Michael Westberg’s Chevy S10 from Day 1 of HOT ROD Drag Week 2022
There are about a dozen different drag and run events around the world and one of the longest running competitions is Sweden’s Street Week. We’ve seen several Swedish drivers cross the pond for eBay Motors Power’s HOT ROD Drag Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, so a strong Swedish presence before a pandemic is not unusual. The latest to do so is two-time winner Michael Westberg and his turbocharged S10 pick-up.
The S10-caught Max Outlaw wins in 2019 and 2021 and has run a best of 6.62 at over 200 mph, fast enough for him and his team to take aim at Drag Week for the first time. The truck was shipped to the US and delivered to his longtime friend and famous small tire racing driver Mikael Borggren. You may recognize the name as the owner/driver of the 1987 6-second Volvo wagon, which last won Small tire category during Roadkill Nights. It came with a note that pretty much said, “Fix the engine for Drag Week.”
Borggren must have done a pretty good job because Westberg’s first official race run resulted in a career-best 6.53 at 212 mph. He is currently second overall after the first of five days, which begins and ends at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.
The truck has a tube chassis and rolls into the street car party at nearly 2,700 pounds thanks to a lightweight combination of small blocks under the hood. The LS small-block displaces 400ci and is pumped up by a pair of Precision 80mm turbochargers. The car is easily converted to street tuning by adding a set of truck tires, complete with thick threads in case they encounter rain, and a pump throttle adjustment in the EFI system.
While the on-track performance wowed the crowd, Westberg’s street ride made him sweat, literally and figuratively. The truck had no problem winning at Street Week in Sweden, but the humidity in the US Midwest started to take its toll on the cooling system. Excessive water temperatures forced the team to stop several times on their drive to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Thankfully, late-day rumors suggest Westberg and his S10 made it to the second stop and are preparing for Tuesday’s race.
HOT ROD Drag Week 2022 Coverage!
HOT ROD Drag Week is the ultimate test of street-legal drag racing cars: not only must competitors compete at four different tracks over five consecutive days, they must drive their race car between each location on specified routes, with photo checkpoints, that average over 1,000 miles during the week. Additionally, racers can only use the tools and parts they can carry in their car or in their optional trailer – towed by the race car. Go to MotorTrend YouTube Channel to see each day’s live stream (and replays)!