Surviving and Thriving – Andy Jaquess Takes the Natural Route to Complete Sick The Mag Events, Including Edelbrock Sick Smokies and Three-Straight Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive Events
There are a good number of naturally-aspirated rides at most drag and drive events, but when you look for Ford-powered rides, especially older models, that number drops a good amount.
There’s a smaller number of Ford-powered rides in the Naturally Aspirated category, and one of them is Andy Jaquess and his classic Mustang. After one visit to Sick Week in 2023, the Florida resident was hooked, and has made the annual drag and drive event a staple on his calendar.
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“My sister said come watch Sick Week 2023 in Gainesville,” said Andy. “Well, by Monday I had an 8.50 roll cage ordered and it went from there.” The Mustang that was used as a daily driver was stripped to a bare shell, and Andy was ready to break back into racing again.
“I drag raced as a teenager in Indiana in the late 80's,” said Andy. “Then went circle track racing in the 90s in Florida. Then we had a son, and in 2024 we decided to go drag racing again.”
After a lot of work, Andy rolled into Orlando Speed World Dragway for his first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2024. That first year was a tough one, as Andy was thrashing on Day Zero just to make it to the start of competition.
“We twisted the spring perches on the rear end and kicked out the driveshaft,” Andy said. “We had it fixed about midnight, and back at the track for Day One.” Choosing the Naturally Aspirated class, Andy completed the week with a 11.357 average, an 11.130 at 120.46 best single run, and he finished eleventh in the highly competitive class.
After some tweaks to his program, Andy returned to Sick Week in 2025 to once again battle it out Naturally Aspirated class. By the end of the week, the Mustang delivered an improved 10.774 average, and a best run of 10.669 at 123.95 mph. That earned him a top five spot in the class, as well as a Quickest Naturally Aspirated Big Block Street Race award.
The drag and drive event structure and community had an impact on Andy, as he expanded his schedule to a total of three events in 2025, including an appearance on the Edelbrock Sick Smokies event. Completing an epic week of scenic drives and cool tracks, Andy finished with a 6.801 average, a top 50 finish, and second in the Naturally Aspirated category.
Andy came into his third Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive this year, with his 545 cubic inch Ford engine tuned up, and looking to once again improve on his previous year results. “I’d like to complete the week, win the Naturally Aspirated Big Block Street Race category again, run a 9-second pass, and make Top 100 averages,” he said.
Andy would checkmark two of his four goals, with a best run of 10.100 at 131.75 mph, and an average of 10.175 for his second-straight top five class finish. While he was unable to make that 9-second pass happen, or capture a second-straight Quickest Naturally Aspirated Big Block Street Race award, the 10.17 average would get him a Top 100 finish, and an early entry access for 2027.
“I thank everyone for the support and I thank God for being able to do this,” Andy said. “I always come back wanting more, or thinking how could I've went faster. I already have a list of changes.”
Based on his previous improvements from year to year, it’s a good chance Andy will see the 9-second runs soon. “Based on previous runs, if we keep this up, should be mid 9s next year,” said Andy. “I have to get down to tuning some more power out of it that I know is there.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Andy Jaquess, Motion Raceworks and 1320 Video.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com