Greg Anderson might seem cool, calm and collected when he rolls to the starting line at any of the NHRA’s 23-race Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events. If only race fans could see him in the days leading up to the first race of the season.

Admittedly, this has been a tough off-season for Anderson and his team.

“Our outlook is no different than any other season – we live in complete fear until we make that first run in Pomona,” said Anderson, who will compete at this weekend’s NHRA Winternationals.  “This KB Racing crew has had its distractions over the last few months, which made the off-season seem even shorter than it actually is. But through it all, we have stayed steady, working as hard we can. We’re certainly pleased with the results we saw with our new Summit Racing Pontiac in testing, and are confident we have a good hot rod and have moved our program forward.

Entering her third season behind the wheel of the BrandSource A Fuel Dragster Brittany Force has been an eager student. Sure the occasional butterflies start stirring before a run but the 23 year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate puts those feelings on the back burner before she makes a 275 mph pass. As the 2010 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series seasons starts Force will continue her education both on and off the track as a racer and a student teacher.

“I am excited to be back from a quick Winter Break and to start off the season at my home track in Pomona. It’s been a few months since climbing into my BrandSource A Fuel dragster and thinking about making my first pass of the year down the track puts butterflies in my stomach in a good, exciting way. Due to the rigorous schedule I am beginning for student teaching I won't get to make all the qualifying runs I would like but I hope the ones I do make will lock me into the show. I can't wait and hope for a great weekend for the Force team,” said Force.

More than five centuries ago, explorers brave, bold, and battle-ready sailed into uncharted seas and lands in search of silk, spices, and “The New World.” They had no idea what they would discover, but the quest for a conquest was overwhelming.
 
Today a 5-foot-5 former football player with a Masters degree from the University of Arkansas, a 39-year-old man who loves shopping and exotic cars when he isn't buffing up at the gym, is embarking on a grand expedition in the other direction. Just as on their journeys Christopher Columbus carried the flag of Spain's King Ferdinand to the Western world, “Hot Rod” Fuller will be representing the National Hot Rod Association and “the nation of drag racing” in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

On the outside, things will seem very different for Pro Stock stalwart Kurt Johnson at this weekend’s O’Reilly Kragen NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA.  The familiar blue, red and white livery he has carried for over 20 years has been replaced by a mostly white design.  His two-man crew is completely new, having joined the Sugar Hill-based organization during the winter.
 
However, a closer inspection will show that many of this perennial championship contender’s key components remain in place, including a proven race car powered by the legendary Johnson horsepower.  Most importantly, Ontario, CA-based Mark Christopher Auto Center, who has been with the team virtually since its inception has stepped forward to sponsor the team for the first few races of the 2010 Full Throttle season.

Photographer Wes Gelfand, son of longtime drag racing photographer Joel Gelfand captured some of the early scenes from the 50th NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.

The NHRA has scheduled a press conference today to kick off the historic event. Qualifying officially begins on Thursday afternoon with one session.

Shawn Langdon was a kid destined for championships and after winning a junior dragster title in 1997, went on to win two sportsman drag racing world championships. The competition for those titles was fast and furious and in the midst of those championship battles, Langdon was un-shakeable.

Little did the competition know that as a kid, his greatest challenge was facing the legends of the sport not in competition, but in the pits, at the rope across the entrance to their pit areas.

“Looking back, I was such a shy kid,” admitted Landon. I can remember guys like Joe Amato, John Force, Cory McClenathan, and Mike Dunn signing my shirt or something and they'd always try to talk to me but I'd just get their autograph and run off. Later on I'd be like, 'Oh man, he was trying to talk to me and I blew him off.' I was just in awe of these guys. I'd freeze up.”

For 23-year old NHRA Pro Stock driver Danny Gruninger, competition is competition, and it’s all relative.

Gruninger, of Denver, Co., drives a Jerry Haas-built Dodge Stratus powered by a 500-inch engine from Bob Panella. He plans to race in ten events during the 2010 season.

What is not largely known is Gruninger has a sports background outside of racing.

Gruninger is a four-time competitor in the Little League Baseball World Series. He’s also a former Colorado high school state golfing champion who earned a PGA tour card upon graduation.

“It’s all about the competition,” said Gruninger, who earned his NHRA Pro Stock license last year. “I have a passion that goes well beyond just playing the game, whatever the sport may be.”

Terry McMillen knows the challenge will be monstrous.

The longtime IHRA Top Fuel driver, and part-time NHRA competitor in the past few years, plans to meet the challenge of running a full, 23-race NHRA Full Throttle tour head on.

He’s heading into the 50th running of the NHRA Winternationals armed with confidence that he’s got what it takes to hang in there for the long haul.
 
"We've never been more prepared to start a season than we are right now," McMillen said. "Yet in the back of my mind, I still have to wonder if it's enough. There are a lot of strong teams out here. We know it won't be easy to make the Countdown to the Championship, but I can guarantee we're going to have fun trying."

Dave Szerlag and Mike Fuqua, in conjunction with O’Reilly Raceway Park and presenting sponsors Steve Schmidt Competition Engines, Auto Meter, and Racecraft Chassis are proud to present the 6th annual JEGS U.S. Open Bracket Championship June 17-20 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN. The sixth edition of bracket racing’s premier event will feature four days of competition, and a purse in excess of $200,000.
 
The format of the 2010 event will be much like that of previous JEGS U.S. Open events. Thursday, action will kick-off with the American Race Cars Thursday Warm-Up. Racers will compete for a winners purse of $10,000 cash along with a 2010 American Race Cars Patriot Chassis! Friday and Saturday feature back-to-back $20,000-to-win events presented by DragstersForSale.com and the Fab Shop, respectively. Sunday, the weekend concludes with the Sullivan’s Tire $10,000-to-win event.