Debuting in time for the 1978 NHRA Summernationals, Bernstein and the Chelsea King went on to capture the IHRA Winston Funny Car Championship in 1979. That year’s postponed NHRA Cajun Nationals, which Kenny went on to win over John Force, provided an opportunity to visit St. Louis and Anheuser-Busch headquarters, where Bernstein reached a sponsorship deal to launch the famous Budweiser King racing dynasty starting with the 1980 season. For 1980, the Chelsea King’s body was refinished in its iconic Budweiser King livery by Tom Stratton with design and graphics by Kenny Youngblood. The team’s Crew Chief was now Ray Alley, whose Woody Gilmore-built Engine Masters Cougar and 1973 Dodge Charger-bodied AA/FC were among Bernstein’s earlier rides. Eventually replaced by a new Dodge Omni-bodied car, the Chelsea King/Budweiser King was retired in 1981 and sold by Kenny Bernstein to Don Goldie, who ran it around Montana.
The current owners acquired the car in 2004 and completed a full and highly researched restoration, electing to return the car to its 1980 Budweiser King livery over the next two years. Mr. Goldie built the 480 cubic-inch engine and supplied the Keith Black Hemi block, cylinder heads, 8-71 blower, the original “zoomie” headers, and other period components. When the Arrow body was stripped for refinishing, evidence was found of repairs made following the 1981 NHRA Winternationals, where this car was Bernstein’s spare and the roof was famously removed and grafted onto Raymond Beadle and Harry Schmidt’s Blue Max. Another fascinating discovery was the decal still affixed to the car's body commemorating Kenny Bernstein's entry as the seventh of the eight-member Cragar "Five-Second Club" on March 15, 1981 following his 5.99-second ET at the Gainesville, Florida Gatornationals. The decal was removed and preserved by the current owner and while further research is required to confirm this specific car achieved the milestone, it is yet another fascinating early chapter in the Budweiser King legacy.
Once the restoration was complete, Kenny Bernstein was reunited with his Chelsea King/Budweiser King at Arizona’s Firebird Raceway, with the car also making high-profile appearances at the John Force Racing Reunion, the 2009 SEMA show, and the California Hot Rod Reunion’s famous “Cacklefest,” where it ran a 90 per cent nitromethane load. When new, the car appeared in a multitude of magazines and most recently, it has attracted international coverage. Beautifully restored and presented throughout, it is a touchstone to the longest-running and most successful sponsor relationship in the history of motorsport.
Note: We wish to extend our gratitude to the consignor, Mr. Jim Hume of H & H Racecraft, and Mr. Jerry Foss of the NHRA Photo Department for their kind assistance in the research and preparation of the auction description of important racing vehicle.
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