Cruise and Lose Successfully Completes Its Third Year, Nick Lawson Leads Winners List for Second-Straight Year
The Cruise and Lose, the eighth drag-and-drive of the 2024 season, would complete a weekend where several events were cancelled due to weather.
And although the third edition of the drag-and-drive didn’t face the extreme weather conditions of 2023, there were some interesting tidbits, as well as familiar faces by the end of the event.
68 cars and trucks signed up, and a chance of rain hung overhead on sign up day, but the weather would look reasonably sunny. But as participants left to head to the next destination, reports of a tornado were getting passed around. Thankfully, no participants had issues and made the trek safely.
I29 Dragway in Pacific Junction, Iowa provided the starting point for activities, check in and inspection. Once participants has completed their day at that location, Onawa Dragway in Onawa, Iowa would be the next destination track for Saturday April 27th.
The final day would be held at Kearney Raceway Park in Kearney, Nebraska where participants would celebrate completing the event and champions would be crowned.
The small tire class (limiting a 29.5-inch height x 10.5-inch width slick or 315/60/15 maximum size radial smaller tire) would see a repeat winner, Nick Lawson would emerge the victor with his LS-swapped twin-turbo 1973 Chevrolet Camaro, putting down a 5.40 average for the overall. Marc Grote locked up second with his turbocharged AMC Gremlin and a 5.65 average.
The quickest of the three index classes at Cruise and Lose is 6.50 Index, and the top spot went to Kyle Calkins with his ’78 Fairmont station wagon. Packing a 4.8-liter LS-swap with a single turbo, the wagon brought in a stellar 6.507 average for the class victory.
The Mass family in a pair of Mopars would clinch the second and third spots, with a 6.514 from Bill Mass earning the second spot and Jeff Mass’ 6.559 average good enough for the third spot.
The 7.50 Index would be the closest class on averages for the top three, and the ’74 Camaro of Braydon Porkhorny delivered the win. A car he purchase in high school, Porkhorny relied on a 427 cubic inch LS engine for his 7.516 average and the accolades.
A pair of pick-up trucks would be hot of Porkhorny’s heels in 7.50 Index, as Aaron Tavener’s Chevrolet pick-up came in second thanks to a 7.523 average, and Steve Smith 7.528 average from his Dodge truck nabbed third.
The 8.50 Index class proven to be the most popular, and Ray Zadrow made it a clean LS-powerplant sweep of class winners, using a 2000 model Chevrolet Camaro and an 8.513 average for the victory.
Close behind in the second spot would be Rudolf Zinsser and the 8.518 average from Rudolf’s Chevy Corvette. Elijah Malisa rounded out the top three with a clean Plymouth Barracuda and an 8.530 average.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Flat Rock Photography and Justin Burch Photography.
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