Sometimes, a good build gets a bit quicker than expected, and rather than continue on, an enthusiast may choose to take a step back to plot out the future use, and the changes necessary.

That was the case for Tom Kuepper, and although it caused his first Sick Summer event absence in three years, he’s honing in on quick times at the upcoming Sick Michigan Miles.

The Cryer family’s unique 1963 Divco Milk Truck has become a cool staple at several events, including Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks.

Nick Cryer has wheeled the Divco plenty of times, including Sick Summer in 2024. But one year later, Nick traded the Divco for a different ride for his Sick Summer appearance, and nearly grabbed a Sick The Mag orange helmet in the car’s debut.

We first broke news on this 1933 Ford build a few years ago (reported as a ’34 model, but Nick discovered since that time it is a ’33). JT Race Cars handled the initial construction, and after a little bit of motivation from a friendly wager with fellow Sick Summer competitor Mike Turner, Nick and John Tehaar got the ’33 Ford finished up this year in time to test before Sick Summer. 

Bryant Goldstone has accomplished a lot in his racing career, and put together an impressive resume in the drag and drive segment of it as well.

After nearly fifteen years of proving the streetability and on-track performance of both his 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, and his familiar 1973 AMC Javelin, Goldstone continues to rack up victories.

This includes his back-to-back Rocky Mountain Race Week MEGAWEEK and Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks event wins in June of 2025.

Now, his attention turns to his Unlimited class '53 Corvette and prepping for Hot Rod Drag Week. Goldstone recently filled us in on his remaining 2025 plans, including the storied AMC's future.

The great thing about a drag and drive event is the variety of rides an event can attract. Although the common rides from the GM, Ford and Mopar brands are normally present, we see a wider variety of rides at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, including a Ford F-350 dually pick up in 2023 of Robert Hill.

Two years later, Hill returned to Sick Summer a married man, with a different pick up, and left the 2025 event with a coveted Sick The Mag orange helmet!

After dominating the Naturally Aspirated classes at the 2023 edition of Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes, and then this year’s Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, it was a bit of a shock to see 'Fast Eddie' Ensor's 1985 Mustang up for sale today.

The classified ad on Facebook lists a pair of Ensor’s Ford Mustangs, and Ensor will sell one of them, and the current drag and drive Naturally Aspirated class record holder is on the list.

Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks is in the books, and we’ve heralded the class winners with the coveted Sick The Mag orange helmets, watched Rick Johnson hand out the three coveted Gear Vendors Overdrive guitars, and reported the results.

But there’s still work to be done, including reporting the averages and the quickest runs to determine early entry for the 2026 edition for Sick Summer!

Devin Vanderhoof is not one that’s content with running with the pack, or just ahead of it. Just when you think Devin has the ’93 Mustang convertible known as ‘Big Ern’ on rails, he makes big changes.

After winning several events, including a pair of class wins at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, the Mustang had become a unique ride in the drag and drive community.

But after an early exit at this year’s Sick Summer, Devin is planning some big changes, and this isn’t the first time Devin has made big changes for bigger and better performances.

For the third time in six days, Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks would start its morning at Byron Dragway for Day Five, the final day, of Sick Summer 2025.

After several hundred miles, bad weather that forced a cancellation of one day of racing, and four tracks visited, over 300 competitors returned to Illinois for the final day, last passes down the track, and crowning class champions.

After Mother Nature once again showed she was in control of outdoor activities, Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks rolled into Tri State Raceway for Day Four.

We were greeted with sunny skies and a full day of racing activities, but for some competitors, it was a struggle. For some competitors, it took until their last opportunity of the day to get the run they needed for a shot at the coveted Sick The Mag orange helmet.

After dodging what looked to be a tricky afternoon forecast on Day Two to complete a full day of racing at Great Lakes Dragaway, over 300 competitors jumped on the road for a trio of checkpoints and crossing three states to Cordova Dragway for Day Three of Sick Summer.

But Wednesday would bring a shortened track day, some carnage, and some surprises on competitors that would bow out earlier than expected.

Day Two of Sick Summer Presented By Motion Raceworks would prove to be just as hot as the first, in both temperature in the air and action on the race track.

The crowds have always been massive at Great Lakes Dragaway, and the drag and drive faithful would once again flock to Wisconsin for all the action on track, along the drive, and at the checkpoints.

Following a busy day of tech and testing, 342 rides returned to the staging lanes for Day One activities at Sick Summer Presented By Motion Raceworks.

The crowd was once again massive for a summer Monday, and they were treated to some stellar runs and close competition, as the classes got assembled on standings for the first time this week.

With lanes full of street and strip ready rides, Byron Dragway got Day Zero underway early on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15th for the third annual Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks.

Tech inspection was followed by a test and tune in the afternoon, and the crowds came to see how well cars and drivers were sorted for the week of driving and racing through Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa over the next five days.

Bryant Goldstone, Steve Morris, David Diehl, Nick Cryer, Josh Davis, and the return of the ‘Cheap Car Challenge’ were among the big talking points of the day.

Heralded as the ‘official’ start to summer by many in the drag and drive community, Sick Summer Presented By Motion Raceworks will celebrate our third year in the Midwest starting tomorrow, June 15th, 2025 at Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois.

One of two tracks we will visit in Illinois, Byron Dragway will be hosting Sick Summer for a total of three days, with a lot on tap for activities, including Mr. Sam’s 80th birthday party and the Delta PAG pizza party on Sunday, June 15th, as well as our awards ceremony on Friday, June 20th!

There’s something to be said about striving to do your best, and coming up just a little shy of the top spot. It can make you dig deeper, work harder, and strive for the top spot a little bit more.

Most competitors would likely be happy with a pair of top three finishes at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, but Jeremy Ortiz plans to roll in prepared better than ever this year.

Since his first Sick Summer, Ortiz has captured multiple wins at various events and tracks. His most recent victories came in Extreme Radials at Muncie Dragway, then Ortiz followed it up at Street Car Braggin Rights (SCBR), where he scored the SCBR Shootout Wild class accolades.

Now, with his Nissan 240 sporting a single turbo LS swap seemingly on rails, Ortiz turns his focus to this week’s Sick On The Green event at Beech Bend Raceway Park. Then two weeks later, he will return to Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks in hopes of securing a Street Race 275 class victory.

Steve Rzewnicki joined a group of enthusiasts from Streetcar Shenanigans Performance for his first drag and drive event, the Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks.

He not only completed his first event, but did so in a car that carries a family history.

“We had so much fun,” said Rzewnicki. “We had a whole team of cars from Streetcar Shenanigans Performance, and I can't wait to do it again.”

Although it wasn’t his first drag and drive, the Sick Death Week event in October of 2023 ratcheted the legacy of Rajveer Ahuja to the next level. Making thousands of road miles to be a part of most events he participates in, Ahuja will return to the states for a double dose of drag and drive action when he hits Sick On The Green, followed two weeks later with Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks.

“Being able to enjoy the car, and the best part (of a drag and drive event) is meeting like-minded crazy people and getting to hang out with them,” Rajveer Ahuja admitted. “It is like a big family reunion. I mostly enjoy catching up and hanging out with new and old friends, besides the mandatory tacos and burnouts. That’s what drag and drive is really all about.”

Although the chances of seeing superchargers and turbochargers versus nitrous on drag and drive rides, there are still some bottle-fed rides that are holding their own.

One happens to be the 1972 Camaro of Lamar Swindoll Jr., and after completing four Sick drag and drive events in just over a year, Lamar is setting his sights on Sick At The Rock Presented by Motion Raceworks.

“After years of drag racing, I was ready for something different,” said Lamar. Drag and drive allows my wife and I to enjoy driving our hot rod on the open roads with our family members who join with their cars, hang out with other racers and their families, do a little site seeing and I still get to race my car down track. It's just a whole lot of fun!”

With a solid first outing at Sick Week in 2025, Lamar will make his next appearance with the Camaro in the new Sick Street Car Challenge class at the upcoming Sick At The Rock event. “I think it’s a great idea to have an event like this at least once a year for the guy that can’t attend a week long event,” said Lamar. “I think the shorter drive will be a great time for first timers to try out a drag and drive event.”

Some cars will come and go, but the ones that make for some of the best stories are the ones that have history with their owners. Colin Nowak has owned this 1995 Ford Mustang since high school, and after a dozen years cruising and racing it, he’s ready to roll into Rockingham Dragway for next month’s Sick At The Rock and tackle the Sick Street Car Challenge class.

If this supercharged Mustang looks familiar, it’s because Colin made a presence at the 2024 edition of Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, finishing second in the Modified class with a 9.18 average.

“Car did great,” said Colin. “We didn't have to mess with anything other than swapping tires, shock settings and fuel. Was pretty wild to see after day one I was in third.” He eventually moved to second on day three, where he would stay until the event was completed.

Now, he’s prepping for Sick Summer, Sick Smokies, and Sick At The Rock in 2025.