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!

Derek Putnam

Dec 20

After multiple victories at a trio of drag and drive events, including Sick Week and Sick Summer, Devin Vanderhoof’s well-known Fox Mustang convertible ‘Big Ern’ was sold just after the 2025 edition of Sick Summer presented by Motion Raceworks.

In its place, Vanderhoof secured a 2017 Ford Shelby GT-350 Mustang that was initially put together as a rolling chassis by J&E Chassisworks, and carrying a SFI tag to allow the car to run into the 5-second zone.

Devin Vanderhoof is one of several drivers expected to be in contention for an overall win at the 2026 edition of Gear Vendors Overdrive Sick Week, February 1st through 7th! Brett LaSala, Tom Bailey, Jeff Lutz, Stefan Gustafsson, and more will be looking for low 6-second runs at over 200 mph on the tracks, while doing over 900 street miles of driving through Florida and South Georgia! Get your tickets now, save some coin, and get entered in our Holden SS wagon giveaway for FREE! CLICK HERE for more info on Sick Week!

Once Vanderhoof acquired the Mustang, it went to Matthew Smith at Performance Fab for the finishing fabrication work, and turbo kit items, followed by a trip to Jake Tinsley at Tinsley’s Custom Coatings.

After those steps were complete, the Mustang got a fresh coat of white paint, and then returned to HCR Innovations to handle the wiring, plumbing and finishing up. The new car was completed in less than five months, in time to make the trip to the PRI Show (Performance Racing Industry).

Dubbed ‘Reddi Whip’, the Mustang debuted in the Holley booth, with the front clip removed so everyone could see the new twin turbo 557 cid 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.

After discovering that Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida was having a couple test days leading up to their popular Christmas Tree Drag event, Vanderhoof was accompanied by good friend and driver Josh Davis to BMP for a small test session Friday to get some initial data on the car.

“First outing went great,” said Vanderhoof. “Got some data, and now we need to address a few small things.” Can Vanderhoof and Davis be immediately competitive at the 2026 edition of Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and challenge some of the big players for the overall title?