A lot of us likely dreamed of doing things with cars when we were kids. Whether it was with a family member, or participating with friends, some of us get a chance to carve a little time of each year to experience the fun, and extended family, that the car community can bring.

For Tom Gunner (a.k.a. Jimmy Dale), his 2025 season was a reflection of a lot of hard work to drive race cars as much as possible. His infectious smile was only matched by the enthusiasm he and good friend Michael Poland share in bringing the popular Lil Gangstas class to many an event.

His 2025 also included his first chance behind the wheel of a car during a drag and drive, when Mike Finnegan tossed him the keys to the popular Datsun 240 known as the ‘Rotsun’ for the Edelbrock Sick Smokies event. The impression it left confirmed to Jimmy Dale that he wanted to attend another Sick event in 2026, and he will do so at Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

During this year’s Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, Frank Webb shot onto our radars on day two with a massive triple-wheelie from his 1978 Ford Fairmont.

It got Webb and the Ford a lot of attention, but it also resulted in a trip to the tower looking for a replacement Aeromotive mechanical fuel pump, when the wheelie claimed his pump. Would it be the second-straight DNF for the 7-second Ford?

Despite the lack of sleep and another year of thrashing, Jeff Kurczak is looking forward to spending time with his family on Sick Summer. Jeff will be piloting his Godzilla-powered ‘93 Mustang, while his son will wheel an ‘80 Fairmont. For daughter Aly Kurczak, she will participate as a competitor on her first drag-and-drive ever, after riding with Jeff on last year’s Sick Summer.

“My first drag-and-drive experience was in 2021, and I was instantly hooked.” That set the wheels in motion for a car of his own to participate, and he almost hit his goals last year at Sick Summer. “My goals were to try and win both the fastest 6 cylinder and over all class winner. We got close, but we needed more for 2024.”

Kevin Jackson was "that guy" who used to sit and watch drag-and-drive as a fan online. Now, he’s not only participated in them, he’s getting his 16-year-old son Carter involved by competing at this year’s Sick Summer.

“I’m a Mopar guy, but a car enthusiast also. When a car guy sees a Fairmont Futura for 500 bucks, you click on that ad. It looked pretty clean, and I beat everyone to it.”