Air Force officials team up with Kenny Bernstein Racing team

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Force recruiting officials announced March 26 that the Air Force will begin a new partnership with Kenny Bernstein Racing as a sponsor of the Coparts/Lucas Oil top fuel dragster for the remaining 20 races in the 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

"It is with a great deal of patriotic pride that we welcome the United States Air Force as a sponsor beginning this weekend at the Inaugural Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Charlotte," said team owner and six-time National Hot Rod Association champion Kenny Bernstein.

"I guess you could say that my wife Sheryl and I have had United States Air Force blood running through our veins since we were born," Mr. Bernstein said. "My father was a bombardier navigator in World War II and was a veteran of many missions."

The Air Force is an associate sponsor of the KBR team with top fuel driver Brandon Bernstein racing the dragster. As a sponsor, the car will feature the Air Force paint scheme in the Las Vegas race, April 17.

"I gained a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the Air Force when I had the opportunity to fly with the Thunderbirds two years ago," said Brandon Bernstein. "The pilots depend on their crew members to keep the planes safe just as we depend on our crew members to go through all the systems on our race car to keep us safe. The Thunderbirds are the epitome of pride, precision and professionalism, the same principles that we try to adhere to on our team."

"We will be proud to fly the Air Force colors and be ambassadors for the men and women in blue," he added.

The sponsorship not only will build awareness for the Air Force but will provide opportunities to interact with influencers in the local community to share the Air Force story and inspire young Americans to consider the Air Force as a career choice.

"We are excited about our new partnership with the Kenny Bernstein Racing team for the 2010 NHRA race season," said Brig. Gen. AJ Stewart, Air Force Recruiting Service commander. "We know how professional the KBR team is and believe they reflect the standards that personify our Airmen. I'm positive this will lead to an increase in exposure for our Air Force and allow us to reach out to those eligible men and women who may be interested in joining our team."