‘Weapon X’ Nova Carries a Special Passenger for the 2023 Drag-and-Drive Season
A well-known competitor in the drag-and-drive event circuit, Robert Williams starts his tenth year of competition at the 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
Formally competing and winning on the NHRA national event and bracket racing circuits, Williams made his first appearance at Hot Rod Drag Week in his storied ’76 Chevrolet Camaro nicknamed “Pork Chop Express.”
2014 marked his second time to attend Hot Rod Drag Week, and Robert picked up the win in the Street Race Big Block Power Adder class.
When Robert decided to upgrade the Camaro’s roll cage for quicker time slips, he put together a 1977 Chevrolet Nova carrying the nickname “Weapon X.”
Powered by a twin-turbocharged LS powerplant, the Nova would debut at Hot Rod Drag Week in 2018, but issues kept Robert from finishing the week.
Since then, the Nova has been sorted out, and Robert completed the 2022 Sick Week event in the Modified class, then followed it with a class win at Rocky Mountain Race Week.
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For his 2023 campaign, Robert and wife Debbie will roll “Weapon X” into battle carrying the memory of mentor Chip Rollins.
A former speed shop owner and bracket racer, Chip is credited with influencing several racers in the Southwest Florida area.
Robert added a few of Chip’s distinct touches, along with Chip’s #2956 competition number, to the LS engine he’ll start the season with from son David, which was returned to the engine bay of the Nova one week ago in preparation for the 2023 edition of Sick Week.
“I look to finish, hopefully on the podium,” said Robert of his Sick Week ambitions. “But the Super Street class will be a shark tank, so we'll see how it shakes out!
“Basically, I enjoy my car a lot more,” Robert continued on why he participates in drag-and-drive events. “Plus, it's fun to drive around town, to the cruise-ins, etc. to see the reaction of locals when you're wheeling a 1000-plus horsepower car.”
- Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of KWS Images and Robert Williams.