The Road Less Traveled in Michigan - an Inside Look on Aydan Bailey Forging a New Path to Successfully Defend His Title at the 2026 Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil!
One year ago, the usually quiet and reserved Aydan Bailey had a smile on his face during the award ceremony of the first Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil. After a solid week of battling with Evan Uerkwitz, Aydan emerged with his first class title, as well as his first overall win, in five years of drag and drive competition.
But when the ’57 Chevy wagon known as ‘The Deuce Box’ returned to home base after that event, Aydan knew the engine was the limiting factor to pursuing the goals of a 4-second eighth-mile pass, and 7-second performances on the full quarter-mile distance. One year later, and several nights with not much sleep, Aydan emerged with his second-straight victory from Sick Michigan Miles.
The Fight to the Finish – Aydan Bailey Wheelies His Way to Overall Win on an Unpredictable Final Day of the Driven Racing Oil Sick Michigan Miles!
It was so good, we had to bring it back for a second helping – Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil returned to the land of ten thousand lakes for an epic seven days in Michigan.
To keep things fresh, the Sick The Mag added a new track, new routes, and new checkpoints from the first edition of the event. The competitor list expanded to 223 entries on Day One, and after five days, a couple hundred rides returned to Mid Michigan Motorplex to say “we completed Sick Michigan Miles,” finalize their averages, and crown winners.
A Wild Day Two of the Driven Racing Oil Sick Michigan Miles At Northern Michigan Dragway Brings Lead Changes, Thrashes, and Some New Category Frontrunners!
Following a record-setting Day One of Sick Michigan Miles at Mid Michigan Motorplex, over 200 competitors and a couple hundred Sick Warders rolled over 200 miles on their odometers to reach Kaleva, Michigan and Northern Michigan Dragway.
Regarded by many as a hidden treasure of a track with tons of acreage with dozens of bracket cars scattered in the tree-covered pit areas, Northern Michigan Dragway would play host to the second day of racing action, and action there was!
Nothing ‘Mid’ About Day One at Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil, as Some of the Quickest Performances in Event History Are Delivered at Mid Michigan Motorplex!
One year ago, Tom Bailey’s idea of showcasing his home state of Michigan came to fruition with the first Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil. Despite our best efforts, Mother Nature rained down on Mid Michigan Motorplex, a track most competitors wanted to tackle.
One year, the Ledfords are getting their shot by hosting the second edition of Sick Michigan Miles, as well as the 223 competitors that made it through tech. After some hints that some solid performances could be in the works based on Day Zero runs, competitors and enthusiasts watching from the fenceline and grandstands were eager to see what the track held in store for Day One.
From Flipping Cars to Rolling Hot Dogs – Jon and Kayleigh Whittle Will Pilot the Sick BBQ / Hot Dog / Ice Cream Truck on Driven Racing Oil Sick Michigan Miles!
It’s become about as much of a staple at Sick The Magazine events as the familiar faces you see on our staff. But the Sick BBQ – Hot Dog – Ice Cream truck that started as a way to keep competitors fed at each track day, has also expanded into a new chapter: living the adventure pf a drag and drive and creating amazing memories for a two-person team.
When we put out the call for possible teams for Motion Raceworks Sick Summer, the enthusiasts answered in a big way! Not only did we get a bunch of requests for Sick Summer, but a good chunk of applications also mentioned interest in Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil, or the Edelbrock Sick 66.
From the stack of entries for Sick Michigan Miles, Jon and Kayleigh Whittle were selected to drive the Sick BBQ – Hot Dog – Ice Cream truck. And although they didn’t have the event on their 2026 bingo card, for Jon it is a chance to return to Michigan, as well as share the experience with his wife.
Lapeer International Dragway Owner Sentenced to Jailtime on Weapons Possession, Track Rumored to Be Going Up for Sale!
Race tracks have had to face a slew of hurdles to keep the gates open year after year. With rising costs on many items, local opposition to noise, and even rising land values, it’s not surprising to see some tracks close their gates for good.
But another reason has recently hit the storied track of Lapeer International Dragway, as news broke today about owner William Jennings being sentenced to six years on multiple firearm possession. Several have hinted about the track going up for sale, possibly putting one of the track stops on Sick Michigan Miles next month in jeopardy.
The Re-Birth of the Deuce Box – Aydan Bailey Preps ‘57 Chevy Wagon For Upgrades to Defend Title at 2026 Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil!
After some trials and heartbreaks, Aydan Bailey scored an overdue victory at the 2025 edition of Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil. The ’57 Chevrolet wagon put up a 5.24 average for the week, getting Aydan the top spot, an orange Sick The Mag helmet, and a celebration for Aydan and father Tom, who was Aydan’s co-pilot for Sick Michigan Miles.
But, in pushing the station wagon to those times, Aydan also discovered the limitations of some things, as well as some items to re-do for the next outing. Nearly a year later, Aydan, Tom and Andy Mcconnell, got together to assess and determine what needed to be done to get the station wagon ready to defend its Sick Michigan Miles title.
After a Year Away from Drag and Drive, Tom Kuepper Preps His Wheelstanding F-150 Pick-Up for a Return to Sick Michigan Miles and Another Top Ten Finish!
This two-tone 1994 Ford F-150 pick-up has been a staple in Tom Kuepper’s life for several years, just like drag and drive competition. His first drag-and-drive as a competitor would be at the inaugural Sick Summer presented by TBM Brakes, which Tom completed with a 10.77 average.
Since then, the truck has gotten some safety upgrades to dive into the single-digits, which Tom accomplished in late 2024 with an 8.94 at 152 mph run in late 2024. Since then, it’s gotten a bit more serious, and after a year away from racing, he’s prepping for this year’s Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil with a new co-pilot, and some new goals.
The Unique Drag Racing Culture of Northern Michigan Dragway
Down a dirt road, among the trees, there’s a place to race.
Miles from the city lights, Northern Michigan Dragway has found its way into the hearts of those who yearn for a simpler way to worship acceleration.
The Ledford family has been running Northern Michigan for over 50 years. What was once a subsistence farm was turned into a drag strip in 1970, capitalizing on the mainstream popularity the sport was enjoying at the time.
Built Back Better – Kevin Partin and His ’67 Chevy II Make the Most of Second Chances at Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil!
The concept of a ‘Barn Find’ has become somewhat played out. But fortunately cars like Kevin Partin’s ’67 Chevy II come along every now and then to remind us what the concept is all about. Not just blowing the dust off, but elevating a machine to new levels.
Kevin’s now a quarter-century into his ownership of this car, during which it has had dozens of combinations, but none so quick as what it carries currently.
Miles Ahead – Aydan Bailey Makes Home State Stand at Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil to Earn First Drag and Drive Event Win!
When your father is one of the biggest names in drag and drive, it’s going to take something special to break out of his shadow.
Aydan Bailey’s victory at Sick Michigan Miles 2026 presented by Driven Racing Oil was his spotlight moment.
Tim Ford’s Nissan 240SX might be having an identity crisis. But whether it’s drag, drift or street, success and fun seem to be in the DNA.
“I tell as many car enthusiasts as I can about drag and drives, specifically Sick hosted events,” he said. “It’s such a great community to be involved in, in any capacity. We’re looking forward to the next one!”
Jon Moore Hopes Off-Season Upgrades Results in ‘Moore Speed’ and puts the ‘Crown’ in His Unique Crown Victoria at Sick Week 2026
Getting more than its share of double takes, the ‘4 x 4 Crown Vic’ of Jon Moore has gotten the last laugh on several people, clocking single digit times as several drag and drive events since he acquired it.
Since his drag-and-drive debut at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2023, where Moore clocked a 10.14 average, Moore has continued to step up his performance. Now, he looks to up his game again for the 2026 edition of Sick Week.
The Details of Sick Ward, and the Sick Spit Show & Shine – How You Can Participate in a Sick The Magazine Event in 2026!
After a decade of participating in drag and drive events, Sick The Magazine hosted our first event in 2022, Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive. 2026 will mark a five-year anniversary for the event, and since then we have added in the Motion Raceworks Sick Summer event, plus two to four more events each year.
We realize that an event is not just about the results and the awards, but “For The Adventure” as Tom Bailey, founder of Sick The Magazine, has stated since we started. That philosophy plays into not only how we approach each event, but also looks beyond the competition, including our Summit Racing Equipment Sick Ward Presented by PEAK Performance, and Sick Spit Show & Shine options.
The Deuce Box Dominates – Aydan Bailey Uses Consistency and Fine Tuning to Earn First Drag and Drive Event Win at Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil!
A lot of the drag and drive community knows about Tom Bailey and his accomplishments in both the original ‘Sick Seconds’ ’69 Camaro, as well as the upgraded ’69 Camaro known as ‘Sick Seconds 2.0.’
But Tom’s son Aydan has been slowly ironing out his own ride, a 1957 Chevrolet station wagon that has competed in a handful of events since its debut at Sick Summer 2023. Just over two years after that first event, Aydan scored his first overall victory at the recent Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil.
To fully understand the success of Aydan’s recent win in Michigan, let’s take a trip back to the first Sick The Mag drag and drive event, Sick Week 2022 Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
Choosing Your Drag and Drive Adventure – Why Change Is Good, and Why Staying the Same Is Important as Well
Since the very beginning of the drag and drive event structure, change has been part of the plan. Each and every year, Hot Rod Drag Week has changed tracks, routes and in some cases, classes.
Since that first event in 2005, over 50 more drag and drive events have been created, and while some follow the same plan of changing tracks at a minimum each year, some have held true to the same tracks, to the appeal of the competitors and spectators alike.
Home State Heroics - Aydan Bailey Scores First Win, As We Wrap Up Seven Days Exploring the Roads, The Lakes, The Sights and Four Race Tracks on Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil
Sick The Magazine started in mid-2021 with the first print magazine dedicated to the drag and drive community, and although most featured an event would follow at some point, Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022 caught some by surprise.
Since then, we’ve added Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks as an annual event starting in 2023, and a one-off event each year as well.
2025 marked the opportunity for Sick The Magazine to showcase our home state of Michigan, and Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil was held over the last seven days.
Aydan Bailey Bounces Back at Northern Michigan Dragway to Reclaim the Lead After Day Three of Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil in Michigan
After Mother Nature spoiled our plans for racing at Mid-Michigan Motorplex on Tuesday, August 12th, Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil made its way north through Michigan to Kaleva and Northern Michigan Dragway.
Although we were greeted by some fog to start the morning, some great racing action took place. We witnessed some shuffling in the top ten, including a new leader, some personal bests, as well as some competitors making their case for not only a category title, but also the Pure Michigan Award.
Persistent Rain Nullifies Racing at Mid-Michigan Motorplex on Day 2, but a Solid Day of Cruising and Exploring Michigan is the Result, as Sick Michigan Miles Heads to Northern Michigan Dragway
After a solid first day of competition on the Sick Michigan Miles drag and drive event, and the drive from Milan to Stanton, Michigan complete, we caught rumblings of Mother Nature looking to rain on the activities on Day Two, August 12th, at Mid-Michigan Motorplex.
Despite the best efforts of the Ledford family to give us a solid surface, rain hit the track just minutes before we were about to call competitors to the staging lanes.
So, instead cars and trucks were changed back to street mode, before visiting a trio of checkpoints over 191 miles to prep for Day Three at Northern Michigan Dragway.
Following Day Zero Transmission Issues, Evan Uerkwitz Produces a 5.11 at 136 mph Pass to Lead the field After Day One of Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil in Michigan
With Day One of the Sick Michigan Miles drag and drive event leading into a week-long exploration of Michigan and four different tracks, some woke on Monday morning, August 11th with high hopes, and maybe even calm nerves.
Then, there are those that barely got their rides buttoned up in time to roll through the Darana Dragway gate, lacking sleep, test time, and possibly a functioning credit card due to all the last-minute parts ordering.
No matter which way a competitor got to Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil, Day One started with our traditional drivers meeting, before the Darana Dragway crew let the enthusiasts loose on a freshly-prepped surface to see who would gain the quick time slips and early momentum for the event.