Lutz Quickest at Gainesville, But LaSala Still Leads Sick Week
Jeff Lutz struck back on day three of Sick Week 2024 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive, driving the Mad Max Camaro to the quickest time of the day at Gainesville Raceway.
Once again it took several attempts to conquer tire shake, but Lutz eventually came away with a 6.289/229mph to take his average to a 6.459. The slicks may have won the battle, but the war still seems to be swayed towards radial tires as Brett LaSala found his way down Gainesville in 6.495 seconds to keep the overall lead of Sick Week (and Modified) with a 6.382 average. LaSala needed several shots at the track but eventually found the right way down.
Sweden’s Magnus Frost went 6.423 to bring his average back to a 6.592, though the Opel Ascona was fighting him every step of the way. An earlier run saw the car knock out the finish line timing boxes, resulting in even more damaged to a very battered front end (this image above is before that). Fellow Swede Stefan Gustaffson joined Frost in the sixes with a 6.764 pass (6.802A).
Bryant Goldstone remained in the lead of Unlimited Iron thanks to a 6.543 run (6.568A), as Alex Taylor waited until late in the day to make a 6.898 hit (6.874A) as she chases ‘sixes every day.’
Heavy Metal leader Craig Groebner had a time slip to celebrate after making his first six-second pass, a 6.972. But there were not many smiles in his camp afterwards, with the Nova smoking a piston on the run — likely putting him out. Jason Pickett is still looking like the man to beat with his 8.181 average, after a near personal best 8.084 pass today.
Glenn Hunter’s streak of full passes continued with a 7.289 (7.315) to stay numero uno in Pro Street, while Australia’s Michael Ward raced to his quickest time of the week (7.414, 7.471A) to remain atop Super Street.
Chad Fegley is playing the consistency game in Stick Shift and a 7.832 from the Corvette (7.916A) did his chances of a win no harm. Second-placed Rich Guido had a great day with a stunning 8.517/166mph personal best run (8.662A).
Matt Sweet remains well ahead in Naturally Aspirated with his 7.729 average, with daylight to second-placed Guy Protano’s 8.637 average.
Rowdy Radial is still a battle between Matt Moore and Sheldon Root. Moore’s 4.714 almost matched his day two 4.713 (4.726A), while Root exactly copied his 4.709 (4.770A)! Moore found the Gainesville track to his liking, with his best ever 60 foot time.
Trevor Branden took over the lead of Sick Week Freaks in his Nissan GTR, but it is likely to be short lived after he burned up a piston on an 8.165 run (8.802A). That means it will probably be Damon Elff (8.804A) and Rob Courtney (8.861A) fighting it out in the final days.
Gassers vs Hot Rods vs Beetles saw Steven Dalton stay in the lead with his 10.138 average.
Randy Seward took over the lead of Street Race 275 by one thousandth of a second with a brilliant 8.501 run for an 8.512 average. Former leader James Taal went 8.523 (8.513A). Brian Acton is ruling over Sick Street Race with an 8.529 average.
Gabriela Lujan remained in the lead of Pro DYO, with her spread increasing to 0.005 but staying ahead of Dean Anderson’s 0.006 spread. Rajveer Ahuja is also still looking good at 0.008. In DYO, Will Stoneburg is now the leader with a 0.014 spread, ahead of Azeem Sheikh’s 0.022. The Bullseye winner for day three was Russell St John’s Ford Mustang.
After racing, teams headed out for the shortest drive of the week, with 137 miles between Gainesville and South Georgia. ‘Dive Bar Day’ saw stops at the Santa Fe Bar in High Springs, FL before crossing the border to drop by Rascals Bar and Grill in Lake Park, GA.
Day four of Sick Week will take place at South Georgia Motorsports Park, with racing from 9am. See you there!
Enjoy some more photos from day three below. Find full results here.
