Jeff Arend is no stranger to driving in the NHRA ranks.

Arend made his nitro Funny Car debut in 1995 and has driven in 228 national events, winning four.

Despite all Arend’s experience, he will scratch something off his bucket list this weekend when he drives the Cheetah front-engine dragster in Nostalgia Top Fuel at the Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet March 5-8 in Bakersfield, Calif.

“Everybody tells me it’s like pushing a noodle down the race track,” said Arend about what people have told him about driving a front-engine dragster. “The car runs good. It goes like 5.80 (seconds) and 260 (mph). It’s not the fastest car, but it is certainly a car that’s capable of winning races. It’s going to be interesting. I think it will be kind of like (driving) a Funny Car. I’m just going to go out there and drive it, and I’m going to be a little cautious on the first run or two and see what it is like. Obviously, you want to win the race, but you don’t want to do anything stupid either.” 

The Cheetah IV front-engine dragster is campaigned by John Cox and his son Terry is the driver. Terry is not driving at the March Meet this weekend because he has a conflict with his Sprint Car schedule.

Arend has known the Cox family for years, but he acknowledged this deal to drive was completely last minute.

“I licensed Terry through Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School when I was working there back in 1999 or 2000,” Arend said. “I was in Phoenix (Wednesday) because I told Frank Hawley I would drive his truck and trailer out there from Fontana (Calif.) for him. I talked to J.C. (John Cox) (Wednesday night) and we put the deal together. I will get to the track Friday morning and get fitted in the car and make sure everything is OK and I think our first run is like at 12:30, so it doesn’t leave a lot of time to get stuff done.”

Although Arend will make his debut behind the wheel of a front-engine dragster this weekend, he has piloted a rear-engine Top Fuel dragster before in a very limited capacity.

“I drove (David) Grubnic’s dragster in testing, but I never really went past 300 feet and that was back in 2008 when I was with Kalitta (Motorsports),” Arend said. “I made like three little squirts in that thing to like 300 feet.” 

Arend last drove at the season-opening Winternationals Feb. 5-8 in Pomona, Calif. Arend, who was driving a Chevy Impala for Steve Plueger, qualified No. 15 and lost in the first round to Tommy Johnson Jr. 

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