Tales From Death Week – After Seven Drag-and-Drive Appearances, Prep and Positive Reinforcement Propels Jason Rousseau to Victory at Death Week
A common theme for most drag-and-drive participants is ‘finish the week.’ They’re not concerned with winning the event, or even a particular position. They instead focus on completing the event, and the memories that come along with it.
For Jason Rousseau, he made the lengthy 2500-mile trip from New York to Chandler, Arizona after a recent appearance at Hot Rod Drag Week. “I knew it was a one-time-only event, and I wanted to be a part of that,” said Jason.
Don’t miss our next one-off drag-and-drive: Sick 66 - October 2024!
Event information and expression of interest forms can be FOUND HERE!
Although some could argue he came in as one of the favorites to contend for the top spot, Jason didn’t look at that way. “I knew my tech legal speed, and I wanted to run up against that,” he said. “I had the practice from Hot Rod Drag Week, and knew the car could run that number, so I just wanted to run the best I could.
I have never really been overly competitive, more so just for improving my performances from previous years or events. I enjoy the parking lot beers and laughs more than anything. Getting to know people and seeing them do well or looking forward to seeing them at future events.”
This philosophy played out at this year’s edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, one year after Jason competed. “I came down just to spectate,” he admits. “It was a good time just hanging out for a few days with everyone. I will probably do that again for 2024.”
A multi-time drag-and-drive competitor, Jason brought another veteran on the trip, Jeff Oppenheim, with both having completing Hot Rod Drag Week less than a month earlier. “Jeff O is like MacGyver, and is extremely good at figuring out how to make a plan come together,” said Jason. “He turns chicken shit into chicken salad.”
After a one-and-done 5.42 at 131 mph time shot on day one at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the J and J show rolled to Barona for day two, where Jason had to make a couple more runs after finding traction in short supply. After nine total runs, Jason had a 5.67 at 127 mph time slip in hand, keeping him within striking distance of leader Tom Bailey.
The Death Week tour would then get its first of two drive days, following back-to-back race track visits. Jason and Jeff took advantage of the California route to visit the Queen Mary in Long Beach, the Neptune’s Net restaurant in Malibu, and the final checkpoint just before 10:30 pm Monday night.
The second drive day found Jason and Jeff stopping at Pismo Beach, as well as the checkpoints at Morro Rock, followed by James Dean Memorial (with a big group of friends), and Cool Hand Luke’s.
Jason and Jeff went through Sequioa National Park in route to Bakersfield, California the next day, enduring several thousand feet in altitude changes and winding roads.
Jason’s reward for his efforts was his best pass of the week at Famoso Drag Strip, a 5.38 at 130 mph, to solidify the top spot and stay ahead of Chris Hein in second after Tom Bailey dropped out with engine problems.
A trip from Bakersfield to Las Vegas was next, followed by a day at the NHRA national event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jason and Jeff jumped back on the road to navigate their way back to Arizona, visiting the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon and the Route 66 museum before landing back in Chandler, Arizona that evening.
Less than 24 hours later, Jason had a 5.50 time slip in hand from the fourth and final track visit, earning him a 5.49 average and the coveted Sick Death Week Champion orange helmet.
“Winning such a wild one-off event made me proud of the car that I built and work so hard to prevent failures on,” said Jason. “The car did exceptionally well, considering the conditions ranged from 105 degrees and sunny, to 15 degrees and snowing on my way home. Around 7,500 feet in elevation changes, and everything from sand dunes, beaches, long sweeping hills, miles from civilizations, and switchbacks steep enough to take years off your life.
We weren’t without struggles, but the only permanent damage to the car is the headliner fell down (probably from that 105-degree day). The tracks were all incredibly different, and each had their own challenges, which made it fun.”
Jason said he plans to take a similar approach to 2024, hitting up Sick Week as a spectator, then Hot Rod Drag Week, followed by Sick 66. “Got to see how vacations pan out at work, but I think I can make it all work.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Jason Rousseau, Jeff Oppenheim and Bryce Nicolson.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com