A handful of Pro Modified teams are in Badenton, Fla., this weekend getting in some test time before their respective season openers in March.

Standing at the starting line at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Michael Cherniack was screaming at the top of his lungs, fists flying in the air, early Sunday evening. At the other end of the track, his daughter, Jessica, knew she'd made a really good pass in the family's Top Alcohol Funny Car. Dad knew how good, Jessica did not.

When she found out “the tears flowed.”

Jessica's first ever pass into the 5-second territory, 5.985 at 240.18 mph, was the reason behind the celebration. Not bad for a rookie driver and a rookie chassis and engine tuner.

“It felt so amazing,” Jessica imparted when asked about the run. “I cried. I was doing good until the guys came, but once they came the tears started flowing.”

Cherniack had a feeling the run was a good one and had a chance of being sub six seconds.

Steve Torrence’s NHRA media guide information lists hunting as one of his hobbies, and its season happens to come at a time when the Top Fuel driver from Kilgore, Texas has some spare time.

“Over the last few years, I’ve become an avid hunter,” he said.  “I started hunting with my friends.  My dad didn’t hunt at all, but last year I took him hunting for the first time.  I like spending time in the woods; it’s life at its simplest . . . and that’s an enjoyable experience for me.”

It is, however, the antithesis of the sights, smells and booming sounds found only during the fast-paced action at the drag track.  That quieter, simpler life is about to change for Torrence.

Traci Hrudka, Chairman of the Quarter Mile Entertainment Foundation has announced that long-time performance industry icon, Moroso Performance Products, Inc. (Guilford, Conn.) has become the first corporate sponsor to support the Foundation’s effort to document the history of drag racing and the performance aftermarket.

“I am so pleased to have Moroso become a part of this effort,” said Ms. Hrudka. “Moroso Performance Products has been a key component of the growth of the performance aftermarket. Dick (Moroso) was one of the pioneers who epitomize what the PROJECT 1320 effort is about.

Simpson Performance Products and John Force Racing have reached an agreement naming Simpson as the official safety gear for John Force Racing, beginning with the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season. The partnership between the two companies will further the safety initiatives undertaken by The Eric Medlen Project, a safety initiative that grew out of the tragedy that claimed the life of promising young driver, Eric Medlen.

Additionally, discussions are underway between JFR and Simpson to move some personnel to Brownsburg, IN to grow the effect and influence of The Eric Medlen Project and safety programs in motorsports. The Eric Medlen Project has been responsible for many of the safety innovations that now are mandated by the NHRA in Funny Car and Top Fuel. A worldwide leader in the manufacture of racing safety equipment including helmets, gloves, firesuits and parachutes, Simpson will operate as a “safety partner” with JFR, working with John Medlen and The Eric Medlen Project.

Noted Nitro tuner Tony Shortall and team owner/driver Jeff Diehl have joined together under the banner of Ideal Racing, and plan to debut next weekend at the NHRA 50th Anniversary Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.

Diehl most recently drove for ROCKSTAR Energy Drink on the IHRA tour and select NHRA events two seasons ago. Shortall worked with Tony Pedregon in 2009.

When the 2010 IHRA season began, veteran Top Fuel driver Bobby Lagana Jr. had his doubts how things were going to work.

“There was a little bit of uncertainty heading into this format,” Lagana Jr. said.

This year, the IHRA trimmed all its Nitro Jam events – except for two – from three days down to two and implemented the “race only” format for professional classes. The pro classes also have invitation-only fields with a new race winner being named at the conclusion of each day of racing.

After the first event Jan. 29-30 at Palm Beach (Fla.) International Raceway, Lagana couldn’t be happier about the changes the sanctioning body made, in large part because he won back-to-back races.

Doug Foley has been named the driver for the Dote Family Racing Top Fuel Dragster for 2010 and beyond.  

Foley filled in for previously appointed driver Jessie Harris, who was dismissed on January 22 at the Firebird Raceway National Time Trials in Phoenix, Az.

"We know our first weekend in NHRA Drag Racing was a little rocky, which is never what we intended, but after seeing how the team did their job and not allow the distraction to affect their performance, it was a real credit to what they are about," said Foley, who also fills the role of team manager. "Even though we were only able to make four runs, it started good and only got better, our last run on Sunday was an early shut off, with incremental numbers estimating a low 3.80’s run."

The only confirmation drag racing icon Don Garlits needed to support his decision to build a new rear-engine dragster which made its national event debut at the 1971 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca., was a three inch bolt.

Eleven months earlier in Long Beach, Ca, Garlits had lost part of his right foot in one of drag racing’s most violent clutch explosions. The force of the explosion actually sawed the car in half.

That three inch bolt, as Garlits explained during Tuesday’s 50th anniversary Winternationals teleconference, was in his lane, ahead of his new dragster.

Bob Glidden, with 85 NHRA Pro Stock victories to his credit, third on the all time list, learned the hard way the importance of being in the right spot after a win.  

When up and coming nitro Funny Car racer Kenny Bernstein won his first NHRA event at the 1979 NHRA Cajun Nationals Glidden deftly showed off those post-race skills. During the post race photo session, Glidden insisted he and Bernstein switch places during the obligatory Winner's Circle shots which traditionally were destined for the cover of National Dragster.

The reason for Glidden's action is a story which hasn't been shared with the public for 31 years.