Sick Summer and Beyond: Your Guide to The Summer’s Best Drag ‘n Drive Events

As PEAK Squad’s Emily Reeves puts it, “Drag ‘n Drive events are a must-see if you’re interested in racing.”

Right now, some of your favorite PEAK Squad members are gearing up for the summer’s best Drag ‘n Drive events — and they’re sharing insider tips to make the most out of your visit to the tracks. 

Find out more about Drag ‘n Drive and how you can follow along this summer. 

What is Drag ‘n Drive? 

During Drag ‘n Drive events, racers compete at five different tracks over the course of five days, traversing hundreds (or even thousands) of miles along the way.

You might already be familiar with the drag component. Drivers and their crews work year-round to convert their street cars into high-powered racing vehicles. At each track, drivers will push their cars to the limit trying to beat their personal best run, and spectators watch in awe as racers hit breakneck speeds. 

Then comes the driving. After each event, drivers must remove their cars’ slicks (racing tires) and replace them with street tires.Their teams pack up all of their gear and equipment and drive their cars along designated backroads to the next track, stopping at checkpoints to take pictures and get credit for the drive.

“It’s doing something that the car shouldn’t be doing,” says PEAK Squad’s Alex Taylor, who got her racing start at Drag Week. "Normally, you have a racecar that you pull in and out of the trailer, and you don’t get to enjoy it. With Drag ‘n Drive, you get to cruise for hundreds of miles with your co-pilot and have the best conversations before you pull into the track to race. It’s just five days of living the ultimate dream.”

An Endurance Challenge

At the heart of it, Drag ‘n Drive events are about “watching people overcome adversities,” says Emily. “These are not just plush race events,” she explains. “They are endurance events. These guys and gals are working so hard to even finish these events — not even go fast, just to finish them is an achievement. It's a huge accomplishment.”

As drivers rush to prep their cars for the next leg of the race, it’s not uncommon to see people lending a helping hand to their fellow competitors, a testament to the community that’s formed around the Drag ‘n Drive circuit. “You are standing together to help each other finish,” says Emily. “You’re being offered parts, you're being offered help, and the other way around.” 

“It's a magical event because of the persistence of the racers,” she continues. “The whole racing industry takes a ton of persistence and diligence and money and time. But when you put it into a week-long event where you're going track to track and you're racing your car every day and then you have to drive it on the street and you have to carry all of your equipment, it's like all of that condensed into a week.” 

While it originated in 2004, Drag ‘n Drive has exploded in popularity in recent years. Since 2017, over 50 new events have been created, drawing huge crowds from every walk of life. Drivers and fans alike are drawn to the events because there’s nothing else like it in racing. You get to experience the thrill of high-speeds and top performance, combined with the fun and bonding of a cross-country roadtrip. 

What is the fan experience?

As a spectator, you get to take part in the caravan of racers and fans heading to the next track, all while taking in the beauty of America’s small towns and country roads. Pro tip from Emily Reeves: Don’t miss out on the driving portion of the event. 

“If you’re a first-timer, consider cruising along with all of the racers from one track to the next,” she says. “You’ll see racers along the side of the road, racers at gas stations, racers helping each other. A portion of the event is racing, but a large piece of that puzzle is the drive. Consider going to one of the checkpoints along the route and camping out to watch all the racers pull through.” 

And once you arrive at the track, the party begins. These events have all the trappings of fun summer festivals, complete with music, merch stands, and bar set ups — but with one defining feature that makes Drag ‘n Drive so popular among car enthusiasts. 

Spectators can wander through the pits, meeting racers and talking to the crews as they prepare for their runs. This is a rare opportunity to really connect with your favorite drivers (or get to know newbies that are quickly rising in the ranks), watch the action up-close, and maybe even get your merch signed.

Before you make the trip, make sure to follow along with all of your favorite drivers, including the PEAK Squad, on social media. You’ll see all the behind-the-scenes prep work and get to know the story behind each car, so seeing them in action will be even more fun. 

“Take the chance and come out and get involved,” says Alex. “Ask questions and walk the pits. You’re going to get addicted and want to go on one yourself.”

Here are some of the summer’s can’t-miss drag ‘n drive events:

Hot Rod Power Tour: June 9-13

You can thank Hot Rod magazine for inventing Drag ‘n Drive — and for adding another exciting event to your calendar. This year’s Hot Rod Power Tour is starting in Indianapolis and taking fans through Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan before closing out in Ohio. 

Drive the route as part of the Hot Rod Rolling Car Show and enjoy the picturesque views that the team carefully selected for the race. Then, check out live music and drag racing at each stop. Did we mention that spectator entry is free? 

Sick Summer: June 15-20

Sick the Mag played a major role in expanding Drag ‘n Drive, and Sick Summer will be one of the can’t-miss events of the season.

Sick Summer is taking racers and spectators on a tour of the Midwest, a nod to some of the biggest Drag ‘n Drive events of years past. Sick describes their event as “half party and half racing.” With shorter routes between each track, visitors will have even more time to enjoy the festivities. 

The PEAK Squad will be out in full force. Alex Taylor will be racing at the event, and Emily Reeves will be hosting the live event coverage on FRDM+. 

The Great Race: July 21-29

In it for the long haul? This is the race for you. 

The Great Race takes drivers and fans all the way from Minnesota to South Carolina.The event kicks off from the Back to the Fifties Weekend in St. Paul and traverses 10 states. This one is all about nostalgia. Only cars built before 1974 are eligible to compete, and the event has included cars built as early as 1907! 

The Great Race isn’t about hitting top speeds but rather focuses on endurance and mental agility, especially when driving long distances in vintage and antique vehicles. Instead of vying for the fastest time, drivers aim to arrive at each checkpoint at their exact assigned time — so precision is everything. 

Look out for PEAK Squad member, 19-year-old Riley Schlick of Riley’s Rebuilds, who’s hitting the road for the Great Race this year. She fell in love with classic cars at age 13, and is now joining the Great Race as one of the youngest competitors. 

Drive along with the Great Race or catch them at one of their many checkpoints this summer! 

Woodward Dream Cruise: August 16

Take part in history during the 30th annual Woodward Dream Cruise, a one-day driving event that draws nearly 40,000 cars from around the world. 

Starting at 9 am, car enthusiasts in classic cars, muscle cars, and custom builds cruise on Michigan’s first highway through several communities before arriving in Detroit to continue celebrating the American automobile industry. 

No classic car? No problem. Anyone can cruise along and take it all in! 

Hot Rod Drag Week: September 14-19

Close out the summer with the event that started it all, and just celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024! The OG Drag ‘n Drive event returns as the weather starts to turn cool.

Drag Week is extra special for Alex Taylor, because it’s where she got her start in racing. At just 16, Alex took her 1968 Camaro to Drag Week with her mom as co-pilot, and the rest is history. On her love for Drag Week, Alex says “It's got a different feel to it because they're the one that initially set the rules, set the stage, and set the landscape for Drag ‘n Drive as we know it today.”

This year’s event explores the mid-Atlantic, with routes passing through Maryland and Pennsylvania, and many of your favorite PEAK Squad drag racers will be competing. 

Ready to experience the fun of Drag ‘n Drive alongside the racers? See you at the tracks!