On October 10 , over 200 racers and cruisers converged on Ozark Raceway Park , the starting point for this 1,300-mile journey . All were thrown into one class , with the singular goal of having the quickest average time over six eighth-mile race days , each at wildly different venues with varying track prep and altitude . Remember , this was a drag-and-drive event , so every single car was required to drive independently between tracks , without a support crew or hauler , using only what they could tow behind them on a single-axle trailer .
On day one , the contenders became clear . New York ’ s Jason Rousseau , who won Sick ’ s 2,000-mile Death Week epic last year , had a fresh LSX combo in his Chevy Malibu and delivered on day one with a 5.364 . Pennsylvania ’ s Rick Steinke was right behind with a 5.401 out of his Chevelle Malibu . Both drivers were safety limited to 5.35 , which opened the doors to two drivers who had a few more rollcage bars : Lamar Swindoll and
Brooks Flaherty . Swindoll ’ s nitrous big-block-powered Camaro had low five-second capabilities but had a horror first day as he could not find traction , having to settle for a 6.338 . Flaherty ’ s ratty Mustang handed in a 5.590 , enabling him to stay in touch with the leaders .
Swindoll struck back on day two at Mo-Kan Dragway with a 5.326 , but Rousseau and Steinke stayed right there with 5.382 and 5.413 times respectively . Swindoll needed to find tenths rather than hundredths to overcome the day one deficit .
He was again quickest at Tulsa Raceway Park with a 5.360 , and again it was only hundredths gained thanks to Rousseau ’ s 5.398 and Steinke ’ s 5.439 .
A drive day offered reprieve from the track as the field covered 290 miles of Route 66 on their way to Amarillo Dragway , where a strong crowd turned out to watch Rousseau stretch his lead with a 5.439 ,
Rick Steinke
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