A Monster Weekend – Sick Week Competitor Kevin Schweizer Nearly Wins It All at Godzilla Invasion with 8-Second Turbocharged Wagon
While we were preparing for Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, a few past Sick Week participants were making laps and seeing good results at ‘street car-type’ classes or events.
One of those was Kevin Schweizer, who did his first drag-and-drive with his unique 1980 Mercury Zephyr Wagon at Sick Week, and made the trip to National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA) event in Ohio at Summit Motorsports Park.
Miss your chance to grab some sweet Sick Summer merchandise? We have limited stock remaining - Click HERE for availability!
After attending Hot Rod Drag Week for years as a spectator, Kevin decided to build a car to participate. But instead of a common Mustang, he instead opted for the Mercury wagon, allowing his wife Jamie and daughter Lynnsie to join him.
That was the case at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, as well as the NMRA event for the second weekend in June.
Not only did Kevin choose a different car for his efforts, he also skipped past the small block Ford, Coyote and even the LS swap options, and instead landed on one of Ford’s newest engines, the 7.3L Godzilla pushrod engine.
This not only allowed him to run the all-Ford NMRA series, including their popular True Street class, but also take part in the Godzilla Invasion special classes.
The twin-turbocharged wagon had shown mid 8-second performances at Sick Week, and Kevin did the same at Norwalk, putting together an 8.534 average to capture the True Street win over Brian Larson’s close 8.575 average.
Finishing in the top eight averages also qualified Kevin for the Mickey Thompson King of the Street class, a special heads-up 8-car class.
In round one of eliminations, Kevin posted a 5.37 at 137 mph to defeat the number three qualifier Kimberly Walter’s 5.56 at 130 mph pass.
The semifinal round pitted the seventh qualifier Jonathan Montesino against Kevin, and the wagon once again hit the finish line first, 5.55 at just 111 mph to the 5.73 at 126 mph run from Jonathan.
The final round staged Kevin opposite Allen Lohr’s 1969 Mustang, and Kevin competed the task with a 5.40 at 125 mph to Allen’s 5.63 at 131 mph to earn the Mickey Thompson King of the Street title.
To top off the weekend, Kevin also posted the quickest time in the Godzilla Invasion class, qualified number one, and survived to the quarter-final round before bowing out. “Not a bad weekend, and glad my wife and daughter were there with me,” said Kevin.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, NMRA, and Kevin Schweizer.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com