Eric Yost Returning to Drag-and-Drive Competition in 2023; Could a Battle For The First 6-Second Pass With Stock Suspension Be Shaping Up?
It’s not uncommon for racing to take a back seat when business or family needs increase. Add in a hurt motor, and you’ve got the reason Eric Yost has been on the sidelines for a bit. A multi-time drag-and-drive champion and the owner of Customs by Bigun, Eric’s rust-wrapped ’68 Camaro was a stout performer where it went.
Eric Yost’s ‘68 Camaro after one of its many victories.
After winning the Hot Rod Drag Week in 2012 in his previous car, a 1982 Trans Am called the “Dirty Bird” with a 7.86 average, Eric debuted the ’68 Camaro one year later. After failing to complete the week, Eric returned for 2014 on a mission, and lowered his best time slip to an 8.09 at 172mph to win the Super Street Power Adder class.
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Eric switched gears in 2015 and participated on Rocky Mountain Race Week, scoring a class victory in his first and only appearance. 2015 marked Eric’s last drag-and-drive appearance, and the next two years found the Camaro getting exercised at Street Car Takeover events, and even taking part in a standing half-mile event, clocking a top speed of 215 mph. But when Eric hurt the engine in 2017, it marked the beginning of a stint away from the Camaro.
“Between building a house and raising kids, racing took a back seat for a bit,” said Eric. “But doing Sick Week 2022 with the Swedes lit the fire again, and I’m ready to be back out there!”
Eric Yost returned to drag-and-drive competition in 2022 as the passenger and tuner for Stefan Gustafsson’s ‘89 Corvette, which picked up the overall win at Sick Week 2022 thanks to a 6.67 average.
Previously powered by a 364 cubic inch small block Chevrolet with 18 degree cylinder heads and a single 94 millimeter turbo, Eric will again turn to a gen-one based small block to power the Camaro in 2023. But this one will be based around a Dart aluminum block, and check in at 380 cubic inches. It will house a Callies crankshaft and connecting rods, Ross pistons, and a new set of Profiler 12 degree canted valve heads, along with a GTX-55 106 millimeter turbocharger. Hogan’s is constructing a custom intake, and Yost will employ a dual fuel system to cruise on pump gas but switch to the race juice when the Holley Dominator commands it. Harrell Engine & Dyno will handle the build, and Eric hopes for north of 2,000 horsepower. A new Turbo 400 transmission from Transmission Specialties will slide behind the engine, and the chassis will get an upgrade from its current 7.50 cert limitation to handle the increased workload.
In early December, Eric Yost’s Camaro waits for updates to bring it back for drag-and-drive competition.
“I want to run a six-second pass at 200 mph,” said Eric of his 2023 racing goals. If that happens, it would mark the first six-second pass for a leaf-spring vehicle, but isn’t just focused on records.
“I enjoy driving this car as much as I enjoy racing it, so I personally enjoy the drag-and-drive event deals.”
He plans to run Sick Week, and also plans to return to Hot Rod Drag Week. “It’ll also get summer cruises, ice cream runs, plenty of street miles,” Eric said. “I’m ready to have fun with it again.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Eric Yost, Lock It In Productions.