Epic Battles Await Final Day After Spectacular Great Lakes Show
Motion Raceworks Sick Summer will enter its last day with several classes on the line in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the Midwest’s biggest drag-and-drive event.
A great crowd filled Great Lakes Dragaway once again to watch America’s quickest real street cars do their thing on the fourth day of Sick Summer. Alongside the awesome numbers on the vintage Wisconsin venue came a heartstopping moments when Eric Olson’s eight-second Ford Ranger got loose at the finish line and turned on to its side, sliding into Brent Sands’ just-finished Camaro. Both drivers were unhurt but neither will be a part of the final day at Byron.
Bryant Goldstone has all but locked in Overall quickest honors, so long as he can make it to Byron Dragway and make a pass in the seven-second zone or lower. A 6.784 pass at 213mph during day four took his average to a 6.631 in the AMC Javelin, which also leads Unlimited Iron.
The chase for second place is where the action is at. Alex Taylor struggled most of the day with a valve train issue that saw her and father Dennis spending much of the day with the motor apart. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that Alex got on track for a 7.027 pass and a 6.99700 average (those extra digits will come in handy shortly).
Modified leader Michael Manuel’s Camaro was one-and-done thanks to a 6.944/211mph run, establishing a 6.99725 average. That means he is in third place, but only by the slightest of margins. The final day at Byron Dragway will see if he can upset Alex Taylor and bring home second (or heck, even better if Bryant’s day doesn’t go according to plan).
Pro Street looks like a fun one tomorrow. Tom McGilton withdraw overnight, putting Evan Uerkwitz into the lead with his Chevy Malibu. After today he has an 8.397 average while second-placed Frank Webb has an 8.518 average. Webb’s Ford Fairmont has run sevens this week however, meaning he has the capability to take over first place. We will watch with interest!
Stick Shift has three drivers in contention. Bob Gruber stepped up big time with an 8.561 today at Great Lakes Dragaway (8.706A), seizing the lead from Dan Hardt (8.727A). Bryan Crane’s 8.794 average is only just behind. A final day battle for the ages awaits!
Rowdy Radial looks to be a duel between Nathan McMaster and Blayne Stark. McMaster went 5.064 today (5.169A) for the quickest run we have seen all week in the class while Stark went 5.090 (5.194A), a pass that would also have been quickest of the week — were it not for McMaster.
Street Race 275 is incredibly tight ahead of Friday. In fact, it is the closest we can remember an 8.50 class being at any event in recent years. The battle royale looks like this: Chris Merry (8.541A), Jeremy Ortiz (8.543A), Dean Anderson (8.545A) and Matthew Frederick (8.545A). That’s right, just four thousandths of a second separates the top four!
Sick Street Race is also close, with Cameron Alley (8.520A), Brian Acton (8.526A) and TJ Linebaugh (8.533A) all in with a chance.
Other classes might not be so tight, but still promise plenty of action as the leaders attempt to wrap up their Sick Summer titles. Those current number ones include Alan Whitaker (Heavy Metal, 7.322A), Doug Cook (Super Street, 7.215A), Ken Cuttle Jr (Naturally Aspirated, 9.592A), Trevor Branden (Sick Week Freaks, 8.311A) and Wayne Baker (Gassers vs Hot Rods vs Beetles, 9.254A). Rajveer Ahuja stayed in the lead of Pro DYO (0.044 spread) while Brett Anttila took over the lead of DYO (0.009 spread).
The final route of the week was a touch over 100 miles from track to track. The first stop was Bristol 45 Diner, just a short eight-mile drive from Great Lakes Dragaway. After a bite to eat and maybe a milkshake, the Sick Summer racers and Sick Warders went on to Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, IL. After our step there last year, the owner wanted to make everything bigger and better and provided everything from food trucks to a hose for some burnouts!
Behind the scenes, there has been plenty of mechanical chaos, but for those stories you’ll have to subscribe to Sick The Magazine for our full event report in our next issue!
The final day of Motion Raceworks Sick Summer commences at 11am tomorrow (Friday) at Byron Dragway. Full results are available here.
