Aiming for Single Digits in a Full-Size GMC Pick-Up
At the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022, Floridian Jeremy Tapscott hoped to make the short drive to participate in his 2005 GMC Sierra pick-up. But the night before he was to load up and make the trek south, the truck lost oil pressure.
Not one to give up facing the grim reality of his situation, Tapscott decided to make the drive and enter his GMC Yukon instead, clocking a best pass of 13.61 at 100 mph in route to completing the week.
One year later, Tapscott had the “Trashcan” pick-up back together and made the drive to Orlando “Sick” World Dragway for the 2023 edition of Sick Week. “I’m hoping to make it all week this year,” said Tapscott. “Maybe set some new personal bests!”
His first day in the turbocharged ride netted a disappointing 17.12 pass, but Tapscott continued to improve, netting a best of 10.46 at 125.93 mph on day four at Gainesville Raceway in route to a 12.77 average.
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Reflecting on his drag-and-drive adventures, which also include Rocky Mountain Race Week and Hot Rod Drag Week, Tapscott said “the adventure keeps me coming back. I know that sounds cliche but seriously, following the instructions to the next spot, figuring out where we’re going to get parts when something breaks, pranks on our other buddies racing, talking shit with the other racers and hearing their stories, then setting it all aside for a few seconds to go beat the balls off of a car that you’re supposed to drive a few hundred miles to the next track. There’s nothing else like it.”
That desire for adventure found Tapscott at the second drag-and-drive of the 2023 season, the Southeast Street-N-Yeet. He entered the Unlimited class, and completed the week with a 6.51 average on the eighth-mile standard. Tapscott also managed to produce career best numbers of 5.96 at 116 mph on the eighth-mile, and a 9.62 at just 118 mph on the quarter-mile.
Tapscott isn’t sure what his next event will be. “The truck is on a diet, getting some major overhauls in the fuel, hot side and cold side (of the turbocharger), and we’re changing some suspension components,” he said. “We intend on going to the fall Street-N-Yeet next, but we’re open to any events that will have us if the truck is ready.”
“We only had two weeks notice for this event and honestly, it made us realize we prefer to go without a plan,” Tapscott admitted. “No hotels, just camp out at the tracks and enjoy the adventure.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Jeremy Tapscott.