Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes: News and Notes from Day Zero at Cordova Dragway

The inaugural Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes got underway on Sunday, June 4th at Cordova Dragway in Illinois, with tech inspection and an afternoon test and tune session that saw Alex Taylor lead the way as she aims for an overall victory.

Temperatures were into the low 90s, which made traction and smooth runs difficult for many, but several teams navigated the conditions.

After an initial pass where tire shake cost her a good run, Alex Taylor returned to the track and recorded a 7.02 at 208mph for the best time and speed of the day.

Bryant Goldstone was a waitlist entry for Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes but we were glad to see him on the property. After his recent win and 6.6 second runs at the NHRA PEAK Performance Street Car Shootout in Joliet, Goldstone will be one of the favorites to win this week. He made a couple of test hits, overpowering the track but breaking 200mph on one pass.

Steve Morris has a renewed focus for this week - get down the track! The Boostmaster wagon will, according to Morris, have a more conservative setup aimed at full passes to hopefully avoid the driveline issues that afflicted him during Sick Week earlier this year.

Cleetus McFarland (AKA Garrett Mitchell) only made one test pass earlier in the day, but spun the tires as he battled the triple-figure track temps. In fact, pretty much the only radial car to make an impression was Devin Vanderhoof’s Mustang, which clocked a 7.53/198mph in the middle of the afternoon.

Tim Flanders (near lane) and CJ Durbin made side-by-side 8.66 passes during testing.

Mickey Thompson is joining Sick Summer for the entire week. Not only do they have a stocked trailer full of sticky Mickey Thompson tires, but also the tire changing equipment to get competitors set up at the track.

EJ Naegeli is making her first drag-and-drive appearance, and after getting her 1957 Chevrolet wagon finished up in the Sick workshop, and she made her first pass ever on a drag strip today with co-pilot Sam from the Cleetus McFarland channel. A 14.996 was a great first run.

Day one will have the gates to Cordova opening at 7am, followed by a drivers’ meeting at 8am, and racing set to begin at 9am. Spectator tickets are available at the gate.

Check out our wrap up video from the day below!

Written by Derek Putnam.

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