Sick Week 2023-The Ultimate Drag and Drive Event

Drag and drive events are popping up all over the country as their popularity skyrockets right now, and for good reason. Where else can you race competitively at NHRA sanctioned dragstrips and then hit the road in the very same car you just raced for a cruise of several hours to the next day’s race venue, all while hitting various checkpoints and being cheered along the route by enthusiasts. Where every gas stop is an impromptu car show, and where at the end of the week everyone can’t wait until it happens again next year. It can only be called the craziest week you’ll experience all year.

Sick Week is the brain child of Tom Bailey. Tom is a veteran of drag and drive events, having taken home the Unlimited Class honors at Hot Rod’s Drag Week event five times over the years. His “Sick Seconds” Camaro is the quickest and fastest street car, running 5.70s at nearly 260 mph! Like many other drag and drive events, Sick Week is comprised of five different race tracks where the competitors must drive their street legal cars to each event (no trailers or support vehicles of any kind) over the course of five days. That’s one track each day with checkpoints in between where competitors must stop for specific photos to prove they’re driving their race cars.

Sick Week, now in its second year, is once again crisscrossing Florida in early February. Frankly, there aren’t too many dragstrips that are even open in February and Tom Bailey felt Florida’s tracks, weather, and driving roads, make it the perfect location for his event. Testing and registration started on Sunday, February 12th at Orlando Speed World, with Day 1 on Monday at the same location. Day 2 saw action at Bradenton Motorsports Park, while Day 3 was the longest haul to South Georgia Motorsports Park just past the state line. Day 4 saw the competitors (of which there were several hundred!) race the famous Gainesville Raceway, home of the Gatornationals, and finally end back at Orlando Speed World for the culmination of the event on Day 5.

Sick Week is comprised of several classes to allow just about anything on four wheels to compete. From dedicated stick shift and 275 drag radial classes, to the all-out Unlimited category where 6 second cars are the norm. Each competitor is required to make at least one pass at each race track to stay in competition (plus the mandatory checkpoint photo op that is posted to social media). Obviously, the higher the horsepower and more track focused these street cars are, the more carnage happens in these classes. We’re not lying when we’re talking Pro Mod level of race car here with lights and a license plate stuck on it. Parts breakage is a real occurrence and while the single axle trailers competitors use often house their tools, small spares, and their slicks, real breakage often means a late night and overnighted parts to make it to the next day’s location.

We had the opportunity to hang out track side on Day 2 at Bradenton Motorsports Park and catch some of the action from behind the lens of our trusty Canon and chat with a few participants, some that have come from as far as Sweden (we saw license plates from all over the U.S. and Canada) to compete. Have a look at the action and be sure to hit Sick the Mag for full details on next year’s Sick Week if you’re considering bringing something out to compete. It’s a crazy good time with hundreds of your closest friends! Get your car ready now with the parts you need to be ready for Sick Week 2024!