After watching the convertible top shred to pieces on his well-known ’93 Ford Mustang convertible at Sick The Magazine’s recent Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, Devin Vanderhoof returned to South Carolina with the car, and stripped of its convertible frame and gear, and being prepped for a hard top conversion.

Less than two weeks later, Devin had the multi-time drag and drive winning Mustang up for sale, fueling speculation of what might be next for Devin and driver Josh Davis. We twisted Devin’s arm to get the details about his new ride, and the plans for it.

Devin’s new ride is a Mustang, but a lighter and sleeker 2017 Shelby GT-350 model. Yes, this car is a legit Shelby GT-350 model, the first of twenty S550 chassis design Mustangs being built by J&E Chassisworks in Michigan, and Devin will start prepping it with goals of 5-second runs in 2026.

Literally born into the drag racing lifestyle, Brittany Force has already made quite a name for herself with a pair of world championships in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Top Fuel class.

But just like her father, drag racing legend John Force, Brittany gives the drag racing community more than just championships and victories to talk about, and she did it again with a new NHRA speed record last night in Sonoma, California.

Although it’s easy to focus on the elapsed times and who wins classes at events, the big speeds are also an indication of how far racing, and power levels, have come in the last couple decades.

And although it took until the fifth annual Hot Rod Drag Week in 2009 before someone broke the mark, the next five years witnessed four more competitors join the 200 MPH club.

In ten years of Hot Rod Drag Week competition, five different competitors exceeded the 200 MPH mark. We’ll follow up with part two of the 200 MPH club shortly, and see how many more rides can hit the magic speed mark.

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has been the subject of multiple news stories in 2025, as the series has come back with national events that include professional classes, as well as a return to their sportsman classes too.

The IHRA also got a lot of attention for the purchasing of several race tracks, including Milan Dragway, which hosts the second of five IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series events for 2025 this weekend under its new name, Darana Dragway.

Darana Dragway will also be the host track for next month's Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil, August 10-17th!

Since the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022, Tom Bailey and Luke Nieuwhof have made a point to highlight all points of a drag and drive event. The tracks are important, but the drives and checkpoints are also a big deal.

For next month’s Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil, we will feature a checkpoint from a husband and wife that were Sick Ward participants at this year’s Sick Week.

“Michigan Miles is a great idea,” said Melissa VanTielen. “Our state has so many amazing nooks and crannies. I feel like having a checkpoint at our location would be my opportunity to give the sport a huge shout out and exposure.”

If you’ve attended a National Muscle Car Association or LS-Fest event in the past, this 2002 Corvette ZO6 might seem a familiar sight.

Terry Faust bought the car brand new, and after enjoying it for over two decades, as well as racking up numerous wins, Terry has passed ownership to someone very familiar with it, Jeff Heintz, for its next chapter.

Although Terry would drive and race the car for several years before Jeff was be introduced to it in 2010, the Corvette would get a good bit quicker under Jeff’s advisement. “One of the first events I drove the car in was in Bradenton in 2013 when Terry wasn't feeling good,” said Jeff. “This is special car to me because it's been a shop car since the beginning in 2010 and there are so many memories.”

After news of at least three race tracks closing for various reasons in 2025, including two in the last month, it’s refreshing to hear of a track announcing plans for re-opening for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year, as well as future plans.

That’s the case for Pine Valley Raceway in Texas, which announced their future plans on both their website and social media yesterday.

In the classic movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Dorothy said the words “here’s no place like home.” For some, it can be the calming sense of familiar places that makes the difference, and TJ Linebaugh hopes the state of Michigan, along with his drag and drive experience, will play into his results at next month’s Sick Michigan Miles Presented By Driven Racing Oil.

The blue ’78 Fairmont station wagon has been a staple in the drag and drive community for a while. “My first drag and drive was the West Michigan True Street Drag Weekend in 2018,” said Linebaugh.

Since then, the station wagon has laid down a ton of 8-second quarter-mile passes at numerous events, including Hot Rod Drag Week, Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and Heads Up Hustle to name a few.

Getting its start in 1992, Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble, Oklahoma has gotten a lot of attention in its 34 years of operation.

But the track may not see the 35th year, as its future is now in question after a rumored closing hit social media today.

After years of watching and enjoying the racing and car scene, Colt Beck was ready to build a new ride. But he had to overcome a lot of obstacles, including the car being stolen, but with a lot of drive and some help from friends and sponsors, Colt got it all done in time for the 2024 edition of the PRI show.

“We’ve taken it to some incredible places,” said Colt. “The car has proven to be more than just a race car. It’s a reminder of the hard work, the setbacks, and the triumphs — and it’s now ready for whatever the road brings next.”

“Driving the car isn’t just about the thrill of the road; it’s about connecting with others who share the same passion and helping inspire them to chase their own dreams too.”

Sometimes, a good build gets a bit quicker than expected, and rather than continue on, an enthusiast may choose to take a step back to plot out the future use, and the changes necessary.

That was the case for Tom Kuepper, and although it caused his first Sick Summer event absence in three years, he’s honing in on quick times at the upcoming Sick Michigan Miles.

Former 6-time UFC and MMA fighter and commentator Randy Couture was involved in a testing crash at Flying H Drag Strip in Missouri Tuesday, July 8th.

Reports are that Couture was airlifted to a burn center in Kansas City with injuries.

According to TMZ and ESPN sources, Couture suffered first and second-degree burns, smoke inhalation, and trauma injuries in the crash.

Couture, a motorcycle enthusiast and former US Army Sergeant, was announced as part of the SCAG Racing expansion with the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) to race the popular Pro Mod class.

The Cryer family’s unique 1963 Divco Milk Truck has become a cool staple at several events, including Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks.

Nick Cryer has wheeled the Divco plenty of times, including Sick Summer in 2024. But one year later, Nick traded the Divco for a different ride for his Sick Summer appearance, and nearly grabbed a Sick The Mag orange helmet in the car’s debut.

We first broke news on this 1933 Ford build a few years ago (reported as a ’34 model, but Nick discovered since that time it is a ’33). JT Race Cars handled the initial construction, and after a little bit of motivation from a friendly wager with fellow Sick Summer competitor Mike Turner, Nick and John Tehaar got the ’33 Ford finished up this year in time to test before Sick Summer. 

Bryant Goldstone has accomplished a lot in his racing career, and put together an impressive resume in the drag and drive segment of it as well.

After nearly fifteen years of proving the streetability and on-track performance of both his 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, and his familiar 1973 AMC Javelin, Goldstone continues to rack up victories.

This includes his back-to-back Rocky Mountain Race Week MEGAWEEK and Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks event wins in June of 2025.

Now, his attention turns to his Unlimited class '53 Corvette and prepping for Hot Rod Drag Week. Goldstone recently filled us in on his remaining 2025 plans, including the storied AMC's future.

The great thing about a drag and drive event is the variety of rides an event can attract. Although the common rides from the GM, Ford and Mopar brands are normally present, we see a wider variety of rides at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, including a Ford F-350 dually pick up in 2023 of Robert Hill.

Two years later, Hill returned to Sick Summer a married man, with a different pick up, and left the 2025 event with a coveted Sick The Mag orange helmet!

After dominating the Naturally Aspirated classes at the 2023 edition of Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes, and then this year’s Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, it was a bit of a shock to see 'Fast Eddie' Ensor's 1985 Mustang up for sale today.

The classified ad on Facebook lists a pair of Ensor’s Ford Mustangs, and Ensor will sell one of them, and the current drag and drive Naturally Aspirated class record holder is on the list.

Since its opening in 1971, Bradenton Motorsports Park has hosted a lot of solid racing, including ground breaking events, world records and even teamed up with their next-door neighbor, the Freedom Factory.

Recently, co-owner of Bradenton Motorsports Park Victor Alvarez announced some updates that will affect both tracks, and we talked with general manger Josh Dauta to expand on them.

These upgrades don’t come as a surprise to some, as both tracks have seen some major changes in the last five years. “You have two owners that are motivated to bring motorsports at these tracks to the next level,” said Josh. “We always have ideas in the pipeline.”

Devin Vanderhoof is not one that’s content with running with the pack, or just ahead of it. Just when you think Devin has the ’93 Mustang convertible known as ‘Big Ern’ on rails, he makes big changes.

After winning several events, including a pair of class wins at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, the Mustang had become a unique ride in the drag and drive community.

But after an early exit at this year’s Sick Summer, Devin is planning some big changes, and this isn’t the first time Devin has made big changes for bigger and better performances.

Following a successful first year in 2024, the Drop The Hammer event would gain a second showing in the drag and drive world for the 2025 season.

The first event of 2025 would start at Mid Michigan Motorplex, with competitors completing day one at a track that celebrates 70 years of drag racing this year, before hopping on the streets of Michigan to drive from Stanton to Lapeer, Michigan for day two of racing action.

For the final day, participants would return to Stanton, Michigan, completing just over 270 street miles, and the chance to lay claim to a top three finish in the four classes.

There’s something to be said about striving to do your best, and coming up just a little shy of the top spot. It can make you dig deeper, work harder, and strive for the top spot a little bit more.

Most competitors would likely be happy with a pair of top three finishes at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, but Jeremy Ortiz plans to roll in prepared better than ever this year.

Since his first Sick Summer, Ortiz has captured multiple wins at various events and tracks. His most recent victories came in Extreme Radials at Muncie Dragway, then Ortiz followed it up at Street Car Braggin Rights (SCBR), where he scored the SCBR Shootout Wild class accolades.

Now, with his Nissan 240 sporting a single turbo LS swap seemingly on rails, Ortiz turns his focus to this week’s Sick On The Green event at Beech Bend Raceway Park. Then two weeks later, he will return to Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks in hopes of securing a Street Race 275 class victory.