LaSala Stays Strong, Hayes Moves Into Top Three as Sick Week Goes to the Beach
Orlando Speed World lived up to its name on day three of Sick Week 2025 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive, with world records amid drama at the top of the field.
Brett LaSala’s 24-hour old record fell once again with a 6.206, as the Snot Rocket 3.0 Ford Mustang continued to deliver a showcase of consistency. LaSala stayed atop the overall rankings with a 6.301 average, but believed he could have gone quicker.
“That wasn’t enough,” he said. “That should have been a 6.15. The track was really good and I underestimated it so it was wanting to wheelstand. We also developed a transmission leak; everything is okay but it was messy.”
Josh Davis remained in second place with a 6.596 and a 6.677 average, as the battle for third heated up. After driveline and rear end chassis damage yesterday, Graham Hayes then encountered a broken transmission in the morning at Orlando. A thrash in the pits replaced the transmission and Hayes ran his quickest time of the week, a 6.661 for a 6.750 average.
“Cameron Johnson race cars brought us new four-link bars and a new wishbone that we got in, then I went to grab reverse this morning and we had no reverse,” he said. “We needed a lot of parts off our old trans to make the new one work and then it took us all day long (to make a good run) but that doesn’t matter, as long as you get it by the end. We are here to fight. It’s going to be tight.”
Bryant Goldstone also had his work cut out for him after he broke the rear end of his Javelin on its first pass of the day, but he recovered for a 6.517 pass (6.779 average) to shuffle into fourth.
The spectacular efforts of Naturally Aspirated-class record setter Ed Ensor continued with a 7.078 world record out of his incredible Ford Mustang.
“All in all I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “This is not an Unlimited-style car, it is a Modified car more like Brett LaSala, with a 10-inch tire and a conventional 632. I’ve got all the right people behind me.”
Other class leaders are getting shaken out with just two days remaining of Sick Week. Nick Rinehart has a half-second lead in Heavy Metal with his 6.938 average, while Glenn Hunter’s ’56 Chevy leads Pro Street with a 6.997 average. Bob Hess Jr and Brad Arnold are fighting for number one in Super Street with 7.424 and 7.488 averages respectively.
Darin Hendricks is pacing Stick Shift on an 8.846 average with his Ford Mustang Cobra, as Sick Week Freaks develops into a fascinating battle between Cooper Bogetti’s 2JZ-powered Camaro (8.606 average) and Rick Fletes’ diesel-motivated Chevelle (8.658 average).
The driving side of the day did not disappoint either, with a cruise up the Atlantic coast. Racers first rolled through the jungle-like Merritt Island just outside Titusville, before getting into Daytona Beach. Aunt Catfish’s on the River served as the first checkpoint, then the field were right next to the beach on their way up past Flagler Beach and into Palatka for the second checkpoint at Hoot Owl Farmhouse Ice Cream.
The penultimate day of Sick Week 2025 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive takes place today at Gainesville Raceway. Full results are available here.
