Multi-Tool – When Plan A and Plan B Didn’t Pan Out for Edelbrock Sick 66, John Audia Called Sonoma to Bring His Pick-Up to Route 66!
Some muscle cars just have the right vibe, the look, the sound, the performance. But for John Audia, his 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle didn’t have the safety equipment for the level of performance he wanted to achieve.
So, a new plan was put into place, acquiring a G-body Chevrolet with the right level of safety for the opportunity to run deep into the 6-second range. But when that didn’t look to be to be ready for this month’s Edelbrock Sick 66 event, Audia opted for Plan C, a truck that’s seen a lot of different uses, but not a drag and drive event - yet.
A week cruising Route 66, while drag racing three different tracks for seven days? The Edelbrock Sick 66 adventure awaits you - September 26th - October 3rd, 2026! CLICK HERE for Sick 66 info!
“It was a long shot to get Plan A, the G body Malibu, ready,” said Audia. “So, honestly the Sonoma was the most likely option from the beginning.”
The 2003 GMC Sonoma, a brand-new purchase for Audia, was done when he was a senior in high school at age 17. “I had to put it in my dad’s name,” he said. “Since a 17-year-old can’t enter into a contract.”
Powered by a 4.3-liter 6-cylinder in the ZR2 chassis, Audia has enjoyed some fun times with it, from daily driving to racing on multiple levels, seeing action on sand dunes, uphill ski slope snow drags, and even some test and tune drag racing at Mid Michigan Motorplex.
The V6 ran a 14.05 with a 125 shot of nitrous on it, but in Audia’s words: “the 4.3-liter just wasn’t doing it for me anymore after daily-ing the Chevelle all summer.”
Enter an engine swap; the Sonoma got two more cylinders, and a bunch more power, thanks to an LS3 now residing under the hood, with Holley EFI controlling the functions. A 4L70 automatic backs the powerplant, and all four wheels claw for traction with Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S tires.
Audia has yet to make an ‘official drag strip run’ but the Dragy returned a 12.69 elapsed time on the road of Mexico. For good measure, Audia hopes to have a 150-horsepower shot of nitrous on the truck in time for Edelbrock Sick 66.
As far as goals, Audia said they are similar as when he participated on the first Sick 66 in 2024 with his classic Chevelle. “Finishing, no carnage, and as close to a 7.36 average as possible,” he said. Can he pull it off in the Sonoma’s first drag and drive event outing?
7 days of racing – 6 days of cruising Route 66 – what more do you need? Edelbrock Sick 66 is coming up quick – September 26th through October 3rd, 2026. Join us for a track day and save $5 with an advance spectator ticket, or the full event experience with a Sick Ward entry! For more event information head to www.sickthemagazine.com/sick-66.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and John Audia.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com