SICK WEEK 2024

first day . Lutz struggled with the tight track prep , having to settle for a 6.934 and losing his overall lead to LaSala , who set the world record once again with a 6.294 pass . The day also proved positive for Sweden ’ s Stefan Gustafsson , as the 2022 Sick Week champ got down the track with a quick 6.498 pass .

The show moved on to Gainesville Raceway , but first , racers had to check in at the brand-new Motor Enclave track in Tampa before heading over to the Florida-famous Coney Island Drive- Inn in Brooksville , where gator dogs and boiled peanuts were on the menu .

Gainesville ’ s track conditions typically favor the slick-tire cars , and Lutz was able to claw back some time to LaSala , with Lutz ’ s 6.298 gaining on LaSala ’ s 6.495 . LaSala still held the overall lead , but the 5-second potential of Lutz ’ s street-legal Pro Mod meant nothing was certain .

A short 140-mile drive to South Georgia Motorsports Park set up day four . Lutz had spent the previous afternoon freshening up his motor with new internals , but disaster struck when an oil pump issue caused new damage on a 6.315 pass . LaSala made another world record run , easing down to a 6.290 . Later that night , word

came through that Lutz was pulling out .

“ We have struggled pretty hard ,” Lutz said . “ We ’ ve had mechanical issues non-stop . Our first pass here at Valdosta the mandrel broke , which runs the oil pump , so everything we did last night got screwed in one run today . There are multiple issues . I am sad to say Sick Week

2024 kicked my ass .”

LaSala still had to make the drive back to Orlando Speed World . The day four route was the longest of the week , stretching to 276 miles . The Mustang was flawless and LaSala made a clean hit early in the day to lock in the title , his first overall Sick Week victory . But the Orlando local

22 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 187