Ford Gallery From Sick Week 2023
By Evan J. Smith
In addition to traditional racing events like you’ll find in the NMCA and NMRA, those looking to go fast on the strip should consider Drag-and-Drive events, which have become the rage. This week, our staff headed to Orlando for the start of Sick Week, a premier event for the drag and drivers. Sick Week features five days of racing on four track including Bradenton, Valdosta, Gainesville and the home of the NMRA Spring Break Shootout, Orlando Speed World, as its destinations.
The 2023 edition saw over 350 cars entered and the slew of Blue Oval machinery kicked up the expected excitement that comes with the run-whatcha-brung aspect of this unique form of drag racing. Fans of Sick Week are used to seeing everything from modern street muscle to the most incredible Pro Mod-style cars that can run deep 6s at speeds over 215 mph! Participants included former NMRA champion Kevin McKenna, JoAnna Iacobelli and we saw Cleetus McFarland’s 7.3L twin-turbo Godzilla LX dubbed “McFlurry,” which ran deep 8s.
As the Drag-and-Drive name suggests, participants must make a minimum of one pass at each track and they must also complete each transit from track to track in the same vehicle, hence the name, drag and drive. Unlike NMRA and NMCA True Street, however, racers are allowed to swap tires and work on the car between runs and after hours, too. It’s common to see racers tow a small trailer, which is legal, but no trailers are permitted to haul the race vehicles.
Sick Week is the creation of Tom Bailey and he’s assembled a team that now produces a magazine as well as the event. Another genius idea is the Sick Ward, which allows folks to do the drive, “pit” at the tracks and enjoy the camaraderie in the evenings, but without the racing component. This year, participants were blessed with pristine weather and great track conditions that helped produce incredible on-track performance.
Sick Week offers a host of classes, including Unlimited, Unlimited Iron, Modified, Pro Street, Super Street, Stick Shift, Naturally Aspirated, Rowdy Radials (1/8-mile), Sick Week Freaks, Beetles, Street Race 275, Sick Street Race, Pro DYO (Dial Your Own), DYO and Sick Bullseye Challenge. And while some seasoned racers run hot and heavy for a class win, others just enjoy the challenge of racing and driving from track to track. To be frank, simply making it the whole week is an accomplishment.
By Evan J. Smith
In addition to traditional racing events like you’ll find in the NMCA and NMRA, those looking to go fast on the strip should consider Drag-and-Drive events, which have become the rage. This week, our staff headed to Orlando for the start of Sick Week, a premier event for the drag and drivers. Sick Week features five days of racing on four track including Bradenton, Valdosta, Gainesville and the home of the NMRA Spring Break Shootout, Orlando Speed World, as its destinations.
The 2023 edition saw over 350 cars entered and the slew of Blue Oval machinery kicked up the expected excitement that comes with the run-whatcha-brung aspect of this unique form of drag racing. Fans of Sick Week are used to seeing everything from modern street muscle to the most incredible Pro Mod-style cars that can run deep 6s at speeds over 215 mph! Participants included former NMRA champion Kevin McKenna, JoAnna Iacobelli and we saw Cleetus McFarland’s 7.3L twin-turbo Godzilla LX dubbed “McFlurry,” which ran deep 8s.
As the Drag-and-Drive name suggests, participants must make a minimum of one pass at each track and they must also complete each transit from track to track in the same vehicle, hence the name, drag and drive. Unlike NMRA and NMCA True Street, however, racers are allowed to swap tires and work on the car between runs and after hours, too. It’s common to see racers tow a small trailer, which is legal, but no trailers are permitted to haul the race vehicles.
Sick Week is the creation of Tom Bailey and he’s assembled a team that now produces a magazine as well as the event. Another genius idea is the Sick Ward, which allows folks to do the drive, “pit” at the tracks and enjoy the camaraderie in the evenings, but without the racing component. This year, participants were blessed with pristine weather and great track conditions that helped produce incredible on-track performance.
Sick Week offers a host of classes, including Unlimited, Unlimited Iron, Modified, Pro Street, Super Street, Stick Shift, Naturally Aspirated, Rowdy Radials (1/8-mile), Sick Week Freaks, Beetles, Street Race 275, Sick Street Race, Pro DYO (Dial Your Own), DYO and Sick Bullseye Challenge. And while some seasoned racers run hot and heavy for a class win, others just enjoy the challenge of racing and driving from track to track. To be frank, simply making it the whole week is an accomplishment.
