After Nearly Seven Decades of Racing History, the Future of Pacemakers Dragway in Ohio is in Serious Doubt as Rezoning for Homes on the Track Property is Requested
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

After Nearly Seven Decades of Racing History, the Future of Pacemakers Dragway in Ohio is in Serious Doubt as Rezoning for Homes on the Track Property is Requested

Originally opening in 1956, Packers Raceway Park (and later known as Pacemakers Outlaw Dragstrip) has hosted everything from test and tune and bracket racing, to grudge racing and no-prep.

The track has faced financial hardships once before, closing for two years between 2019 and 2021. But 2026 could be the year that the track doesn’t recover from, as rezoning for a portion of the track property to into a mobile home park is on the table.

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Second Verse – This 1997 Cobra Is Sean Kelley’s Ticket Back to Drag and Drive in 2026
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Second Verse – This 1997 Cobra Is Sean Kelley’s Ticket Back to Drag and Drive in 2026

After a ton of work to get a 1988 Fox Mustang ready for a Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive 2024 debut, Sean Kelley was able to complete his first drag and drive. He returned one year later with goals of a top three in class and improved performance, but a testing crash at South Georgia Motorsports Park ended his chances.

Just over one year later, Sean is ready for a return, but with a new horse to ride, a 1997 Mustang Cobra. And although he missed the chance to debut it at Sick Week, he’s working to get back to the season-opening event and prove a point.

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Texas Motorplex and Sick Prep Join Forces to Host a Record-Setting TX2K in 2026, With 12 Records Established Over a Week in Texas!
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Texas Motorplex and Sick Prep Join Forces to Host a Record-Setting TX2K in 2026, With 12 Records Established Over a Week in Texas!

It’s been heralded as the event where street cars come in droves, competition is fierce, records are set, and thousands of spectators come to witness it all. And for the 27th time, the annual TX2K brought all those elements to Texas Motorplex for six days of amazing action.

As the first purpose-built all-concrete track celebrates 40 years of historic runs and events, TX2K looked to add to that history by bringing Sick Prep onboard to handle the track surface for the event. After six days of on-track action were in the books, the performances and records once again shared the headlines alongside the winners’ celebrations.  

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Time Machine – Brian Goldfarb Builds a Modernized DeLorean for More Than 88 MPH – and A Debut Date For Sick Week 2027!
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Time Machine – Brian Goldfarb Builds a Modernized DeLorean for More Than 88 MPH – and A Debut Date For Sick Week 2027!

As the drag and drive community has expanded and more events are added each year, we’ve seen more competitors and more cars join in the test the street and track bring to each event. We’ve even seen some new builds each year, from both veteran and new competitors.

Brian Goldfarb isn’t a new face to the drag and drive community, and has participated in Hot Rod Drag Week in the past. But for his second chapter, he decided to build something a little more unique, combining a rare classic ride with a modern powerplant.

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Brett LaSala, Sean Madden, Jim Braun and Mark Blackwell Lead Winners List From 27th Annual TX2K at Texas Motorplex
Event Coverage Derek Putnam Event Coverage Derek Putnam

Brett LaSala, Sean Madden, Jim Braun and Mark Blackwell Lead Winners List From 27th Annual TX2K at Texas Motorplex

One of the most anticipated events each spring is TX2K, an annual celebration of competition and speed on the drag racing and roll racing front, held at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

The event, which started as an add-on to a test and tune race at Houston Raceway Park in 2000 (hence the ‘2K’ part of the event name), has become an annual proving ground to see where the mark stands in a multitude of classes, as well as engine platforms.

The event hosts thirteen drag racing classes, as well as four roll racing classes. And after six days of on-track competition, champions were crowned and clutching ‍unique TX2K trophies.

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FEATURE: Oldsmobile Cutlass Evolves Into Max-Effort Hot Rod
Luke . Luke .

FEATURE: Oldsmobile Cutlass Evolves Into Max-Effort Hot Rod

When Joe New first bought his 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 26 years ago, he had no idea it would become a lifelong project — a machine that’s morphed from a weekend cruiser into a seven-second, streetable monster. Decades of tinkering, learning and evolving are what you see before you.

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TX2K to Celebrate 27th Year of Street Cars and Setting Records, and Sick Prep Will Have Texas Motorplex Ready for Six Days of Action!
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

TX2K to Celebrate 27th Year of Street Cars and Setting Records, and Sick Prep Will Have Texas Motorplex Ready for Six Days of Action!

With an established history of hosting an epic week in Texas, TX2K returns to Texas Motorplex just outside of Dallas for the third year in their 27-year history. The roster for drag racing and roll racing is loaded, and they’re ready for record-setting conditions.   

Sick Prep will also make the trip to Texas, as Thomas Bemis, Weston Nichols and Gavin Carter will manage and prep the track as over 300 drag racers and over 150 roll racers will invade the storied facility.

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Rare Air - Jordan Boudreaux Makes History at Sick Week as First Competitor to Finish Top Three in Class For Five Years In-a-Row!
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Rare Air - Jordan Boudreaux Makes History at Sick Week as First Competitor to Finish Top Three in Class For Five Years In-a-Row!

When we first saw Jordan Boudreaux at the 2022 edition of Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, we couldn’t have known what him or the 2002 Ford Mustang known as ‘Gray Goose’ had in store.

He finished third in the 8.50-second limited 275 Street Race class with an 8.56 average, just behind Richard ‘RC’ Flint and William Lujan. Four years later, he would be sitting with them in the grandstands at the awards ceremony, with performances over a second quicker than when he started in 2022, and a Sick Week record-setting trophy in his hand.

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After Buffalo Valley Dragway Appeared to be Shutting Its Gates for Good in October 2025, The Drag Strip Re-Opens for 2026 With A New Lease and a Familiar Name – Middle Tennessee Dragway
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

After Buffalo Valley Dragway Appeared to be Shutting Its Gates for Good in October 2025, The Drag Strip Re-Opens for 2026 With A New Lease and a Familiar Name – Middle Tennessee Dragway

We’re not even a quarter of the way into 2026, and already there’s been news on multiple race tracks either closing or re-opening.

In the case of a pair of Tennessee race tracks, Jackson Dragway and River Road Raceway, after an announcement they would continue operating in 2026, now the gates are closed on both facilities.

But another Tennessee track, Middle Tennessee Dragway (a.k.a. Buffalo Valley Dragway), might be able to make the best of their second chances. After announcing the 2025 season would be the last, the track is getting new life in 2026, with a pair of events already held in February.

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Walter Doyle Taking Aim On the 6-Second Zone with New Fox Mustang Drag and Drive Build!
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Walter Doyle Taking Aim On the 6-Second Zone with New Fox Mustang Drag and Drive Build!

In a world of classic muscle cars, Walter Doyle has taken the stealth look with his ’66 Chevelle and made it, along with stellar 8-second performances, stand out where the car is well-known in the drag and drive community.

Now, Walter is ready to add another steed to the stable, with a brand-new build, and his sights set on the top dogs, 6-second passes, and even more fun at more than just drag and drive events.

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Sick The Mag Brings Their Own ‘Great 8’ To The AutoRama – One of America’s Largest Indoor Car Shows, Starting Today in Detroit, Michigan
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Sick The Mag Brings Their Own ‘Great 8’ To The AutoRama – One of America’s Largest Indoor Car Shows, Starting Today in Detroit, Michigan

For over seven decades, the Detroit AutoRama in Michigan has showcased tens of thousands of amazing rides, including hot rods, muscle cars, truck and motorcycles. It is a true plethora of automotive gatherings, with one of the big attractions of the AutoRama being The Ridler Award,

The drag and drive community has enjoyed a presence at the event in recent years, with Sick The Magazine bringing an ‘8-pack’ of cool and quick rides to our display at the AutoRama.

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Final Call for Sick Sevens And Sick 8.50 Shootout at Speedfest, Junior Street Class Announced!
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Final Call for Sick Sevens And Sick 8.50 Shootout at Speedfest, Junior Street Class Announced!

The inaugural Speedfest Presented By Sick The Mag, Street Car Takeover and Braggin Rights at Beech Bend Raceway on May 28-30 will showcase some of the quickest and most competitive street cars in the nation.

Sick has already announced the new Sick Sevens class (7.50 index) and the Sick 8.50 Shootout, and now we can proudly announce both the format for those classes and a new class for Speedfest: Junior Street!

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Ken Quartuccio, Lyle Barnett and Brett LaSala Lead the Champions List from Lights Out 16 at South Georgia Motorsports Park
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Ken Quartuccio, Lyle Barnett and Brett LaSala Lead the Champions List from Lights Out 16 at South Georgia Motorsports Park

After five days of racing action on the second stop of the Radial Outlaws Racing Series at South Georgia Motorsports Park, champions were crowned at the Duck X Productions’ Lights Out 17 event.

After Saturday’s action was cut short with rain, Sunday would dawn with much cooler temperatures. This made for an interesting final eliminations day, with multiple records set in route to crowning winners in fourteen different classes.

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Sick Wildcards Return for 2026 Season with Expanded Offerings – More Entries and More Events – To Race Your Way into Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2027
Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam Derek Putnam

Sick Wildcards Return for 2026 Season with Expanded Offerings – More Entries and More Events – To Race Your Way into Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2027

Sick The Magazine introduced the ‘Sick Wildcards’ in 2025 as a way for top performers to race their way into an ‘early entry’ for the 2026 edition of Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

The success of the program in seeing some new faces at Sick Week earlier this month reinforces the idea, and Sick The Magazine will bring it back for the 2026 season, as well as expanding on the original concept with more events and more spots.

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The Top 100 Averages and Quickest Runs from Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive – Setting the Stage for the 2026 Drag-and-Drive Season
Event Coverage Derek Putnam Event Coverage Derek Putnam

The Top 100 Averages and Quickest Runs from Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive – Setting the Stage for the 2026 Drag-and-Drive Season

Since 2022, Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive has signaled the start to the drag and drive season. We crown champions in seventeen classes, some of them captured by past winners, and even some new records can be set from the combination of great air and prepped race tracks.

It also establishes the starting point for how the season’s performance will play out, and with the stories and rumors leading up to the 2026 edition of Sick Week, some had theorized what the Top 100 single runs and averages could look like at the end of the week. But the results may shock you, as we crunch the numbers.

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