Manic Monday – Day 1 of Sick Week Produces Record Times, Personal Bests, Near Mishaps, and Unfortunate Carnage
After an interesting day of Sunday testing at Orlando Speed World Dragway, Vegas odds makers would have a tough time figuring out favorites for possible Sick Week 2023 Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive winners.
With near sea-level atmospheric conditions, and a sticky track surface, it was only a matter of time before people starting making personal best runs, and possibly world records runs.
Those world record runs were kicked off by Brett LaSala, who dropped the quickest time on drag radials ever in drag-and-drive history with a 6.52 at 212 mph from the Mustang known as Snot Rocket 2.0.
The new Rowdy Radial class has several qualified rides enter to try their hand on the 26-inch tall by 8.5-inch width limited tire. A handful of low 5-second passes came from past drag-and-drive participants, but Jordan Tuck in Devin Vanderhoof’s Mustang dropped a 4.68 at 162 mph lap, the quickest and fastest ever on the small 235-sized tire in drag-and-drive history!
Chad Fegley, who has captured victory in the Rocky Mountain Race Week Stick Shift class before, made all of the Stick Shift class take notice when he laid down a blistering 7.57, the quickest pass ever for a stick shift car in drag-and-drive history!
There was a total of eight drivers clicking off 6-second runs, led by Tom Bailey’s 6.24 at just 188 mph pass. “It sucked,” joked Bailey of the pass from his Camaro Sick Seconds 2.0. “I know it’s got plenty more left.”
Also make their mark on Monday were Bryant Goldstone and Steve Morris, who both clocked 6.74-second passes, with Goldstone being a mere two thousandths of-a-second quicker with his AMC.
Tina Pierce got the nod for the shot she fired - 7.24 at 193 mph, Andrew Dopita crushed his previous personal best with a 7.45 at 188 mph, and Kyle Morris beat his personal best by a bunch with an 8.15 at 175 mph!
In the personal best category, Alex Taylor led all competitors by get a 6.96 at 205 mph on her final pass of the day. Taylor has previously run in the sixes in testing, and 200 mph on a drag-and-drive last year. She just needed them to come together and Sick Week provide that venue!
There was also some near mishaps on Monday, the biggest of which involved Eric Yost when his ’68 Camaro made a sudden left turn and moved from the right lane to the left lane. But thankfully Yost and his opponent were able to avoid each other, and Yost returned later in the day to clock a 7.40 at 182 mph.
In the carnage department, the worst case was Dave Schroeder, as just moments after the above photo, he crashed the beautiful 2019 C7 Corvette at the top end. Fortunately, despite the hard hit and the amount of damage, Dave was out of the car within a few minutes with minimal issues. But it’s likely the car will be totaled, or in need of a lot of repairs.
Steve Groenink, who ran 7.08 at 198 mph, had to park his Celica after losing ring tension on a couple of cylinders.
Matt Lamphier, who was second in the 275 Street Race category, had his engine lock up while nearing the second checkpoint location, and pulling a spark plug revealed a possible broken piston.
What will happen on day two? Be at Bradenton Motorsports Park or watch the Motion Raceworks live stream on YouTube!
Written by Derek Putnam.