The popularity of the drag and drive event format has brought thousands of people from the tests and tune side of drag racing to get to experience what many consider the next level of the street and strip combination of fun.

But drag and drive has also caught the interest of many a heads-up racer as well, and this ’67 Pontiac Firebird of Jim Trettel also marked his re-introduction to the sport. After taking a couple decades away from the sport, this first-year Firebird would be his ticket back.

“I had a really pristine ‘68 Firebird that was just too nice to make into a race car,” said Jim. “My brother had this ‘67 in the process of being restored, so we cut a deal to swap them. I then enlisted my brother-in-law Nathan Chesler of Cage Rage Fabrication to build the 25.5 SFI-spec chassis, suspension and turbo kit."

Can this classic Firebird combine its good looks with awesome performance at our Sick At The Rock Presented by Motion Raceworks?

Although not as heavily produced as its Chevrolet counterpart the Camaro in the early years, the Pontiac Firebird had some intriguing options, including the 250 cubic inch 6 cylinder engine with a 4 barrel carburetor in 1967 through 1969. And although this Firebird didn’t come into Derrick Sanders life as a 6-cylinder version, he will enter his first drag-and-drive event with it carrying the same numbers of cylinders.

After building the Firebird into a clean cruiser over a couple decades, Derrick’s dad passed in 2016, leaving the Firebird to him. “I let the car sit basically the entire time since he passed, until this past summer. I told my wife I wanted to do something with the car so we could enjoy it as a family, and not just let it sit in the corner of the shop.”