Hight, Bernstein gain emotional victories

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Maybe an angel was watching from above.

That’s what it seemed like Sunday when Robert Hight of John Force Racing won the Funny Car division Sunday, and Brandon Bernstein followed a few minutes later with the Top Fuel title at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before an estimated crowd of 24,000.

The SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals might live on as the Eric Medlen Nationals, named for Hight’s teammate and Bernstein’s best friend, who died March 23 from brain injuries incurred in a testing accident earlier that week.

An NHRA-produced video tribute to Medlen, which included Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven,” played during pre-race ceremonies, and the victories by two of Medlen’s best buddies capped the day.

The tears streaming down Hight’s face moments after he won were not from nitromethane fumes spewing from his worn-out Funny Car. His time of 5.126 seconds (282.90 mph) would not produce victories very often.

He gained the win with a relatively slow run after backing off the gas because opponent Ron Capps’ engine lost power just past half-track when it lost a blower belt. Capps had won 11 straight races and the past two NHRA event titles before the mechanical gremlin got him.

Go figure.

Bernstein, Medlen’s closest friend the past four years, didn’t need to catch a break to get his first win in nine events. He was the most consistent Top Fueler in the field and ran 330.07 mph in 4.521 seconds to defeat Bob Vandergriff, who fell to 0-7 in final rounds.

But paying tribute to Medlen with a victory was something Bernstein felt he had to do and do quickly.

Bernstein stood near his dragster at the end of the track, holding the coveted first-place trophy. The son of drag-racing legend Kenny Bernstein tried to fight back tears but lost. He pumped a fist and pointed to the sky.

Bernstein’s eyes were swollen afterward. It wasn’t the first time he’d cried over the past three weeks.

“Every time I was in a final (round) he was always down there at the end of the track,” Bernstein said. “He was there whether I won or lost.

“It felt great to know that J.R. (Todd) was down there for me this time, and I know Eric was there too, just not in the physical sense.”

Todd, Bernstein and Medlen were close friends. Bernstein and Hight said they would follow the lead of Capps and Todd, who won their respective classes two weeks ago in Houston, by giving their trophies to a member of Medlen’s family.

“I loved that guy. He was a great friend,” Bernstein said, his voice trailing off.

The weekend marked the return of the Force teams to the NHRA pro tour after it skipped the Houston event. The team modified the drivers’ cockpits to add safety features.

Hight said he hated to sit out the Houston race.

“It’s nice to get back out here with friends and family and fans,” he said after winning for the sixth time in 13 final rounds.

“It’s amazing how many lives Eric touched because he made everybody happy.”

On Saturday, team patriarch and 14-time champion John Force failed to qualify for Sunday eliminations for the first time in 395 events, dating to 1987. He was buoyed by daughter Ashley Force qualifying third and winning in the first round.

Hight and Bernstein put on a better display of intestinal fortitude than driving. The event from start to finish seemed more about honoring a friend than getting another trophy.

And Hight and Bernstein know that had Medlen been there two things would have happened.

First he’d have thrown bear hugs around each of his buddies and kissed their cheeks after their victories.

And then he would have complained because they were standing next to the Las Vegas showgirls in the winner’s circle posing for pictures instead of him.

“He always loved the showgirls,” Bernstein said. “Girls, period.”