With His ‘Cowboy Up’ Nova Undergoing Big Changes, Jason Sack Moves to Plan ReRide for Sick Week 2024
Jason Sack is an easy guy to spot during a drag-and-drive event. If you happen to miss his bright orange ’69 Nova known as ‘Cowboy Up’, you can usually find Jason at the center of something fun at the track or on the road.
Jason is all about the experience of a drag-and-drive, so when ‘Cowboy Up’ didn’t look to be ready in time for Sick Week, he shifted his focus to ‘ReRide’ a maroon ’69 Chevy Nova.
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The turbocharged ’69 Nova ‘Cowboy Up’ has participated in several drag-and-drive events, including the 2023 edition of Sick Week. The single turbo LS ride clocked a best of 7.08 during the week, but had issues that sidelined Jason after day three at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
“I always wanted a small tire and big tire car,” Jason said about why he acquired the maroon ’69 Nova. “I bought it in turn key condition, and even raced it the night I bought at a cash days,” said Jason. “We went two rounds, and then the cops came.”
Jason brought the new purchase home in October 2021, and gave a full inspection front to back to get it ready for drag-and-drive competition. “We put new brakes on it all the way around, changed the valve body in the transmission, changed the shifter, new brake lines, re-plumbed and re-wired the car before Hot Rod Drag Week 2022,” said Jason.
At its drag-and-drive debut, Jason’s son Keith Sack drove the maroon Nova, as Jason was wheeling the orange Nova. Clocking a best pass of 10.66 at 143 mph, the Nova completed the week, but Jason is making more updates and upgrades for its second drag-and-drive event, the 2024 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
He freshened the 548 cubic inch big block, required after a rocker arm failed and dropped needle bearings into the engine. Based on a Dart block, the big block has a Steve Morris camshaft, wears a pair Air Flow Research 385 cc cylinder heads, and will proudly sport a new pair of 85-millimeter turbochargers.
The fuel system has been upgraded to handle pump fuel and methanol, and the car rolls on a full set of Billet Specialties Win Lites and Mickey Thompson rubber, including a switch to 315-sized drag radials.
Because of all the changes and upgrades, Jason could roll into Sick Week untested. “I think I’m down to the following: turbo drains, a couple co2 lines, spark plug wires, install the interior, shifter, FireAde fire system, paint the roll cage, and change the Holley HP to a Dominator system,” Jason said. “Work is getting in the way, but I think it is capable of averaging high to mid 7-second times.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Jason Sack.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com