The LS engine swap is almost assumed or commonplace on lots of rides these days, although the Ford Coyote and Mopar’s modern HEMI drivelines are starting to gain favor as well.

“Our goal was to have the car ready for Sick Week 2023,” Mike Pryka said. But when delays arose, they dropped back to plan B: Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes, not too far from Michael Pryka’s Bartlett, Illinois home base.

“I have followed the drag-and-drive scene since the start of Hot Rod Drag Week, so I have a pretty good understanding of how they work. It's time to put the rubber to the road, and I was so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in an event like this.”

Although the 2023 season is just past the halfway point, Bryan Crane already has plans for next season. “We may look to do another drag-and-drive this year, but Sick Summer 2024 is already a go for next year without a doubt.”

It’s not uncommon for a child to follow in a parent’s footsteps and enjoy one of their passions. For Doug Nejdl, he decided to share his first drag-and-drive experience with his son Wyatt at Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes.

It started one week ago in Nebraska at Kearney Raceway Park, as the 2023 edition of Rocky Mountain Race Week (RMRW) kicked off seven days of racing and street driving for the competitors, as well as the Road Week participants.

Jason Hurley and “The Meltdown Firebird” could be on their way to a second-straight RMRW Unlimited class win. All that stands between them and staging the car to secure the victory is a 425-mile drive back to Kearney Raceway Park.

Coming into the 2023 season, time slips in the low 5-second range would put you at the top of the sheet in Rocky Mountain Race Week’s Rowdy Radial class. That all changed on day four of the event at Pueblo Motorsports Park.  

“I've been racing since I was sixteen, and this style is by far the most fun and challenging. You feel a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards, no matter how you do.”

“With drag-and-drive, I don’t care if I’m competitive or not. I do it for the adventure. I don’t want a dedicated to anything car. This gives me the ability to go make passes and drive all around our beautiful country.”

Rocky Mountain Race Week is underway out west, with 337 racers taking on a sweltering first day in Kearney, Nebraska as America’s second oldest drag-and-drive event got underway.

The class is scheduled to compete for a NHRA championship later in the year, with Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge models all expected to compete.

There’s almost always a feel-good story, a thrash story that comes out right, and how someone manages to beat the odds and complete a drag-and-drive event.

Starting in 2015, Rocky Mountain Race Week has combined once of the more scenic routes in drag-and-drive events with challenging race conditions at some storied race tracks.

Not long after the verdict came down allowing the land Palm Beach International Raceway is on to be redeveloped to warehouses, rumors started circulating that plans for a new racing facility could be possible in Palm Beach County.

“I like seeing parts of the country most never see. It’s lots of different race tracks, and racing with the best 8.50 racers in the world. My best friends are from this.” - Tim Flanders of why he continues to participate in drag-and-drive events.

The 2023 season for drag-and-drive events is starting to heat up, as less than ten days after the completion of Sick Summer, three more drag-and-drive specific events have been completed, in three different countries!

“I grew up with my father driving his 1966 Chevelle to a circle track 30 miles away,” Larry said. “He would get the track, take out all the glass, headlights, taillights, change tires and race. After the race he would put it back together again, and drive it home. So, I guess maybe that is what appeals to me about drag-and-drives.”

After months of searching, a replacement ‘57 Chevy wagon was found, ironically in a similar color to its predecessor. The “Deuce Box” it would be christened, and the build was on.

The movie Dead Poets Society gives us the quote “Carpe diem. Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” For some, seizing the day has come in the form of participation in a drag-and-drive event in 2023.