Ken Sullivan, a hired gunslinger from West Carrollton, Ohio, who now has his own 2000 Race Tech dragster, recently won Montgomery Motorsports Park's inaugural Fistful of Dollars race and the $100,000 that went with it, driving friend Jeff Valdez's "Mexican Jumping Bean" dragster. He couldn't have done it without the following routine: "I do the same thing every time. I get into the car on the left side, I put my lap belts on first, then my right shoulder harness, then the left, then the left arm restraint, then the right. When I go to the water, I'm ready. It's routine, a way to get into the groove you're in. And on every run, I thank Jesus for letting me be and doing what I do."

Kisses sometimes go a long way in bracket or any other kind of straightline racing. In the case of many-time class winner Corky Markwart of St. Petersburg, Florida, a kiss from wife Sherry makes his day. At the recently-completed NHRA Division 2 points race at Gainesville Raceway, her kiss made for a Markwart win in his S-10 Super Gasser. But one kiss that he won't accept is a kiss from chassis builder and backer Richard Earle of Suncoast Race Cars of Brooksville. "I DIDN'T kiss him then," Richard says, laughing. Maybe that too made a difference.

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Every year, the "New Crew" at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, brings in hundreds of bracket cars, plus Pro Modifieds, front-engine Top Fuelers and fuel altereds to their Nightfire Nationals five-day race in mid-August. Included in that mix is the fabled AA/Fuel Altered the "Winged Express" of the late Willie Borsch and Mousie Marcellus. Race director Scott New has gotten to know Mousie and the "Express" pretty well --- as well as Willie himself. "Willie goes to every race the 'Express' goes to. He has been with us for years," Scott says. How so? Willie's remains are stored in an urn that is kept in the "Winged Express" Dodge tow truck, an ancient 1960s-era piece that, like its open trailer, probably has "umpteen" hundred-thousand miles on the odometer, New relates. "And Willie is right there in the urn, still racing. He doesn't miss a drag race," he says.

What would you expect Preacher Artie Fulcher of Williston, Tennessee to do when he heads off to a big race with his infamous "Rambo" Nash Rambler/Chevy combo in tow? "The only thing that I do is pray that I have a safe trip and that I have a safe race. Same for the racers. Oh yeah. And a great attendance in church," he says with a laugh.

But what about the races themselves? Do you say a little word to the Lord for, say, an engine that stays together through the whole racing weekend? "My stuff don't blow up," Fulcher says, again laughing. "But not really. I've blown up three engines in 20 years. Ken Sullivan was driving one of my cars when one happened. Boom! Warranty expired." Maybe a little prayer for his mechanical abilities might be in order.

Here's one for the slot machines. You may have heard about Toby Barnes of Palmetto, Georgia, the first-ever Million Dollar Race runner-up (he red-lighted with a 0.496, and he says to this day, "I still cry about it.") Barnes is now driving friend David Simmons' S-10 pickup in brackets. So what does he do religiously? "I have a Kennedy half-dollar piece that is just about worn out from handling. It's my good luck piece. I use for lane flips. I've had it since high school. I carry it with me every day."

"And I'll never call heads," Toby adds, "'cause I've always said, tails never fails. Also, my kids, Robbie, (13), Allen (7) and Brandon (5) plus Gracie (2) go with me to the lanes every time I pull up. And each will wish me luck." All that must pay off --- Barnes has won money in almost every week of racing Simmons' truck, and their partnership only began late last year.