A legendary NHRA drag racer is trying to get teens up to speed when it comes to driving safety. Multi-time Top Fuel drag racing champion Doug Herbert is coming to the Metro-East's Gateway Motorsports Park, not to compete, but to prevent families from suffering what his family has endured, the loss of his sons Jon and James in a 2008 car crash. Brakes, the national free teen defensive driving program, will take place at the Madison racetrack on Saturday and Sunday. Herbert says with reduced drivers ed requirements, parents are shouldering more responsibility for teaching youngsters to drive, and he notes a lot has changed under the hood since parents went through learning to drive...

Sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Teens will receive extensive behind-the-wheel instruction by ex-law enforcement and professional racing drivers. Exercises include Distracted Driving Awareness, Panic Braking, Crash Avoidance, Drop Wheel/Off-road Recovery, and Car Control/Skid Recovery. B.R.A.K.E.S. graduates are 64 percent less likely to get in a crash within the next three years. Online registration is available at www.putonthebrakes.org.