Bernstein drove the Chelsea King funny car.

Kenny Bernstein first became a full-time professional Funny Car driver in 1979.

Kenny Bernstein won his first Funny Car championship in 1985, and successfully defended his title over the next three seasons.

In 1990, following a change in NHRA rules, Kenny Bernstein began to drive in the Top Fuel Dragster class.

Two years later, Kenny Bernstein became the first driver in any class to exceed 300 MPH in competition, and won his first Top Fuel championship in 1996, becoming the first driver in NHRA history to win a championship in both of the nitro classes Kenny Bernstein states that his 1996 championship was "somewhat tainted" due to the loss of driver Blaine Johnson.

At the awards banquet that year, Kenny Bernstein gave up his championship trophy to Blaine's brother, and lifelong crew chief, Alan, who has gone on to win twelve more championship trophies himself, as crew chief for Gary Scelzi, Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon, Del Worsham, Shawn Langdon and Brittany Force.

Kenny Bernstein reclaimed the title in 2001, and is the only driver to have achieved multiple championships in both nitro categories.

Kenny Bernstein retired in 2002, handing driving duties of the "Budweiser King" to his son Brandon.

Kenny Bernstein returned to running his team after the season, but rumors began to persist that a comeback was in the works.

In September 2006, Kenny Bernstein announced that he would return to racing in the Funny Car division the following season, fielding the Monster Energy Dodge Charger for his own team.

Kenny Bernstein returned to retirement following the season and hired Tommy Johnson, Jr.

Kenny Bernstein is the current president of the Professional Racers Organisation, a group of NHRA drivers, mechanics, and team owners, which has helped influence safety and prize money.

In light of the crash that took the life of Eric Medlen, Kenny Bernstein has been influential in adjusting safety standards on NHRA race cars and safety restraints.

On November 15,2011, two days after the close of the 2011 racing season, Kenny Bernstein announced his full retirement from NHRA racing as both driver and team owner.

Kenny Bernstein owned King Racing, a NASCAR team that operated from 1986 to 1995.

Kenny Bernstein is the only team owner to record victories in all three categories.

Kenny Bernstein's team raced at the 1988 Indianapolis 500 with Jim Crawford behind the wheel.