Records are made to be broken, and that’s just what happened at the 19th annual Hot Rod Drag Week. Record setting performances and record-setting class victory counts came together in a week of great action, both on site and online.

Hot Rod Drag Week’s fourth day took competitors to Carolina Dragway, better known as the House of Hook, where traction was on tap under cloudy skies.

Drag-and-drive events have been proving naysayers wrong on ‘street car’ performances since Hot Rod Drag Week started in 2005. One of Drag Week’s classes is Street Race Small Block Power-Adder; Dustin Trance and his Mustang may be on the verge of history.

Beautiful Bristol Dragway in Tennessee was the battleground for day three of Hot Rod Drag Week, with 250 of America’s quickest real street cars rolling through into the scenic venue.

In the case of drag-and-drive, the Did Not Finish list is a dreaded one. With three days completed, the list has swelled to 35 competitors either watching from the sidelines, or have packed up and returned back to Darlington Dragway to start their journey home.

Justin’s Performance Center (JPC) is no stranger to building some quick cars. In fact, the Maryland-based shop owner Justin Burcham participated in the very first Hot Rod Drag Week, averaging 10.75 in a silver 2005 Ford Mustang.

Rockingham Dragway’s new racing surface delivered best-ever times for a significant number of competitors during day two of Hot Rod Drag Week, before they ventured into the mountains for a challenging drive.

This 1985 Chevrolet Camaro has seen plenty of street miles during its time on the popular television show ‘Street Outlaws.’ Now, it is getting a new lease on life for debut on the drag-and-drive side.

Tom Bailey holds the number one position at Hot Rod Drag Week 2023 following a tricky day of competition at Darlington Dragway.

“I want a true daily driver. Something that’s quiet, reliable and easy to drive. I want to be able to stick my mom or sister in it and let them go run errands in it, then when it’s time to take it to the track, go run a 4 second pass.”

It’s Sunday September 17th – official Check-in and Tech Day of Hot Rod Drag Week! Social Media has been abuzz with both familiar and new rides headed for Hartsville, South Carolina and the start of Hot Rod Drag Week: Darlington Dragway.

“First time I watched (a drag-and-drive) in person was Hot Rod Drag Week 2019. I’ve watched the live streams since 2011, and always called them my ‘workplace productivity reduction week.’”

A built engine allowed the power potential to be turned up, with the car in full street trim on 25 psi of boost, the Dynojet returned 1350 RWHP. With the exhaust and air filters removed, and boost numbers set to 40 psi, the Dynojet returned a mark of 1654 RWHP!

“I’m working both angles right now. I’ve got Drag Week coming, and then Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0 right behind it. It’s been seven years since I’ve done a drag-and-drive as a driver. As much as I’m thinking about as a promoter, I’m trying to shut that off for a week and enjoy being a competitor again.”

Matthew Stutzman, a record holder and gold medalist in archery, has recently jumped into the world of drag racing. Recently, Stutzman guided a first-gen supercharged Camaro into the 4-second range at Central Illinois Dragway, and he did it driving with his feet!

Tom Bailey is bringing Sick Seconds 1.0 back to Hot Rod Drag Week for the tenth anniversary of its first win.

Roy Hill of Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School. Hill, a former National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock racer, is tasked with teaching Mike Rowe how to drag race.

The latest car to roll out is Stephen Bell’s Ford Mustang, coming from the Larry Jeffers Race Cars shop in Missouri. There’s also record-level performance run reported from Kentucky!

“Our very first quarter mile hit and it almost went sevens. “I was over the moon and super hopeful for the week. It was such an emotional roller coaster.”