Jason Tabscott Putting Potent 8-Second Camaro Back Together with Hopes of a Victory at Hot Rod Drag Week

At the completion of what appeared to be a solid performance at his second Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, Jason Tabscott’s thoughts were a mix of success and ‘I wonder what the damage is?’

He had clocked his best-lap ever for the naturally-aspirated small-block-powered ’70 Camaro during Sick Week 2023, an 8.52 at 159 mph. Jason put together an 8.59 average, a solid improvement over the 8.76 average one year earlier, and scored third in the Naturally-Aspirated class, as well as ‘Quickest Small Block.’


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During the week though, Jason could have been forgiven for wondering if he was going to finish Sick Week. “I kept hearing a weird noise up front all week,” said Jason. “But I couldn't find it.”

On day five, the problem made itself known in a big way. “Bolts came loose on the camshaft pulley of the belt drive,” Jason admitted. “On the last day, the bolts backed all the way out. Camshaft walked backwards in the block, and all the lifters fell off the camshaft lobes and starting chewing into neighboring lobes.”

Jason ended up with a pan full of metal shavings, a destroyed billet oil pump, and all sixteen lifters were toast. Despite the damage, Jason looked at the cup half-full.

“I took the opportunity to upgrade the camshaft,” he said. The new grind has a more aggressive lobe and more lift than his previous choice. “It may bite us; Definitely not a street friendly lobe,” said Jason. “But we have to keep pushing to find the ‘limit.’ Never know until we try.”

With a completed 430 cubic inch short-block and closer to hearing the small-block run once again, Jason is looking to Hot Rod Drag Week and a possible seventh class title at that event alone.

He currently has eight drag-and-drive class wins, including one at Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0 in 2020, and the other at Midwest Drags in 2021.

 

Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Jason Tabscott.

If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com

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