Bernard, born in Allen Park, Mich. and now living in Kent, Wash., is a fourth generation racer who began racing powerboats in 1993 at the age of nine. In 2002 at the age of 17, he advanced to inboard hydroplane racing. He is still actively racing in the inboard category and has raced Grand Prix boats during his two-year hiatus from driving an Unlimited.

In 2012 and 2015, Bernard was inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions. He is the nephew of former hydroplane drivers Mark and Mike Weber.

Bernard’s first unlimited hydroplane ride was in 2005 in Fred Leland’s U-99 Lakeridge Paving at the Seattle Seafair Race.