After a successful drag-and-drive debut at Hot Rod Drag Week in 2023, Jack Brooks looked to continue his drag-and-drive adventure at this year’s Sick Week and Sick Summer. Neither panned out as he wanted, so it was back to the drawing board, and a bunch of changes, to plot his return to Hot Rod Drag Week.

After a successful run, Stefan Gustafsson has retired the storied ‘Bitter Tears’ 1989 Chevrolet Corvette from drag-and-drive competition. But he’s he’s not leaving the fray; the 2-time Unlimited class champ is preparing for a new ride to debut at 2025 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

This week’s submission comes from Wyatt Nejdl, who joined father Doug for the second time on a drag-and-drive at this year’s Sick Summer with their 1988 Ford Mustang.

What does one have to do with the other, and how does it sound like both rides might be even more fun than before? It all started when Jonathan Whitaker took his ‘93 Ford Mustang Cobra on this year’s Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

Some are tested and ready days, or even weeks in advance for this week’s Sick Summer event, while others are still busting their knuckles to make the 1 p.m. deadline to arrive in tech line to be able to compete. From last-minute turn signal wiring, to pulling out a transmission with the final hours ticking away, this is what we’ve seen on last minute work to get into competition.

After a solid 2023 season that got Rob Courtney a third-place finish at Sick Week, and a win at Sick Summer, he comes into 2024 with new targets. “I want all 8-second passes, and try to get the record from my boy Tony (Niemczyk).”

Shipped back to Sweden after collecting a second Sick Week victory and third Gear Vendors guitar, Stefan Gustafsson had sent his 1989 Chevrolet Corvette known as ‘Bitter Tears’ out on a high note. Or was there one more race to go?

Jerry’s 1964 Ford Falcon Sedan delivery is a unique ride to begin with, and he combined old school vibes with a modern boost in power.

“The drag-and-drive community is amazing. I love just being out in the truck with friends, and not worrying about anything but making it to the next track. To me it’s just a great way to get away from the day to day grind.”

“Drag-and-drives combines the best of both worlds. It also is a very like family-oriented event; everyone helps one another even though they may be competing against another it gives it a ‘small track’ kind of feel to it.”

“After years of building, testing and breaking stuff, we were ready for Sick Week 2024!”

“I had the traditional small block engine in a ’72 El Camino. It got old, and we wanted to do something different.”

“I’m a Mopar guy, but a car enthusiast also. When a car guy sees a Fairmont Futura for 500 bucks, you click on that ad. It looked pretty clean, and I beat everyone to it.”

“I bought the car about three years ago as a roller and I’ve just been chipping away at it. It has a SFI 25.3 chassis already, and the cage work was complete and certified, had all the tin work done, and brakes done too.”

This 1993 Mustang Cobra, one of just 4,993 produced, doesn’t lead a pampered life where some would judge it based on correct factory parts, but instead cracks off 9-second runs with a stick shift in the tunnel as the factory intended!

“Not what I had planned. The plan was to freshen the short block up after Sick Week. But we all know how that goes!”

A drag raced and driven Honda S2000 that gets quicker and quicker every year.

“I need to kick it with more boost out of the hole. It’s got a 4.70 in it, and I am super happy with the first outing.”