Is this Nova the Ultimate Sleeper?
At Sick Week 2022, a 1972 Chevrolet Nova in a plain brown wrapper appearance with dog dish hubcaps showed up to participate in the new Bulls Eye Challenge class. A new class design in the drag-and-drive community, it uses a different number to crown a new winner at each track in the event. This Nova landed second at the Gainesville Raceway and Bradenton Motorsports Park stops, and averaged a 10.58 for the week.
“I've been following Hot Rod Drag Week for years, but it was always so far away,” said Jimmy Rinehart. “Sick Week being in Florida, and my home track being Bradenton, I figured if I don’t do this, I never will.” Jimmy puts this Nova together at the request of Drew Fleming, the car’s owner, who joined him for the week in the co-pilot spot.
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The Nova sports a Texas Speed 5.3-liter short block with a BTR camshaft, and is topped with Trick Flow cylinder heads, a Holley Mid Ram intake and a Precision 76/75 turbocharger provides the extra kick. An overdrive 4L80E transmission with an FTI converter sends the power to the Quick Performance 9-inch rear end.
Jimmy added an 8.50-legal chromoly roll cage to the interior, but kept the sleeper theme with a full factory interior featuring the stock column shifter, and added in a Dakota Digital dash and Vintage Air.
“The entire car was built by my shop, Boosted by Rhino,” said Jimmy. “Sick Week 2022 was our first event with the car, and it performed flawless and we ran 10-second passes all week.
For the 2023 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive event, Jimmy made a few changes, got his NHRA competition license, and turned up the Nova to jump into the Sick Street Race class. The Nova delivered a 9.39 on day one at Orlando ‘Sick’ World Dragway, then followed it with a 9.25 at Bradenton Motorsports Park on day two and a 9.26 on day three at South Georgia Motorsports Park. But day three would be the end of Jimmy and Drew’s week. “We broke a ring land in South Georgia,” said Jimmy. “I noticed the car starting to smoke on the drive back to Gainesville, so we called it quits and just hung out at the track on Thursday.”
After getting the car fixed and lined out since Sick Week, Jimmy and Drew are ready for Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes. “The goal is to get that 8 second pass,” said Jimmy. “So far we've been 9.04 at 145 mph, and I think we're about at the limit of the turbo.” Still, Jimmy and Drew are looking to enjoy another drag-and-drive event. “Without him, none of this would be possible,” said Jimmy. “I'm just the builder/tuner/driver and maintain the car.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Jimmy Rinehart.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com