Radials to the Front! Brett LaSala Takes Overall Sick Week Lead
Sick Week 2024 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive has been turned upside down by a green Mustang that has no right to be as quick as it is!
Brett LaSala is the talk of the town after resetting his own world record for the second day in a row, recording an unprecedented 6.294 pass at 227mph in the Snot Rocket Ford Mustang at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The twin turbo Coyote-powered went one-and-done for the second day in a row, but the pass was not entirely trouble-free as the car needed to receive a new back bumper after tearing itself up at high speed.
The pass took LaSala’s average to a 6.326, allowing him to take a two-tenths of a second lead from day one hero Jeff Lutz. Lutz had a day full of tire shake on the tight Bradenton surface, with a best of 6.934 all he could muster in the Mad Max Camaro for an average of 6.544. He did however keep the lead in Unlimited as Sweden’s Magnus Frost also struggled with shake for a best of 7.065 (6.676A). Fellow Swede Stefan Gustafsson got down the track for the first time all week with a 6.498 for a 6.822 average.
LaSala’s chief Modified rival Garrett Mitchell is out of competition after hurting a transmission. The team sourced a new transmission and were ready to make the change overnight, but discovered the second-hand gearbox was looking, well, very second hand. The news was better for Mitchell’s team mate James Taal who kept the lead in Street Race 275 thanks to an 8.518 pass (8.509A).
Bryant Goldstone moved up to third overall and increased his lead in Unlimited Iron thanks to a 6.677 pass, for a 6.581 average. Alex Taylor settled for a 6.935 pass (6.863A), with the team taking extra time in the pits to inspect what they thought was a damaged transmission. Thankfully all was good in the ’55 Chevy. An honorable mention in Unlimited Iron has to go to Chuck Stefanski who lowered his PB to a 7.595 in the crazy zoomie wagon of doom.
Jason Pickett charged to the top of Heavy Metal with an 8.207 pass (8.229A), taking advantage of troubles from fellow competitors. Alan Whitaker has decided to pull out of the week after hurting another piston today in his Monte Carlo, while Tom Bailey struggled for traction and only recorded an 8.586 (8.392A).
Glenn Hunter stayed atop Pro Street thanks to a 7.386 run (7.328A), Chad Fegley kept his lead in Stick Shift after a 7.980 (7.958A), and Australian Michael Ward (pictured) also remained number one in Super Street with a 7.544 (7.499A). But Ward had some work to do after his hood tore off at half-track. He and co-pilot Kevin Boulton got the Nova patched up and they’re still in the game, though they are being stalked by Brad Thiessen’s Nova which is now on a 7.512 average.
Naturally Aspirated’s look has changed as past Sick Week winner James ‘Doc’ McEntire withdrew due to a broken torque convertor. Matt Sweet went 7.739 (7.734A) to solidify his place at the top.
Matt Moore was hard charging in Rowdy Radial, rocketing to a personal best 4.713 for a 4.732 average. Unfortunately for his rival Danny Humphreys, his Sick Week is now over after blowing the motor in his Porsche on a quick 4.79 pass.
Damon Elff leads the entertaining Sick Week Freaks class with an 8.832 average from his Supra, but has Rob Courtney close behind on an 8.878 average in the Civic.
Steven Dalton is aiming to become the first Beetle to win Gassers vs Hot Rods vs Beetles, taking over the class lead with a 9.984 average.
Sick Street Race saw Robert Worcester keep top spot with an 8.538 run (8.526A) but it was Brian Acton getting BMP excited with a perfect 8.500 to move into second place (8.527A).
The DYO classes are now taking shape. Pro DYO sees Gabriela Lujan in the lead with a 0.002 spread in her eight-second Ford Mustang, while Rick Russell is holding sway in DYO on a 0.002 spread also in his 11-second Chevy Blazer. Ricky Doern took out the Bullseye class in his 2020 Ford Mustang.
After racing, the Sick Weekers had a 196 mile drive to get to Gainesville ahead of day three. Checkpoints included the brand new Motor Enclave in Tampa, RJ’s Wild Wild Wings in Zephyrhills and finally Coney Island Drive-Inn for ‘gator dogs’ and boiled peanuts. Hey, this is Florida after all
Make sure to join us for day three of Sick Week 2024 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive at Gainesville Raceway with competition beginning at 9am. Tickets are available online or at the gate.
Enjoy some more images from day two of Sick Week below!
