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Following a Storied Debut at the 2025 Edelbrock Sick Smokies Event, Jimmy Dale Will Combine Family and Florida Sights for His 2nd Drag and Drive at Sick Week 2026 presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive!

A lot of us likely dreamed of doing things with cars when we were kids. Whether it was with a family member, or participating with friends, some of us get a chance to carve a little time of each year to experience the fun, and extended family, that the car community can bring.

For Tom Gunner (a.k.a. Jimmy Dale), his 2025 season was a reflection of a lot of hard work to drive race cars as much as possible. His infectious smile was only matched by the enthusiasm he and good friend Michael Poland share in bringing the popular Lil Gangstas class to many an event.

His 2025 also included his first chance behind the wheel of a car during a drag and drive, when Mike Finnegan tossed him the keys to the popular Datsun 240 known as the ‘Rotsun’ for the Edelbrock Sick Smokies event. The impression it left confirmed to Jimmy Dale that he wanted to attend another Sick event in 2026, and he will do so at Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

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A New Track Breaks Ground to Begin Construction in Northeast Florida, and Could see Drag Racing Action By May 2026!

After having four tracks closed in the last decade, Florida finally got a win light when information was relayed about a pair of tracks in the planning stages, or starting construction, in early 2024.

One of those tracks, Lead Foot City, was completed on the west side of the state in Brooksville in time to see racing action by December of 2024. Today, it was announced that Hicken Power Drag Strip had broken ground to start construction on a track in northeast Florida.

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Event Coverage Derek Putnam Event Coverage Derek Putnam

Tire Smoke and Christmas Trees Combine with Wheelies and Quick E.T.s, as Bradenton Motorsports Park and the Freedom Factory Hosts the 6th Annual Christmas Tree Drag Racing World Championship

There lots of traditional things to do around Christmas time, but until recently, most wouldn’t say “drag racing, jets cars or big burnouts” as something associated with Christmas. But, the crews at Bradenton Motorsports Park and the Freedom Factory are working to change that, with the increasing popular Christmas Tree Drag Racing World Championship.

Originally the brainchild of Cleetus McFarland and good friend Victor Alvarez, partners in Bradenton Motorsports Park, the Christmas Tree Drag Racing World Championship has grown from a small gathering of friends, to a full-tilt sold-out show in 2025. The sixth edition of the show would include two new classes to the original Christmas Tree Challenge class, as well as a pair of jet-powered dragsters, and a twin-engine jet truck.

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Coming Off a Winning 2025 Season, Mike Finnegan is Thrashing to Prepare for the 5th Annual Sick Week – What Will He Be Competing In?

Mike Finnegan has been around racing in multiple forms in his personal and professional life. In the drag and drive community, Finnegan has experienced a few different roles, from a pit reporter to competitor.

After experiencing various forms of success, mostly behind the wheel of his 1955 Chevrolet gasser known as ‘Blasphemi’, Finnegan is gearing up for the 2026 edition of Sick Week with a new vehicle build, a twin turbo 1961 Cadillac, and is determined to make it to the event.

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From PRI Show Floor to Race Track in Less Than a Week, Devin Vanderhoof Starts Testing New Car for 2026 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive!

After selling his well-known Fox Mustang convertible in the summer of 2025, Devin Vanderhoof set a timeline in motion to have a new car ready for the 2026 edition of Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

Dubbed ‘Reddi Whip’, the Mustang debuted in the Holley booth at the recent PRI Show in Indy, with the front clip removed so everyone could see the new twin turbo PAR Racing Engines mill. But with Sick Week 2026 just over six weeks away, Devin wasted no time after springing the Mustang from the show in Indy, to focusing on finding a track for testing.

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This Twin-Turbo Monte Carlo Looking to Make an Impact in the Street Race 8.5-Second Class at Sick Week and Sick Summer in 2026!

Although the popular Street Race / Limited Street classes were not originally designed to be index-limited classes, the competition pushing performances to the edge of the 8.50-second roll cage limits has made them into some of the toughest classes to compete in.

It’s not unheard of to see car counts north of 30-50 competitors, and twice in Hot Rod Drag Week event history, a competitor has clocked all 8.50-second runs during the week. And although Eric Burroughs and his Monte Carlo are not strangers to the Sick Summer event, 2026 will mark the first time he’ll dive into the thick of the Street Race class competition at a Sick The Mag event.

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Can Trevor and Erin Branden’s GT-R Become the First 7-Second Average in the Sick Week Freaks Class at the 2026 Gear Vendors Overdrive Sick Week?

Every year, there’s conversations about performances, and in some cases records, for a class or engine platforms in racing. Drag and drive competition isn’t immune to this, and one of the points that constantly comes up is the lack of import-based vehicles in drag and drive events.

Although there is a growing number of import vehicles competing in events, most of them average in the 9-second and slower range. The current record holder for Sick the Mag events is Trevor and Erin Branden’s 2010 GT-R, and although the car has proven itself with multiple wins at numerous events, the Brandens are coming to Sick Week with a new goal in mind.

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Recapping The PRI Show with Sick The Magazine – We Expand Our 2026 Season Plans with a Pair of Collaboration Events, Reveal Sick 66 Event Tracks, Partner with Sick Prep, and Host 4th Annual Kart Kaos

It was a little over four years ago that Sick The Magazine was introduced in print, and in December 2021, the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show was not only exposed to Sick The Magazine for the first time, but also the hype of the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

Since then, the drag and drive community, and the event calendar, has exploded. For the 2025 season, Sick The Magazine also expanded to host more events than ever before, and at the recent PRI Show, Sick The Mag has ramped things up for the 2026 season.

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PEAK Performance Looks to Bring Their Best, Including a Peak Ambassador, to Sick Kart Kaos in Pursuit of a Win

The Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show is just one day away from getting under way, with three days of performance and racing parts and service on deck to overload the senses.

Indianapolis doesn’t just host the PRI Show, as for the fourth time, Sick Kart Kaos brings racing and performance enthusiasts together at Fastimes Indoor Karting on December 11th for the fastest winter party in Indiana.

Sick Kart Kaos will showcase 80 drivers for qualifying, “auditioning” to be one of the lucky members to join a team for final competition. The eight teams consist of Sick The Magazine's group of great partners, and PEAK Performance is one that’s been with us since we started the Sick Week event in 2022.

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SPEED AND SAFETY — SICK PREP LAUNCHES GLOBAL MOTORSPORT EVENT SERVICES

There’s a new name in motorsport event services, set to bring professionalism and passion to tracks and series around the globe: Sick Prep.

Led by experienced track specialist Thomas Bemis, Sick Prep will be offering a range of services covering the event management spectrum including track surface preparation, track equipment sales, track safety, race directing, event staffing, ticketing and more. 

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Luke Nieuwhof Derek Putnam Luke Nieuwhof Derek Putnam

Sick World Expands for 2026 with Huge PRI Announcements

From humble beginnings, Sick has evolved into a motorsports phenomenon. Whether it’s the industry-leading print magazine, the ever-expanding range of events, or now motorsport event services, Sick has innovated and brought new energy to the automotive world and beyond.

The 2026 edition of the PRI Show will see some massive announcements from the Sick Team, and we’re outlining

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Gear Vendors Overdrive Brings Experience to the PRI Show, and Hopes to Use That for Sick Kart Kaos As Well

The Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show brings a large contingent of racing and performance enthusiasts together for a trio of days to see the latest and greatest parts and services in Indianapolis up close.

Sick Kart Kaos uses that same recipe to bring racing and performance enthusiasts together, but with helmets and karts instead, as we’ll invade Fastimes Indoor Karting on December 11th for the fastest party in Indianapolis.

Starting with eight teams, made up of Sick The Magazine's group of great partners, will battle on the track, and one of them will be Gear Vendors Overdrive.

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The Fourth Edition of Sick Kart Kaos Shapes Up For December 11th at Fastimes Indoor Karting – The List of 80 Competitors Is Released!

Created as a way to kick off the first night of the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, Sick Kart Kaos brings drag and drive enthusiasts together on a different type of track. And for the fourth time since 2022, Fastimes Indoor Karting will host a party like no other on December 11th, 2025.

The invite-only event will take on a new look in 2025, as eight teams will be made up of Sick The Magazine's group of partners. Those teams will play witness to the largest gather of competitors ever, as Sick The Mag opens the doors to 80 hopefuls to attempt qualifying.

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Melling Performance Excited, Hoping for Beginner’s Luck as They Participate on Their First Sick Kart Kaos in 2025

Sick Kart Kaos is THIS WEEK, Thursday, December 11th, as we host the fastest party during the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis.

Eight teams will duke it out at Fastimes Indoor Karting, created from Sick’s great group of sponsors and supporters. One that will be competing in Sick Kart Kaos for the first time in 2025 is Melling Performance, who hopes to bring as solid an effort to karting as they do to the PRI Show.

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Can Edelbrock Make a Big Impression at Sick Kart Kaos and Grab Their First Team Win in 2025?

The Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show celebrates the racing and performance industries by bringing enthusiasts together in Indianapolis for three days to check out the latest and greatest parts and services.

Bringing together enthusiasts is something Sick The Magazine has done with our print magazine and events since 2021, and for 2025, we will host Sick Kart Kaos for the fourth year. Using Fastimes Indoor Karting on December 11th, Sick The Mag will host one of the fastest gatherings during the PRI Show, and one of the eight teams is the Edelbrock group.

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XS Power Charged Up for Another Shot at Sick Kart Kaos, as Well As This Year’s PRI Show with a New Product

It started as an idea in 2022, and over the first three years of the Sick Kart Kaos event, the competition has continued to evolve and intensify. 2025 promises to be more of the same, as December 11th will bring eight teams together to duke it out with 32 drivers.

Held on the first night of the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show, Sick Kart Kaos brings together teams of Sick The Mag's sponsors and partners. The 2025 edition will bring more drivers than ever before, and several teams look to play that to their advantage.

XS Power Batteries first joined the Sick The Magazine sponsor row in 2024 at Sick Week, and at last year’s Kart Kaos, the XS Power Batteries team grabbed a second-place finish, with familiar face Remy Viator as a part of it.

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Driven Racing Oil to Return to Sick Kart Kaos to Defend Championship, as Well as Debut a Sizable Product Offering to PRI Show

The Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show brings a large contingent of racing and performance enthusiasts together for three days to check out the latest and greatest parts and services in Indianapolis.

Sick Kart Kaos uses that same recipe to bring racing and performance enthusiasts together, but with helmets and karts instead, as we’ll invade Fastimes Indoor Karting on December 11th for the fastest party in Indianapolis.

Eight teams, made up of Sick The Mag's fantastic group of partners, will battle on the track, and one of them will be Driven Racing Oil. And they will bring a combination of proven experience, as well as a few new faces.

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Summit Racing Looks to Balance Team and Top Times at Both the PRI Show, and Sick Kart Kaos, December 11th, at Fastimes Indoor Karting

As a part of not only Sick The Magazine’s print magazine since its inception, but also our events since the first Sick Week, Summit Racing Equipment has been all about meeting the unique demands of the drag and drive community, while matching the energy that events bring.

That energy is matched by Summit’s Motorsports and Events Director Tommy Dupree, who kicked his and Summit’s support for the drag and drive community up a couple notches after participating in Hot Rod Drag Week in 2021.

Dupree hopes to bring that energy level to the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, as well as Sick The Magazine’s Kart Kaos at Fastimes Indoor Karting on Thursday, December 11th.

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Tom Bailey Aims to Take Sick The Mag’s Kart Kaos by Storm on December 11th at Fastimes Indoor Karting during PRI Show Week

Created as a way to kick off the first night of the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, Sick The Magazine hosted Kart Kaos at Fastimes Indoor Karting for the first time in 2022. With the PRI show ending at 5 p.m., 4-person teams made their way to Fastimes for testing and qualifying rounds, and ultimately shooting for a chance to take home their share of the $2000 purse.

A solid list of teams and drivers have populated the indoor karting venue during the PRI show every December since that first night, but Tom Bailey and the Sick The Mag team have failed to land the top spot. That stat, combined with feedback from other teams and drivers, has led to multiple changes for what should be an exciting 2025 edition of Sick The Mag’s Kart Kaos.

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