If you’ve ever wanted to race your car down the dragstrip, then drive it hundreds of miles—just to do it again the next day—Drag & Drive events are for you. These grueling, multi-day competitions push both driver and machine to their absolute limits. And while horsepower wins races, reliability wins Drag & Drive.
Before you hit the road for SICK Week, Race Week, or Summit Midwest Drags, proper prep is the difference between finishing strong or watching from the sidelines. SICK The Magazine is packed with expert insights from racers who have learned these lessons the hard way.
To help you get started, here’s how to prep for your first Drag & Drive event—starting with the most important part: protecting your engine.
1. Choose the Right Oil—Because Drag & Drive is Pure Engine Abuse
Your engine isn’t just dealing with wide-open throttle blasts—it’s also enduring hundreds of highway miles, cold starts, and extreme heat cycles. That’s why choosing the right oil is priority #1 for surviving a Drag & Drive event.
Many racers, even vets like Cleetus McFarland, learned the hard way that their usual oil wasn’t up to the task. At a recent event, he experienced pressure loss mid-race—only to find that one bottle of Driven Racing Oil’s GP-1 solved the problem.
Why? Because GP-1 is built for extreme endurance racing:
✅ Enhanced Part Surface Cling – Stays on metal surfaces longer, reducing startup wear after long cooldowns.
✅ Fixes Pressure Loss – The unique base oil restores oil pressure where others fail.
✅ Resists Cylinder Washout – Perfect for Methanol and Ethanol setups, preventing fuel dilution from wrecking lubrication.
Don’t let oil be your weak link. When you’re pushing your car to the edge, GP-1 keeps your engine alive.
2. Know the Rules & Plan Your Route
Before you even touch a wrench, study the rulebook for your event. Every Drag & Drive has specific class rules, fuel regulations, and trailer restrictions. The last thing you want is to show up unprepared and risk disqualification.
SICK The Magazine is an incredible resource, breaking down what’s required at events like SICK Week so you can plan ahead.
You’ll also need to map out the street-driving sections—some routes stretch hundreds of miles. Your cooling system, fuel range, and street manners all need to be dialed in before you take the starting line.
3. Upgrade Your Cooling System (Or Overheat on the Side of the Road)
Drag passes are brutal, but the long-haul street driving is just as punishing. If your cooling system isn’t up to the task, your weekend will be spent on the shoulder of the highway instead of at the track.
✅ Upgrade to a high-capacity radiator & oil cooler
✅ Use a high-flow water pump to keep coolant moving
✅ Run a thermostat that works for both racing and highway cruising
4. Bring Spares & Tools (Because Breakdowns Happen)
Even the best-built cars experience failures. The racers who bring spare parts and tools are the ones who finish strong.
🔧 Belts, hoses, and clamps – Heat cycles will expose weak spots.
⚙️ Axles, U-joints, and wheel bearings – Hard launches destroy weak drivetrain parts.
🔩 A tuning laptop & extra spark plugs – You’ll be tweaking your setup constantly.
5. Learn from the Pros & Follow the Fastest Racers
The best way to prepare? Learn from those who have done it before.
SICK The Magazine follows the fastest and most consistent Drag & Drive racers, giving you an inside look at winning setups, fuel strategies, and engine tuning tips.
And when it’s time to hit the track, run what the pros trust—Driven Racing Oil’s GP-1. Because in Drag & Drive racing, the right oil is the difference between finishing strong and loading up early.