Bernstein claims title in Top Fuel at Matco

Englishtown, N.J. Kenny Bernstein beat Larry Dixon to win the Top Fuel final at the Matco Tools SuperNationals on Sunday.

Bernstein, who has never lost in seven final rounds at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, got his 63rd overall victory. Bernstein powered his Budweiser King dragster to a 4.600-second run at 321.96 mph, while Dixon’s Miller Lite dragster lost traction early but recovered to finish in 4.818 at 319.90.

Bernstein, who trails Dixon by 143 points with 15 races left, edged Dixon for the series crown at the final race of last season.

Gary Densham, Greg Anderson and Antron Brown also were winners in their respective pro categories at the $2 million race, the eighth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA’s Drag Racing Series.

Bliss wins truck race

Fountain, Colo. Mike Bliss raced to his eighth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory Sunday, beating Jason Leffler by 0.330 seconds in the Rocky Mountain 200.

In a battle of former USAC Silver Crown champions, Bliss took the lead for the final time on the 165th of 200 laps and held off Leffler for his first NASCAR victory since leaving Roush Racing at the conclusion of the 1999 season.

The Chevrolet driver, who took the series points lead with the victory, had Leffler’s Dodge in his rearview mirror for more than 30 laps as the pair weaved in and out of lapped traffic.

Bliss earned $45,435 and moved a single point 754 to 753 ahead of previous points leader David Starr, who finished fifth. The winner averaged 103.004 mph on Pikes Peak International Raceway’s mile oval.