Chasing Perfection – Striving for a Third-Straight Win at Hot Rod Drag Week, Dustin Trance Could Make History
Drag-and-drive events have been proving naysayers wrong on ‘street car’ performances since Hot Rod Drag Week started in 2005. Goals once thought unobtainable have been met and crushed over the years, including six-second averages, over 200 miles per hour, and even a single five-second pass at the 2019 edition of Hot Rod Drag Week.
Although it can take on different names (Street Race, Limited Street, Street Race Big Block Power Adder to name a few), several drag-and-drive events offer a class / classes where an 8.50-second index on the quarter-mile standard is enforced.
What does this mean? You want to run to run as close to 8.50-seconds without going quicker than the set time. If you run an 8.499, you can’t hand in that time slip, or else you take a default 20-second time, keeping the car in competition, but eliminating chances of winning.
Don’t miss the ultimate drag-and-drive: Death Week, October 20-29 2023!
Event information and entry forms can be FOUND HERE!
Most class versions also employ a look that would blend the car or truck into something that wouldn’t be out of place on the streets of America: a clean, small tire ride that wouldn’t give off 8-9-second performance capabilities.
Although almost any engine combination and power adder is normally allowed, some events may break them up by engine size, power adder or naturally-aspirated, and/or body modifications / suspension choices.
The most common choice for these classes is a small block of 430 cubic inches or less, a power adder of choice, stock-type suspension, and a 275/60/15 radial tire.
Several people have established themselves in these classes, and one of them is Dustin Trance. The Florida-based 2005 Ford Mustang is a family affair, as Dustin is normally joined by father Steve on his drag-and-drive excursions.
Powered by a 419 cubic inch LS engine boosted with an 88-millimeter single turbo, the Mustang passes the ponies through a unique Turbo 400 3-speed transmission with a new Sonnax Smart tech drum module. “It eliminates the drums, and the clutches are consolidated into a lightweight basket,” said Steve. “It comes standard with about 3000 horsepower clutch capacity, and drops in with no modifications.”
Dustin and Steve have enjoyed success at most events they attend, with Dustin scoring the best average two years in a row on Hot Rod Drag Week in the Street Race Small Block Power-Adder class for back-to-back class victories in 2021 and 2022.
He even added a Limited Street class win at the 352 Shootout in Gainesville, Florida in 2021.
In 2023, Dustin and Steve decided to add the Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive event to their roster. Entering the Sick Street Race category put Dustin up against some solid players, including Brian Acton, Randy Belehar, and Aaron Shaffer.
Dustin and Aaron established themselves as the front runners in the class from the very first day, with Aaron getting the early 8.516 to 8.527 lead. He continued to stay ahead of Dustin with nearly equal or better runs until the final day, when Dustin posted an 8.515 to finish second in the Sick Street Race category with an 8.519 average.
Yep, you read that right; an 8.519 average over five days in an 8.50-limited class wasn’t good enough for the top spot. Aaron acquired the accolades and orange helmet with an average of 8.510, the quickest average ever recorded at a drag-and-drive event in an 8.50-second limited category.
Fast forward a little over seven months, and we’re rolling into day five at Hot Rod Drag Week with the tour returning to the starting point, Darlington Dragway.
As is normally the case, Street Race Small Block Power Adder is a battlefield, and Dustin would be the leader from the word ‘go’ with a nearly-perfect 8.502 pass. But he wouldn’t have much room to relax on the first day though, as six cars in the class produced an 8.57 or better. Dustin proved his tune-up was ready for consistency on day two, lighting the Rockingham Dragway scoreboards at 8.508 for an 8.505 average through two days.
But a couple competitors with proven drag-and-drive / street car records were hot on his heels, as both Randy Seward and ‘Hook if Parts Fall Off’ Rick Steinke used 8.51 time slips at each track for 8.512 and 8.515 averages, respectively. And if those three were impressive enough, fourth place was held down by Brian Acton thanks to an 8.517 average; talk about some close competition!
Day three brought the tour to Bristol Dragway, and although the track is nearly 1500 feet above sea level, Dustin showed he was ready with another 8.502 pass, moving his average to an 8.504 after three days.
Randy and Rick would collect their third 8.51 pass of the week for each of them, moving their three-day averages to 8.514 and 8.515, and keeping the pressure on Dustin.
The fourth day rolled Drag Week to Aiken, South Carolina and the track known as ‘House of Hook’ - Carolina Dragway. And for the first time all week, Dustin had to work hard for another 8.50 pass.
He opened with an 8.60, then produced back-to-back 8.52 time slips. After waiting a couple hours for his next shot, Dustin produced a too-quick 8.47 pass.
Now up for his fifth run in just over five hours, and the pressure mounting, Dustin attacked the left lane of the drag strip to light the scoreboard at 8.508, slowing his average a touch to an 8.505, but keeping his 8.50 streak intact.
“We chased the weather and the track some, but once we got the 8.47 in the all run session, we knew where to go from there,” said Dustin. “The car responds to changes really well. It took 5 tries, but we’ve had days in previous years of making 8 passes and being the last ones out before, so it wasn’t too bad. We even got to the hotel with some day light left.”
Randy produced his fourth-straight 8.51 to calculate an 8.514 average and stay within striking distance of Dustin, but Rick and his ‘67 Chevelle battled transmission issues, falling out of the top three and moving Chris Merry in the Diehl brothers’ Mustang up to third with an 8.549 average.
With one day remaining, Dustin stands in a unique position no one else has been in: finishing a drag-and-drive with a perfect 8.50 average in an 8.50-limited class. “It’s really satisfying,” Dustin said of his performance. “We put in the work and kept chipping away, and it’s paid off. Of course, it’s not over yet, but it a great feeling and not something I expected.”
Dustin could also be the first competitor to record an 8.50 pass each and every day in an 8.50-limited class, and be the first to win the Street Race Small Block Power Adder class three times in-a-row!!
Will history be made on the final day? Tune in to the Day 5 Hot Rod Drag Week live stream by CLICKING HERE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Dustin Trance.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com