YouTuber ‘That1320Chick’ Makes Drag-and-Drive Debut on 2023 edition of Sick Week
After doing well at several events around her home base of Michigan, as well as traveling to specialty events like TX2K, NMRA World Finals, and World Cup Finals, JoAnna Iacobelli decided to take the plunge and participate in her first drag-and-drive on the 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
What influenced the decision? “I think the popularity of drag-and-drive events started to catch my eye,” said JoAnna. “Plus, I drive my car to the track often.”
Entering her supercharged Coyote-powered 2018 Ford Mustang in the Sick Street Race class, JoAnna made the trip from Michigan to Florida with her husband and co-pilot, Bryan Reid.
They joined friends Cole and Brittney Sammartino, who participated in her 1999 Chevrolet Silverado in the Dial-Your-Own (DYO) class.
Day one provided some of the best weather conditions of the week, but JoAnna battled traction issues to a best of an 8.86 at 164 mph. “We still had the car restricted on suspension travel from World Cup,” she admitted. “So, we made some changed for day two at Bradenton Motorsports Park.”
Those changes got her an improved 8.66 at 163 mph, her best of the week, and allowed for an early exit to travel north to South Georgia Motorsports Park, the lone Georgia stop.
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At SGMP the next day, an easy launch to avoid tire spin resulted in an 8.78 at 165 mph pass. But JoAnna took it, giving her and Bryan a chance to hit the road back into Florida and Gainesville Raceway.
Gainesville would be their struggle day, as when they attempted to swap tunes, the computer didn’t want to play along. JoAnna finally rolled to the track, choosing to break the starting line beams for a 20-second elapsed time and stay in competition.
As to fixing her issues, fellow Mustang enthusiast and shop owner Houston McClain and tuner Tony Gonyon came to her rescue, getting the Mustang fixed and on the road for the final day at Orlando ‘Sick’ World Dragway.
Once back in Orlando, JoAnna sealed the deal with an 8.76 at 157 mph pass, completing her first drag-and-drive event.
“I went in with zero expectations and research,” JoAnna said, reflecting on Sick Week. “My thoughts were I didn’t want to research or watch what others did before the event, and possibly make a wrong decision. I’d rather participate, and learn what we need to change for next time.”
That next time could mean a two-car effort, as husband Bryan’s Mustang is about complete. “We’d just need to figure out some logistics,” JoAnna said. “Possibly switch from the roof rack to a small trailer.” But either way, Sick Week will be on their radar. “It’s cold in Michigan in February, and we had a great time in Florida. I could see us doing Sick Week again in 2024.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, 1320 Video, JoAnna Iacobelli and Women on Wheels.