This 1969 Camaro project had been sitting for a few years, but got back underway in September 2022 with the goal of participating in Rocky Mountain Race Week in 2023.

“We will compete in both Rocky Mountain Race Week and Race Week again. The goal is to take it all; the whole package: overall win, Unlimited class win, and the shootout.”

Combining two days of racing action, plus just shy of 200 miles of street driving and a car show, The Circuit is the brainchild of Drag-and-Drive.com’s own Michael Narx.

Rockingham Dragway has features not seen at most tracks, including a crossover bridge for the staging lanes, and a unique platform at the top of the left lane side grandstands, which was used during the NMCA / NMRA event for hosting a car show.

The new Factory X class, designed to bridge the gap between the NHRA’s current Factory Stock Showdown class and the Pro Stock class, has generated a lot of interest. That interest included Geoff Turk, who contracted B & B Race Cars to put the bigger, better and faster version of the original Blackbird Challenger together, the first Factory Stock Showdown car to clock a 7-second pass in competition.

With the Spring version of the Southeast Street-N-Yeet Presented by Motion Raceworks just completed, now the attention turns to the fall version of the popular North Carolina and South Carolina street and track event.

Take a desired supercar, the Lamborghini Gallardo, and swapping it with a Cummins twin-turbocharged diesel engine?

“The last time the (2001 Mustang) was out was in 2018.” Life happened, and with both brothers have families and kids, they decided to tear down the orange Mustang and focus on safety. “After 2022 Hot Rod Drag Week, I told Dave I was ready to wiggle our way up the Sick Week list, and it was time to resurrect the orange car.”

The show starts Friday at Mo-Kan Dragway, then Saturday will find the participants driving between 150 to 180 miles, with a car show or cruise night destination in mind. Sunday will bring the tour back to Mo-Kan Dragway for at least two more passes per participant.

“These events are the ultimate test of man and machine and that’s what drives me. The sense of accomplishment when you finish the week is SO satisfying!”

There are an increasing number of unique vehicles that attend drag-and-drive events, and Jaren Niewinski’s 1987 Chrysler Town and County wagon definitely fits the category.

With all the new technology and updates available in the performance and restoration market, it’s cool to see a build that sports old school looks and an engine bay to match.

From the struggles and initial growth, to expanding and quitting their day jobs to fully focus on the Street Car Takeover, and even the recent scare that might have stopped the series from continuing.

Rick got to experience and ride in the giveaway 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe while he was in Michigan for 2 days. But then he was faced with the ultimate decision: take the Tahoe, or the alternative fifteen-thousand dollars in cash?

“We only had two weeks notice for this event and honestly, it made us realize we prefer to go without a plan. No hotels, just camp out at the tracks and enjoy the adventure.”

With a 7-second car past it’s legal rollcage use, Ry Klemp was at a crossroads. “Rather than slow it down or relegate to eighth-mile only, I did what any sane person would. I tore apart a perfectly function 7 second street car to make a 6 second street car.”

Following the 2022 successful launch of Southeast Street-N-Yeet Presented by Motion Raceworks, Devin Vanderhoof and crew doubled up the Southeast Street-N-Yeet, adding a spring date and making it the second drag-and-drive of the 2023 season.

“Sarai Denney likes nostalgic things. So when the second Pinto popped up for sale, we thought ‘how cool would that be; a two-car Pinto team.’”
Orlando Speed World would play host for a side-by-side father versus daughter and Pinto-on-Pinto match-up.

Can Phil Gulledge complete a drag-and-drive this September? “My main goal is to finish obviously. But seeing a 6-second pass on the scoreboard and/or getting into the 200-mph club would be icing on the cake.”

Originally getting involved in racing behind the wheel in the 1960s and 1970s, Jerry Bickel went on to build cars for classes including Top Sportsman and Pro Mod, and built the classic Camaro models of current PDRA Pro Nitrous champion Jim Halsey, as well as 2021 NHRA Pro Mod world champion Jose Gonzalez.