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BERNSTEIN, FORCE IN HORRIFIC CRASH AT DALLAS
Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team are picking up the pieces, literally, and putting together another chassis and Dodge Charger Funny Car body for competition at the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, Oct. 5-7.
Bernstein’s car was hit by part of Force’s car in second round competition in Dallas, Texas. Force’s car broke into two pieces, with the engine section moving into Bernstein’s lane and sliding to a halt along the right guard wall, while the driver’s compartment scraped the left guard wall. Bernstein climbed out of his chassis without injury, while Force was airlifted to a Dallas hospital and underwent a surgical procedure to repair ankle, hand, wrist, and knee injuries.
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“When drivers go through an accident like this, the best thing from my point of view is to get back in the saddle and ride the horse. I will be fortunate enough to be able to do that at Richmond.
Bernstein continued, “The saving grace for John is that he doesn’t remember much of the run at all, so the vision won’t keep looping through his brain. I remember everything that happened, but I never want to review video footage or photos from something like this. I leave the review process to Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief). So I’m mentally prepared to get on with qualifying.
“Physically, Jimmy and the entire Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team have a lot of work to do. Tuesday after the accident they took the damaged Dallas chassis to Murf McKinney’s shop, who manufactures our chassis, and found out it was beyond repair. That chassis was on its third race.
“We have two more chassis and three more bodies, so we should be good to go for the remaining three races.” [09/26/07]
