After a period where cars were more about the styling and add-ons versus performance, the tables slowly started to turn in the 1980s, where multiple vehicles started to emerge from their smog handcuffed shackles. Trucks also started to get a boost in these times, including the 1990s Chevrolet SS and Ford Lightning pick-ups, and for David Cedoz, the Chevy truck would become a part of his life for 34 years.

David got his first taste of the OBS Chevy pick-up when his father picked up a brand new 1990 SS model, and after his father enjoyed it for ten years, David purchased it to tow his Bass boat for tournament fishing. It would see daily driver orders, and eventually a bump in power for more fun on the street and 8-second runs on the track.

David lost that truck to a fire in 2023, but managed to put a new one together in under 8 months! Can it back-up the glory runs the first jet black pick-up produced in 2023 at Sick Week?

As trends come and go, one thing that’s shown staying power is the drag racing world and the history behind it. As each year rolls by, the history of racing, as well as the cars that participated as part of it, become talking points at more benchracing sessions and staging lane gatherings. It’s just cool to see cars with history come back into focus once again, and for Darin Hendricks, he’s ready to write the next chapter of a storied history for this Ford Mustang Cobra.

Now, the fact this is a real deal 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra, one of 5100 originally built for the model year (including the rare Cobra R models). But despite its collectability, Darin was anything but gentle with it. “It has spent most of its life as a race car,” said Darin. But after almost two decades as a race ride, Darin is ready for the next chapter - drag-and-drive action with a supercharged combination under the hood, and a 5-speed manual transmission!

As the drag-and-drive community and event schedule grows, there have been several articles and inquiries into the origin of the first drag-and-drive, Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week in 2005.

Hot Rod also played host to the Fastest Street Car Shootout, held in Memphis, Tennessee, where several drivers etched their names as the first competitors in a street-legal car shootout. One of them was Rick Dyer, and sadly, we’ve gotten word that the Michigan resident has passed away.

The BoostedBoiz have built several cars and trucks that can make most people do a double take. From constructing a 7-second Honda engine-swapped MR2, to the ‘Rowdyssey’ Honda Odyssey van sporting a turbocharged Honda 4-cylinder and clocking mid 9-second times, the crew has come up with some crazy builds.

But their latest creation, merging a Tesla Plaid S chassis with a Dodge Challenger body, could prove to be one that gets even more attention, and might change a few opinions on muscle cars as well.

While some are able to hang on to their first car, others can’t for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s tough decisions that force the sale, or a willingness to move on to a different ride, a person’s first car will reflect on them. In the case of Tor Nupen, remembering his first car, combined with wanting to participate in a drag-and-drive, led him to this 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle.

“I’ve had cars since I was 16 years old,” said Tor. “My first car was a ‘69 big block Chevelle. I’ve mostly street raced. and did some small tire 10.5-inch tire racing at my local tracks. With raising kids, and having responsibilities the car was sold.”

Nor didn’t forget that Chevelle, and although he didn’t buy that one back, it had an effect on him, and the ’68 Chevelle he now owns. “I’ve wanted to do a Hot Rod Drag Week ever since David Freiburger started it. My biggest goal and challenge is to complete a drag-and-drive with a car that my sons and I built.”

It’s been a common sight at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and Jordan Boudreaux’s Mustang has also made its mark in the event standings every year.

The turbocharged LS-swapped ride has earned a spot in the top three standings in the 275 Street Race class at the end of each Sick Week, but 2025 will bring a change for the Louisiana-based ride.

Richard Guido is not afraid to put in the work and miles to attend a drag-and-drive. And we'll see this brutally quick, stick-shift Pontiac GTO on Edelbrock Sick 66 starting next week!

With a history of running competitive heads-up radial racing, Lamar Swindoll Jr. is used to the pressure that can come with producing repeatable performance and getting to the finish line on time. After producing mid 8-second elapsed times on both Sick Week and Sick Summer, Lamar decided it was time to turn up the wick for next month’s Edelbrock Sick 66.

Tom Kuepper's version of the popular Ford half-ton platform served as a farm truck in its past life, but Tom wasn’t focused on field work when he picked up the truck. Sporting a 438 cubic inch Windsor-based engine with a pair of 78/75-millimeter turbochargers, Tom recently went hunting for a 8-second time slip!

Although it’s becoming more common to see some familiar rides and names at more than one drag-and-drive event per season, a large majority will choose to participate in different styles of events. And we’re seeing dozens of drag-and-drive competitors putting together solid event results outside of the drag-and-drive event calendar.

The two lists that determine early entry for the 2025 edition for Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks are the Top 100 Averages, and the Top Individual Runs.

The Diehl brothers and Chris Merry appeared to be ready for Sick Summer 2024, but they decided that a little tune-up was needed. So they popped into a Street Car Takeover event at US 131 Motorsports Park, held just one day before registration and tech day at Sick Summer.

“My first drag-and-drive experience was in 2021, and I was instantly hooked.” That set the wheels in motion for a car of his own to participate, and he almost hit his goals last year at Sick Summer. “My goals were to try and win both the fastest 6 cylinder and over all class winner. We got close, but we needed more for 2024.”

This ‘84 Chevrolet C-10 pick-up debuted on Sick Summer last year, and has since earned a class win and an 8.51 at 155 mph time slip. Is it ready for its next driver at this year’s Sick Summer?

It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Australia’s Darren Parker could not have flattered Chevrolet any more with the passion behind his COPO-inspired Holden Commodore.

“I had the traditional small block engine in a ’72 El Camino. It got old, and we wanted to do something different.”

Felicia Smith has become well known for her 2009 Cadillac CTS-V sedan, better known as ‘4 Door Rocket,’ and Felicia can trace some of her racing and automotive addiction to high school, where she attended an automotive tech class as part of her studies.

With the huge upswing of drag-and-drive events in the last two years, several have speculated what it takes to be competitive in classes, and what the top 100 averages look like, has been mentioned a few times.

It’s official; the first drag-and-drive of the 2024 season is in the books. And, the starting point on the top 100 averages list, as well as the top 100 single passes, has been created!

“I had planned to build a Mustang, but I could only take myself and either my wife or daughter. So, we decided that a wagon would be better suited for us since we all could go, plus take a friend.”