Bernstein Extends Sponsorship by Bud

Drag racing star Kenny Bernstein’s Newport Beach-based Budweiser King Racing team has pulled ahead of longtime champion Richard Petty in the motor sports sponsorship sweepstakes.

Bernstein celebrated the 20th anniversary of his relationship with sponsor Budweiser this month by signing an agreement that will extend brewer Anheuser-Busch Inc.’s backing through 2003.

That will make the Bud-Bernstein pact, at 23 years, the longest continuous relationship between a sponsor and an active driver in motor sports history. NASCAR legend Petty has had a sponsorship deal with STP oil additives for the last 26 years, but Petty retired from driving six years ago.

Officials at Anheuser-Busch declined to discuss the value of the deal with Bernstein, but it is believed to be worth several million dollars.

Bernstein, a five-time NHRA national champion in funny car and top fuel classes, was the first NHRA driver to break the 300-mph barrier in a quarter-mile drag race. His career best, set this year in Houston, is 322.73 mph in 4.514 seconds.