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.
We’re gearing up for Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil, August 17-23, 2026! It’s a week in Michigan, combing drag racing and street cruising the land of 10,000 lakes! We’ve got Sick Ward and discount advance spectator tickets available; CLICK HERE for more details on the Sick Michigan Miles event!
Since the former farm truck made its move to street and strip use, Tom has dabbled with both a supercharger and turbocharger to add bonus ponies to his 438 cubic inch small block Ford combination.
After competing on the first two Sick Summer events in 2023 and 2024, Tom wasn’t 100-percent ready for the 2025 edition of Sick Summer presented by Motion Raceworks. But he didn’t have to wait long for his next appearance, competing in the first Driven Racing Oil Sick Michigan Miles.
Despite having the truck together and operational for less than a month, Tom along with father and co-pilot Jack would lay down some of the quickest runs on each track visit. Tom capped the week with a personal best pass of 5.43 at 125 mph at Darana Dragway in Milan on the final day, converting the numbers into a 5.64 average, collecting the Quickest Ford category award.
Some follow-up testing at Great Lakes Dragaway less than a week after Sick Michigan Miles 2025 was complete netted Tom some big wheelstands, and the twin-turbo mill delivered a new personal best run: an 8.38 at 159 mph, with a 5.34 at 130 mph for eighth-mile numbers, and a 1.28 60 foot time!
That would be Tom’s last track outing with the F-150, as he spent the next nine months in training with the Army National Guard as a Blackhawk mechanic. But now, his excitement level is back up knowing he’ll be back on his first drag and drive in almost a year.
The truck is nearly the same as it was last year, with a refresh to the driveline, and Tom upgrading to TBM Brakes on the rear end. With goals of improving on his sixth place overall finish one year ago, as well as quickening his average a bit, Tom comes into the Driven Racing Oil Sick Michigan Miles with a new co-pilot.
Evan Uerkwitz, who finished second in last year’s Sick Michigan Miles in his Chevrolet Malibu, and tuned Nick Rinehart to one of the first 6-second quarter-mile averages in the Pro Street class at this year’s Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, will ride shotgun with Tom. Tom’s dad Jack will trade the passenger seat for the driver’s seat, as he will compete in his Ford Torino this year.
“If we could do a 5.3x average that would be huge but I think 5.40s is hopefully doable,” said Tom. “And I have to keep my shit together the whole week.”
Join us for a week racing and street cruising through Michigan – Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil, August 17th through the 23rd! We’ll start on Day Zero, the 17th, at Mid Michigan Motorplex, with tech for all competitors, plus test and tune in the afternoon.
Then, we officially start the 6 days of racing and driving in the land of 10,000 lakes, on August 18th at Mid Michigan Motorplex. Discounted advance spectator tickets, as well as Sick Ward entries, are still available! CLICK HERE to visit the Sick Michigan Miles event page!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Mr. Fabulous Photography and Tom Kuepper.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com