A Father-Son Nova Project Gets a Revamp for a Drag-and-Drive Debut in 2024, Aims For the 4-Second Zone in Rowdy Radial!
Cole and Brittney Sammartino aren’t strangers to the drag-and-drive game, competing in the 2022 and 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck with Brittney behind the wheel.
The turbocharged truck averaged 10.50 in the Dial-Your-Own (DYO) class in 2022, and improved to a 10.36 average one year later. We’ve also seen the truck as LS Fest, and even a Street Car Takeover or two.
But now, Cole is ready to join Brittney at Sick Week in 2024, behind the wheel of his own ride.
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Cole’s Chevy is a few decades older than the pick-up, originally built in 1973, and when he first saw it, Cole didn’t even have a driver license. “Me and my dad bought the car in 2004 as a father son project,” Cole said. “I was 10 at that time, and saved up as much as I could to help buy sheet metal to restore the car.
My dad taught me so much while working on this car, it’s the reason I know what I do today.”
After working on it through his years in middle and high school, the Nova was ready for street duty by Cole’s senior year of high school in 2011. “The very first combo in it was a mild 383 cubic inch small block and Turbo 400 transmission,” Cole said.
That combination ran a best of 11.60 at the drag strip, and Cole wanted more. “The next setup was a 421 cubic inch small block that ran 9.80s on motor.” A big improvement, but in Cole’s words: “I still wanted more.”
The next step was boost and a LS-swap. “The first turbo setup was a stock bottom end motor running 9.40s, but that still wasn’t enough,” Cole admitted. “So, I built a forged LS, and that took me to the 8.50s.”
That last engine combination had a stick-shift in the transmission tunnel, but after having a hard keeping a transmission together, Cole decided to step back after the 2021 season and making some changes and upgrades.
After some upgrades to both the car and combination, Cole felt the car would be capable of entering the 7-second zone. The current engine setup is based on a stock block 6-liter LS, bored out to 366 cubic inches. Forged internals work with a LJMS custom grind camshaft, Trick Flow 220 cc cast cylinder heads, and a Texas Speed Titan intake.
A Motion Raceworks dual inlet Icon throttle body gets forced air from a pair of VS Racing Gen 3 78/75-millimeter turbochargers after being cooled with a Tick Performance air to water intercooler.
Making to the switch to an automatic, Cole choose a 2-speed Powerglide with a 1.58 first gear and a Circle D converter in the bellhousing, while a PST carbon driveshaft connects it with a 12-bolt rear end featuring upgraded 35 spline axles and center section.
The Nova’s interior is all business with 10-poin roll cage, FuelTech running all the functions, and the transmission is controlled by a Motion Raceworks Operator shifter.
Cole recently got the Nova out for some shake down laps at Carolina Dragway during the Burnouts for Kids event in the test and tune class. His first lap would be a new personal best all around, with a 1.259 60-foot time, a 5.06 at 142 mph at the eighth-mile mark, and completing the quarter-mile at 7.83 at 174 mph.
His second and final shot would be a 1.217 60 foot, and an eighth-mile time of 4.92 at 147 mph. “I need to kick it with more boost out of the hole,” said Cole. “It’s got a 4.70 in it, and I am super happy with the first outing.”
Now it’s all about prepping for Sick Week 2024, which Cole will tackle with good friend Gene Yarnell in the passenger seat. “He’s a fabricator at the shop that built my cage in the car,” said Cole. “My wife would normally be my co-pilot, but she is racing her Mustang at Sick Week as well.
The drag-and-drive event ideal appeals to me because it’s what I love doing. Racing my cars and driving them, but in an event.” Cole also plans to compete with the Nova in LS Fest, FL2K, and some Street Car Takeover events as well.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Cole Sammartino, KWS Images and KC Photography.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com