An 800-dollar investment is all it took to get Adam Malleck the keys to this 1969 GMC C1500 pick-up truck. “Someone used medical tape to spell out “Party Wagon” on the glove box. Wish I knew the story behind that; I’m sure it’s a good one!”

In recent years, the drag-and-drive community has grown by leaps and bounds, and this weekend, eight of the quickest street-legal drag-and-drive rides were invited to be a part of the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Chicago’s Route 66 Raceway.

John Mccuddin’s racing experience has shown him that times aren’t slowing down. So he’s making the move to give drag-and-drive a shot. “I’m just testing the waters. I want to do drag-and-drive events because the cost to be fast in my area is getting too high. But I still want to compete against others with the same affliction as me.”

When Michael Lennarson got to his tipping point with a 2004 Mustang Cobra he didn’t want to cut up, an alternative plan needed to happen. The search for a blank canvas started, and despite one speed bump, Michael ended up with this 1987 Ford Mustang.

For those that enjoy classic 1950-1970 muscle cars, there are several classes and events to see them raced. The Pure Stock and Factory Stock classes are heavily restricted to keep cars as they would have been off the showroom floor. The FAST class is a different story, just how quick a correct-appearing muscle car could actually run on period-correct design and size poly-glas tires.

This Dodge D100 step side pick-up truck has been a part of Nicholas Wietor’s life for many years, and has served everything from racing to daily driver status… the truck made its drag-and-drive debut at the 2023 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.

After watching drag-and-drive event coverage on YouTube, Kesler Soucie decided to enter Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes to compete in his first drag-and-drive. “I love the idea of proving that a car is a true street car,” he said. “The camaraderie of driving hundreds of miles together in a big group of hot rods.”

The G-body GM cars (named for the frame design they used) have been a popular choice for race and street cars since the platform was first introduced in 1978. But compared to the other brands, the Pontiac Grand Prix is the model rarely seen.

The fifth drag-and-drive of the season, Carolina Drag Cruise, started with racing action on Thursday May 11th at Greer Dragway in Greer, South Carolina, and got wrapped up at Shadyside Dragway in Shelby, North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

As equally cool to a Mustang as the Fairmont is, the 1979 model you see here is sporting a unique powerplant; in fact, we might even call it a Sick-ishly Freaky one.

Jeremy Ortiz’s 240 is well known to Street Car Takeover events in the Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio over the last few years, as he has successfully grabbed several first-place finishes in their ‘Street Racer Mild’ class. Now, Jeremy is looking to jump into the world of drag-and-drive.

“I love the idea of drag-and-drive events because its different from your traditional drag racing. I love how strategic you have to be about everything…. It’s not just pull your car to the track, race, and go home.”

“I've been following Hot Rod Drag Week for years, but it was always so far away. Sick Week being in Florida, and my home track being Bradenton, I figured if I don’t do this, I never will.”

Carolina Drag Cruise incorporates three days of racing with a separate cruise day from Thursday May 11th through Sunday May 14th, touring through North Carolina South Carolina.

With the first-ever Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes less than a month away, Sick Summer competitors and Sick Ward participants are gearing up for a week of drag-and-drive excitement!

Although Sick Summer marks the first time the Godzilla Fairmont will participate in a drag-and-drive event, the car has already seen some local racing events to get some shakedown time. “This will be my very first drag-and-drive, and the main goal is to survive the week.”

The expansion of drag-and-drive events in recent years has allowed hundreds of new entries to participate. And with Sick Week taking place in Florida and Georgia early in the year, it brings a balanced mix of drag-and-drive veterans and new competitors as well.

“Drag-and-drive appeals to me because I don't need to put the car in a trailer and take it to a track to enjoy it. I drive my son to school in it, and my wife Melissa loves to take it out to dinner.”

A family friend said he had an old Willys in his backyard that he would sell to me for one thousand dollars. I said yes, then had to Google what a Willys truck actually was.

“The driving from track to track and making your junk make it, you build it, you know it, and you build it to go fast on your budget. Also, seeing and supporting tracks, all the small towns, back roads, and America.”