Brian Hicks’s 1974 Challenger runs in the Outlaw 10.5 class.

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Mike Garland

Cordova Dragway Park has been in business almost 60 years and has had nearly every type of drag race ever imagined but on May 15 the fabled Illinois track held a race that featured a couple of firsts: They had the first ever street legal-type races the track has ever hosted and the management decided to reward their dedicated fans by offering them free tickets to the event. 

The event was the first time True Street Drag Racing has run a race outside of Great Lakes Dragway in Wisconsin and saw the biggest car count and fan attendance in True Street Drag Racing history at Cordova! 

The True Street Drag Racing (www.truestreetracing.com) heads-up racing series — both cars leave the line at the same time — offers nine drag car classes and three drag motorcycle classes that run distances of either 1/8 mile or 1/4 mile.

Almost 300 ”street legal” racers and bracket racers attended the event.

Chuck DeMory Jr took his 1968 Mustang into the finals in Nostalgia Pro Street with help of his dad, former Pro Stock racer Chuck DeMory Sr. He had Low ET of the class with a 7.39/181.72.

Final Results

Outlaw 10.5: Brian Hicks 1974 Challenger 7.195/167.70 mph defeated Jill Hicks 1998 Avenger 10.100/150.78 mph
True Street: Tom Oleson 1998 Camaro 8.132/159.00 defeated Mark Scaffiol 1992 Mustang 8.366/123.66 mph (Crashed at top end)
Quick Street: Brian Rohm 1985 Z28 Camaro 8.998/148.02 mph defeated Matt Mika 1985 Chevy 8.966/147.41 (Won a holeshot .017 RT vs .032 RT)
Hot Street: Donald Fenlon 1973 Chevy 10.280/131.60 mph defeated Nicole Priola 1967 Camaro 10.143/130.73
Open Comp: Jace Deering 1995 Corvette 14.127/94.21 mph defeated Ron Dykeman 95 Pontiac T/A 10.743/115.36
Super Street Bikes: Jack Gilbert 2008 Hayabusa 9.889/139.40 defeated Chris Singime 10.028/141.31
Real Street Bikes: Demetrios Giokaris 2000 Kawasaki defeated Steve Krach 2003 GSXR 10.307/130.96