Drop the Hammer’s New Event for 2026 – Drop The Hammer Judgement Day – Puts Competitors To the Test of Drag and Drive Without a Trailer!
After a couple years of hosting his original drag and drive event in Michigan, Drop the Hammer, competitor and enthusiast Carl Stancell added a second event in North Carolina in 2025. For 2026, he’s expanded to three events, with the newest one completed on Saturday, July 25th.
Drop The Hammer Judgement Day uses a one day, one track format, but with a twist. “We will be racing and covering 110 miles of Michigan back roads, all without a trailer,” said Carl. “That means you have to cram everything you need for the trip into or onto your hot rod for the day.”
The First Drag and Drive In Maine, Pistons In The Pines, Finds Philip Nadeau Topping the Winner List, While Dan Dinan Scores Second Win In-A-Row in New Car!
A state that can provide some of most scenic views no matter where you travel, Maine provided the basis for the first annual Pistons In The Pines drag and drive event.
Held over a three-day format, the event started at Fernald Field Dragway on Thursday, July 23rd, then traveled through ‘The Pine Tree State’ to the second track, New Oxford Dragway, for racing on Friday, July 24th. Competitors would then return to Fernald Field Dragway for their final on-track action on Saturday, July 25th, plus the crowning of champions in six classes.
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.
Matt Blasco Blasts to Overall Victory at Third Annual Big Sky Race Week, as the Montana-Based Event Expands With More Days and a New Track!
The first two years of Big Sky Race Week, the drag and drive event that visits the picturesque Montana, spent a week visiting four race tracks, and driving over 900 miles. For the third edition in 2026, Big Sky Race Week changed things up a little.
The 2026 event would expand to six days, and although no new classes were added to the line up, all twelve classes shared between 2024 and 2025 events were contested. Big Sky Race Week 2026 was hosted, as well as starting and finishing, at Yellowstone Drag Strip, the same start and finish location as previous years.
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 Next Level – Jeff and Tyler Moll Put Together a C4 Corvette For Small Tire and Drag and Drive Competition, with 6-Second Goals!
Tyler Moll was born into cars and racing at a young age, and part of that upbringing included drag and drive events. Father Jeff Moll participated in a wide variety of racing avenues, including what many consider the lead-up to Hot Rod Drag Week, the Pump Gas Drags.
With both father and son having a good bit of racing experience, Tyler and Jeff have decided to make the jump to a new build, with the potential to shake things up in both small tire racing, and plans for drag and drive competition in 2027!
New Prospect for Prospero – Multi-Time Drag and Drive Winner Reveals New Chevrolet Colorado Build!
A competitor with over a decade in drag and drive events, as well as street car style events, Rick Prospero has made his mark with a pair of cars in several events, starting at the 2009 edition of the Hot Rod Drag Week event.
Using a ’65 Chevy Nova station wagon, and then a ’90 Mazda RX-7, Rick has five drag and drive titles to his credit, including the inaugural Gear Vendors Overdrive Sick Week title in 2022. Rick is one of a couple names that is on all three Sick Certified list for holding an 8-second, 7-second and 6-second average in a major drag and drive event.
Buckeye Skip’s Moves From Fall to Summer for Second Event, and Despite the Ohio Heat, Rick Russell and David Lipps Score Second Event Wins of the 2026 Season to Lead Buckeye Skip’s Winners List!
After a successful first event in 2025, the Ohio-based Buckeye Skip’s drag and drive event made the move from its October 2025 date to an early July date for 2026. Kuhnle Motorsports Park would return for the second year, with a pair of IHRA (International Hot Rod Association) Darana tracks, Darana Raceway (previously known as National Trail Raceway) and Darana Dragway (previously known as Dragway 42).
The move to a summer date brought more competitors and new classes, a total of eleven. But it also brought extremely warm temperatures to the 140 competitors that were in attendance on Day Zero
We’ve Got The Dates – The 2027 Edition of Gear Vendors Overdrive Sick Week, and Motion Raceworks Sick Summer, Dates Are Locked In!
After the success of the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022, the question was “when can we do a second big event, and when is the next Sick Week,” according to Tom Bailey. The 2023 season would see the second annual Sick Week, and the first edition of Sick Summer presented by Motion Raceworks.
With all the support from competitors, Sick Warders, spectators, and especially the race tracks and sponsors, the Sick The Magazine team can officially announce the dates for Sick Week and Sick Summer in 2027.
Second Helping of the East Coast Drag-N-Drive Finds Expanded Classes, Weather Battles, and Dan Dinan Scoring Top Spot with New Car as Miramichi Dragway Park in New Brunswick, Canada Hosts the Action!
After Jason Richardson successfully hosted his first drag and drive event, the East Coast Drag-N-Drive, in New Brunswick, Canada in 2025, the three-day event based around Miramichi Dragway Park would return in late June 2026 for a second helping.
Using the track as the starting point, competitors would be tasked with a trio of time slips (one per day), then a different drive each day after racing was complete. Complete it all, tally the averages, and crown the winners.
For year two, Richardson upped the ante with NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Wally trophies for his returning classes: DYO (Dial Your Own), 9.50-Second Index, 10.50-Second Index, and the 11.50-Second Class. The winner of the new Unlimited Class would also receive a Wally.
Alex Taylor, David Diehl, and Frank Webb Lead the Highlights of Day Zero Testing at Sick Summer Presented By Motion Raceworks at Byron Dragway in Illinois!
We know it’s summertime when the drag and drive community ramps up in June, and Sick Summer presented by Motion Raceworks celebrates its fourth year by returning to the site of last year’s host track, Byron Dragway, to get the festivities underway!
Day Zero means the majority of the day is competitors arriving at the track for the tech-in process, as well as Sick Ward and Sick Spit Show & Shine participants getting their bonuses and materials for the week. But there’s on track action as well, and the testing session provided some eye-opening results and competitors to keep an eye on leading into Day One of racing.
The Return of Mullet - Cleetus McFarland Preps the 6-Second El Camino for First Drag and Drive in 2 Years at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks
Built as one of the quickest cars to enter his arsenal, the 1986 El Camino known as Mullet has scored victories for Cleetus McFarland on both the drag and drive event structure, as well as the pure racing side.
Since it debuted on its first event in May 2021, Mullet has continued to evolve into a quicker and faster machine. After a three-year run, including multiple appearances between Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive and Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, Mullet got an overhaul in 2025-26. Now, it’ll make its first drag and drive event in two years at Sick Summer.
A First Time for Familiar Names - Alex Taylor, Steve Morris and Val Morris Lead the Winner List from the First Annual Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn!
The Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn, presented by Summit Racing Equipment and powered by Sick The Magazine, closed the book on its first chapter.
Combining two days of testing that also featured the unique Mickey Thompson ‘try and buy’ tire program, with a three-day format drag and drive, the Turn & Burn event had the racing action take place at the legendary Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Ohio.
Second Day of Testing at the Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn Provides Big Numbers and Some Familiar Rides Hit Summit Motorsports Park to Prepare for Day One of the Drag and Drive Part of The Event!
It started as an idea to expand on Mickey Thompson’s ‘Try and Buy’ program that is done at select times across the US, and ultimately became the combination of tire testing and a first-time drag and drive event for Mickey Thompson and Summit Motorsports Park.
The Turn & Burn overcame Mother Nature’s wrath on Tuesday for a solid day of testing on Wednesday at the Norwalk, Ohio track, ground zero for the three day drag and drive that gets underway today.
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.
Get Your Own Tire Crew Chief at Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn!
Buying parts that increase your horsepower is a surefire way to lower elapsed times, but what about optimizing what you already have?
Car setup can seem to be a dark art, influenced heavily by opinion. Practical experience, however, is unbeatable. There’s no-one better to offer experience than people who watch thousands and thousands of passes in any given year.
Mickey Thompson’s Turn & Burn event at Summit Motorsports Park on March 5-9, 2026 is going to be a unique opportunity for those of us who can’t afford a full-time crew chief.
Baber Scores Two Class Titles, Whitaker Backs Up 2025 Victory, and King Claims Richest Lil Gangsta’s Win as Street Car Bragging Rights Crowns Sixteen Class Winners at Rockingham Dragway!
Created in 2022 to give street cars an event in the southeast area to participate in, Street Car Braggin Rights (SCBR) has since evolved into a multi-day event with a combination of street car-based classes, as well as pure race classes.
The event returned to Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina for the second year in 2026, and after three days of qualifying and two days of eliminations, champions were crowned in sixteen classes.
Second Verse is Better Than the First – Tor Nupen Rebounds from First Sick Week Outing to Power ’68 Chevelle Through the 2027 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive
Drag and drive events can be a rewarding experience, as the chance to meet, race and cruise with hundreds of fellow enthusiasts has grown to nearly 50 opportunities each year for the last two seasons.
But the track and street can also find a vehicle’s weak spots, and this means a number of first timers could fail to complete the event. Tor Nupen suffered this fate at his first drag and drive event, the 2025 edition of Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
But he used it as motivation to better his 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle for a return appearance to Sick Week this year, with his son in the co-pilot seat.
Loud and Proud – William Jordan’s Dodge Dart Demands Attention on a Number of Levels!
Sleepers might get all the internet cool points, but there’s something to be said for looking fast. William Jordan’s Dodge Dart has an unmistakable stance that screams acceleration, and we’re here for it.
William arrived at Hot Rod Drag Week 2025 a newcomer to drag and drive, having been introduced to the sport as a spectator at Sick Week 2023 Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive. The event inspired him to build a car of his own, and Drag Week was in the perfect location this year for the New Yorker to make his debut.
Back In the Game – Jason Wall Returns to Racing at the 2026 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive!
After over a decade away from the drag racing game, Jason Wall decided it was time to get back into it. There’s a ton of options for a street and strip capable ride, and although Jason had recently piloted his wife’s Hellcat Charger on Hot Rod Drag Week, he had a different target.
“I always liked these Collector’s Edition C4’s when I was a kid,” said Jason about the silver Corvette he acquired. “That never changed,” and he debuted this 1996 Corvette at this year’s Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.