This Twin-Turbo Monte Carlo Looking to Make an Impact in the Street Race 8.5-Second Class at Sick Week and Sick Summer in 2026!
Although the popular Street Race / Limited Street classes were not originally designed to be index-limited classes, the competition pushing performances to the edge of the 8.50-second roll cage limits has made them into some of the toughest classes to compete in.
It’s not unheard of to see car counts north of 30-50 competitors, and twice in Hot Rod Drag Week event history, a competitor has clocked all 8.50-second runs during the week. And although Eric Burroughs and his Monte Carlo are not strangers to the Sick Summer presented by Motion Raceworks event, 2026 will mark the first time he’ll dive into the thick of the Street Race class competition at a Sick The Mag event.
Sick the Magazine is gearing up for a solid 2026, as we will host FIVE events, four of them as a major week-long drag and drive event! Make plans to join us at one (or more) of our events next year: Gear Vendors Overdrive Sick Week, Motion Raceworks Sick Summer, Driven Racing Oil Sick Michigan Miles, Edelbrock Sick 66, and Speedfest. For more information and details on these events, visit the Sick The Mag events page by CLICKING HERE!
Eric already had a good chunk of drag and drive event experience under his belt before his Sick Summer 2023 appearance, being a part of four Hot Rod Drag Week events with his father Mike Burroughs. After riding co-pilot with his dad in 2010, Eric slid behind the wheel of his ’88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 2012, putting together an 11.47 average.
After returning to the co-pilot seat for his next Hot Rod Drag Week appearance, Eric decided his time behind the wheel was something he missed. So, he started plotting his next drag and drive event as a driver, which would be the Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes event in 2023.
The Monte Carlo sported a solid amount of power by 2023, and Eric opened the week with an 8.77 at 155 mph lap on day one at Cordova Dragway. After a rained-out day at Byron Dragway, the tour moved to Great Lakes Dragaway for day three, and Eric’s Monte Carlo was about to get to get a lot of attention.
The turbocharged came to the starting line with a packed house of interested onlookers, and when Eric released the transbrake, the G-body Chevrolet went skyward with a massive wheelstand! Eric managed to control it all, getting an 8.82 at 155 mph slip turned in that day, and finished the week with an 8.95 average in the Pro DYO (Dial-Your-Own) class.
After skipping out on 2024, Eric returned to Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks this year, deciding to do battle in the Heavy Metal class, where vehicles must meet a minimum 3,550-pound weight.
The Monte Carlo delivered better performances than before, with a best of 8.59 at 159 mph on day five at Byron Dragway. But although the Monte Carlo delivered three passes better than his 2023 performance, an off-pace 9.99 run on day four at Tri-State slowed his average to an 8.99 for the week.
To deliver the times needed for a competitive effort in the Street Race 275 class, Eric went the LS-swap route with a 5.3-liter based combination, with a pair of 78/75-millimeter Forced Performance turbochargers. A Turbo 400 built by Danny Sharpe with a PTC converter backs up the twin-turbo mill.
After a pair of Sick Summer appearances, Eric will double up in 2026, competing in both Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and Sick Summer presented by Motion Raceworks. “They’re hands down the best events and an all-around great time with race car friends,” he said. “Plan on running Street Race 275, and running an 8.5x every day.”
Will Eric Burroughs navigate the shark-filled waters of Street Race 275 and produce his best drag and drive finish in 2026? Don’t miss the 2026 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, February 1st through the 7th. Discounted advance tickets and event details are available at the Sick Week event page by CLICKING HERE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Motion Raceworks, and Eric Burroughs.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com