Common Cents – Jeremy Bonnett’s Home Shop Built, Sick Week Winning Gasser ‘Last Penny’ Will Go for a Second Win in 2025 At Edelbrock Sick Smokies in October!
Almost every car has a story to tell, whether it has a long family history, or a special day such as being driven to a wedding. It’s through these stories and memories that cars become more than just transportation; they become something you know, including their quirks and special features.
For Jeremy Bonnett, racing and the love of automobiles and motorcycles has spilled into not only time spent with his family, but also in building cars at their home shop. The latest one, this ’33 Willys named ‘Last Penny’ was finished in 2024, and Jeremy will join 70-plus Gassers to go for a second drag and drive event win at next month’s Edelbrock Sick Smokies!
Will ‘Last Penny’ top the 70-plus GASSER field registered for Sick Smokies Presented by Edelbrock, our final drag and drive of 2025? Make you plans to join us - October 12-19th, 2025! 7 days cruising the South, including Tail Of The Dragon, with over 250 total competitors! Discounted advanced spectator tickets, as well as Sick Ward / Sick Spit Show & Shine entries are available - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE about Sick Smokies!!
Before the Bonnett family worked their magic on the Willys, we first saw Jeremy behind the wheel of a 1928 Pontiac at the very first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022. The wheelstanding Rat Rod was a sight to behold, cracking off low 9-second passes each day, with a best of 9.12 at 146 mph on Day One at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
But by the end of 2022, the Bonnett family had a new ride under construction, the ’33 Willys you see here. Jeremy and sons worked on the new ride for a little over a year before it was done, and even the paint job was handled in house.
With a supercharged small block Chevrolet and a Powerglide slipped in the chassis for motivation, the Willys got some shakedown time in the summer of 2024 before the lettering and copper leaf work by Matt Lamborn was added.
After a couple of years away, Jeremy returned to Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2025, and handily won the Gasser A/Gas class with an 8.88 average. Now he will focus his efforts on the huge contingent of Gassers registered for Edelbrock Sick Smokies, taking place October 12th through the 19th, 2025.
“I have been drag racing since 16 years old,” said Jeremy. “I’ve raced a lot of other things, but always have had drag cars. Race cars, friends and racing them is what Jeremy said is bringing him to Sick Smokies.
With a car that’s already completed and won a drag and drive event, will Jeremy Bonnett and ‘Last Penny’ top the field of A/Gas competitors? Don’t miss your chance to see over 200 competitors, and the largest gathering of street-legal Gassers, on the Edelbrock Sick Smokies event, October 12th-19th! CLICK HERE for more details!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Jeremy Bonnett.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com