Ryan Bernal sure does know how to make an impact. Less than a year after winning his first United States Auto Club race, Bernal is quickly becoming a racing fixture in tracks in California and throughout the United States.
The recent San Benito High graduate is getting closer and closer to his ultimate goal of being a full-fledged professional racer. For now, he is just taking everything as it comes, he said.
“Everything is happening a little faster than I thought it would,” he said. “But it’s been great so far.”
In the 2012 racing season, which started in early March, Bernal has experienced constant success. He’s won six races – four in the West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series and two in the Midget Western Class – and clinched a second-straight Santa Maria Car Championship. He currently sits in second place in the West Coast standings and has driven in a series of showcase races back in the eastern part of the nation.
It’s been a “dream come true” season, Bernal said.
“Everything is just falling into place,” he said. “I still want to accomplish some things so I’m just going to keep my head down and go.”
The year started with Bernal changing car owners to Keith Ford Motorsports. With a larger budget, Bernal was given the opportunity to race with a midget car for the first time.
“The Ford family came up to us and offered all these opportunities and Ryan jumped at them,” Ryan’s father and crew member Rick Bernal said.
Overall, Bernal expects to race in more than 40 races this year.
“It’s going to be a long season for us,” Rick Bernal said. “We are doing a lot of different things.”
And while racing for the Ford family, Bernal caught the attention of Indiana’s Keith Kunz Motorsports, a Toyota-sponsored championship caliber national racing team. Kunz gave Bernal a chance to race on the national circuit.
It was a chance for Bernal to race with the best in the country, he said.
“In California there are maybe five that can win every race – back east there at least 12,” Bernal said. “It’s more competitive.”
In his first race outside the West Coast circuit, Bernal placed sixth.
“They were really impressed with us, so they asked us to come back,” Rick Bernal said. “They’ve done that a few times now.”
It’s made Bernal very busy. On his graduation day earlier this year, Bernal didn’t celebrate. Instead he quickly went on a plane and flew to Indiana.
“This is something he always wanted to do,” Rick Bernal said. “When he sets a goal he reaches that goal. He is earning quite a lot of money doing something that he likes doing.”
He has quickly made a name for himself outside California, Bernal said.
“After the first race someone came up to be and said ‘I don’t know who you are or where you came from but you can race,’” Bernal said. “That’s exactly what you want to hear.”
His best finish on the national scale is sixth place, but Bernal expects to get a win soon, he said.
“That’s what I want,” he said. “We are working toward that. I’m looking forward to winning.”
As Bernal’s father and crew member, Rick Bernal couldn’t be prouder of his son’s accomplishments so far this year, he said.
“I’m very proud,” Rick Bernal said. “He graduated high school – which was important to me. And in racing he is coming full circle. It’s great to see.”
Bernal’s season continues Aug. 4 in the West Coast Spring Car Series and July 27 in Nebraska for the Kunz racing team.
