Second generation Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein, displaced from his Copart ride at the conclusion of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle season when father and team owner Kenny Bernstein announced his retirement from the sport, has been selected to drive the MavTV/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster for Morgan Lucas Racing in 2012 and beyond.

“Brandon Bernstein is the total package,” Lucas said. “He brings an amazing presence, a professional attitude and a tremendous fan following to this race team, not to mention his obvious ability behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster. He’s the perfect choice to fill the seat and represent our sponsors.”

Bernstein has driven professionally on the NHRA tour for nine seasons, and with 18 national event victories to his credit, already ranks fifth among active Top Fuel drivers in total victories and ranks 10th – in a tie with legend Shirley Muldowney – on the all-time class victories list.

“I’m honored to have this chance to drive for MavTV, Lucas Oil and Morgan Lucas Racing,” Bernstein said. “It was a stressful holiday season, to be honest, as I accessed the limited opportunities out there. It wasn’t much fun, until today.

“Racing with my dad was a dream come true and now I have a very unique chance to race with my second family — Forrest, Charlotte and Morgan Lucas. We raced with the Lucas Oil brand on our cars for many years and it’s great to come back into the fold. I feel an immense amount of gratitude to them for giving me this chance.”

In addition to MavTV and Lucas Oil, Bernstein’s dragster will carry branding from ProtectTheHarvest.com, an initiative headed up by Forrest Lucas.

“Drag racing requires a lot of its drivers,” Morgan Lucas said. “The part where you’re actually driving the car is only a small piece of what it takes.”

“Brandon has such a well-rounded vision of how to meet the demands of high-profile brands like MavTV, Lucas Oil, Toyota, GEICO and all the other companies that support Morgan Lucas Racing. He also knows how to interact with the media and the fans. He’s a real pro and that was a big part of why he was selected. The fact we’re longtime friends also was important. Brandon’s a family man with strong values. He’s the perfect choice to drive this car.”

Replacing Shawn Langdon in the Lucas Oil dragster, Bernstein will be tuned by longtime Morgan Lucas Racing crewmembers John DeFlippis and Jor Barlam, whom Bernstein calls a longtime friend.

“I’ve known these guys a long time,” the 39-year-old Bernstein said. “Morgan and me grew up out here together and I remember bugging Joe back when he was a crew guy on the McDonald’s car. I was probably 14 years old at the time but he was always cool to me and we’ve remained in touch. It’s a very comfortable feeling here. Joe and John have been working overtime with Morgan’s crew chiefs (Aaron Brooks and Rod Centorbi) to make these two dragsters identical. We’re going to take things to a new level this year.”