Service With a Smile – Jesse Lesko and His Twin-Turbo Trans Am Are Aiming for the First Sick Sevens Class Helmet at Speedfest!!
It was 2024 that we got our first look at the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am of Jesse Lesko at the second annual Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks. It was kind of a homecoming for Jesse, as the Illinois-born Air Force vet had since relocated to Texas.
Nearly two years later, Jesse completed the recent Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive with some of his best performances on track, and has his sights set on the new Sick Sevens class that will debut at Speedfest in Bowling Green, Kentucky on May 28th through the 30th.
Sick the Magazine is READY for a solid 2026, and we’re ready for a BANGER of an event with Braggin Rights and Street Car Takeover - Speedfest - at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky May 28-30th, 2026! 300 racers, a Top Fuel dragster, Jet Cars, a concert, and SO MUCH MORE!! For more information and details, including classes, format and tickets, visit the Speedfest event page by CLICKING HERE!
The subject of a three-year build, the Trans Am was built with a 25.5-SFI roll cage, which is limited to 7.50-second and slower times on the quarter-mile distance. “It made sense on the roll cage choice, because I knew the car would run quicker than 8.50,” said Jesse. “But every year, it seems the classes I run get quicker.”
The Trans Am has completed in Sick The Magazine’s Super Street class in all four of its appearances, and indeed the winning averages are always quicker than the 7.50 SFI 25.5 roll cage cut off. The most recent have David Diehl winning Sick Summer 2025 with the first 6-second average for the class, a 6.96 average. Bradley Arnold won this year’s Sick Week with a 7.15 average to top the Super Street class.
Now, Jesse is looking forward to the new Sick Sevens class that Sick The Mag will roll out at the Speedfest next month, as part of the trio of Sick The Magazine classes. The Sick Sevens class has a quick time threshold of 7.50-second on the quarter-mile, right in Jesse’s wheelhouse.
“I feel like there are more people that feel outclassed with a 7.50-limited roll cage,” Jesse said. “Plus, there are likely some 8.50-second cars that are afraid to make the leap because they feel the chances of winning are small.”
“I look forward to seeing how it goes, and I’m glad that the Sick The Mag team was open to trying something new.” With trying to not only survive the street and strip parts of the format, but also getting an average that will allow him to compete in the Saturday final elimination format, where the closest to a 7.50-second time, without going under, on a single run, collects the coveted Sick The Mag orange helmet, and a $5000 payday.
Speedfest is the first of its kind, as Sick The Mag, Braggin Rights and Street Car Takeover combine together at Beech Bend Raceway Park for a three-day event like no other. 300 competitors will tackle the Kentucky track, and competitor spots are going fast!!
We also have spectator tickets, as well as VIP packages, available NOW! Don't miss your chances to witness it all – May 28th through the 30th, 2026. CLICK HERE to visit the Speedfest event page!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Jesse Lesko.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com