Backbone of Drag and Drive Part 13: Built in a Garage, Proven on the Road
I would venture to say that nearly every one of us could point to places and times in our lives that were so significant that they now stand as mile markers for our journey. Points of inflection. Moments we may not have realized at the time were going to have profound impacts on our future. Like that day in grade school when you met a lifelong friend, The first time you fell in love, and subsequently had your heart broken. The first job. The first time you drove a car. Moments you hope to never forget. When we look back we see the version of us that was before and the version that we became after. For me my first drag and drive event was one of those moments. It’s hard to describe why certain things connect with us but one thing is for sure, when they do.. everyone knows it. In 2019 this same sort of experience grabbed a hold of this weeks “backbone of drag and drive” racer. I once heard it said that “passion is proven in pursuit” and I believe it to be true. For Mike Turner, that experience at Drag Week 2019 was a turning point. And once Mike wheeled his 70 dart swinger in this direction he’s never looked back, unless it’s been to see his competitors in his rear view mirror. His A body Dodge has been a consistent performer at 19 events and counting, and as I write this Mike is midway through Sick Summer 2026. I met Mike briefly in the staging lanes at Knoxville raceway during Sick Smokies last fall. My first “old car” was a 69 dart and I still have a soft spot for square’ish mopars so I was looking his over and we visited for a few minutes waiting on our turn to run. One thing I picked up on in that short encounter was that Mike is in this deal for one reason. He flat loves it! And he don’t care who knows it. In fact he does everything he can to make sure everyone does. His exploits on the track and the roads between are well documented on his YouTube channel (SHOP DOG Fabrication) for all to see. And if you watch you will see that he’s definitely not afraid to put some passes on that lil small block 360. And .. it keeps coming back for more. What’s more, this set up seems simple enough to be found at any local cruise in but Mikes relentless pursuit of 1 tenth at a time has him running 10’s. No small achievement for a car and driver that have covered as many miles in every form of weather as Mike and his understated dart. If your looking for a prime example of choosing a lane and running it out, look no further. And if you want to know what it takes to become “the Backbone of Drag and Drive” ask Mike. He’s living it right now.
Where are you from/live?
Parents were in the military but Michigan has mainly been our home base.
What made you start racing?
My cousin was into Mopars growing up and I had a college room mate that raced. I had a 4 eye Mustang that I built in Illinois in my garage when we lived there and raced it for a while when the kids were young, then my son got into baseball and travel ball, high school ball. Sold the Mustang when the baseball all started and hung up racing for 10-12 years.
Who inspired you to build a hot rod?
I guess myself, actually restored a 65 Mustang and then decided to build my current car a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger. I’ve always been a hands on person, so I decided to build a car to go to the track once in a while to have some fun, but then discovered drag n drive.
First Race and Where?
1st ever race was a sportsman bracket race at a night of fire event at Milan, Mi dragstrip, I went 4 rounds at my 1st ever bracket race. I didn’t win but had a great time and earned my entry fee back. This was way before kids ever happened. That car happened to be a 1970 Cutlass Supreme with a SBC, small cam, intake, headers, carb very basic.
What was your first car?
1977 Monte Carlo all stock 350, then I picked up a 1975 Camaro that had a inline 6, not enough HP so pulled the engine and trans out of the Monte Carlo.
What was your first Drag and drive style event?
The OG event, 2019 Hot Rod Drag week, starting out at VMP. Saw it was a thing in 2017 or 2018 so I made it a goal to get the car done and attend it. Day 1 was a one and done for everyone due to rain, made my pass and didn’t realize my trans cable wasn’t right so used a zip tie to try and increase line pressure, we left the track and had no 2nd gear, stopped a mile out of the gate from VMP and found had a big front main leak due to plugged valve cover vent and removed the zip tie and we finished the week, burned up 2nd gear but man what a great time. Was able to watch Tom Bailey run the 5.99 on the final pass of the event.
What vehicle?
1970 Dodge Dart Swinger
What's your PB and how/when did that happen?
10.69 at Cecil County, during Drag Week 2025, track conditions were good, finally upgraded to a progressive nitrous controller, and threw in a tune and let it eat.
Unlimited budget..what are you building?
Man, tough one. I love the 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback or a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda, although I am in the process of building a 1967 Pontiac GTO that will have a LS 5.3 all aluminum engine, TH400, ford 9”, turbo car.
Favorite car movie?
American Graffiti
Favorite music for cruising?
Depends on the mood, mostly country music but sometimes no music at all, just the sound of the road and nature.
Favorite road trip snacks?
Can never go wrong with beef jerky.
For the story, tell us about your best/favorite event
- 2023 Hot Rod Drag Week, First time running nitrous so I didn’t have to run in the slowest grouping, ended up as we went along being just outside the top 32 for the street machine eliminator, each day ran a little better, started with 100 shot, then moved to 125 shot, by the last day 150 shot all right off the hit and no nitrous controller. The night before at the hotel we hacked off the exhaust system to reduce weight, I ended up being the 32nd car. I suck at bracket racing and 1st round in the shoot out I cut a terrible light, but the other guy was worse and broke out, then I started cutting descent lights .03-.07 each round after that, then met a camaro in the finals where he had started out in jr dragsters and been a bracket racer for a long time. Beat him on the tree and ran me down but we had no idea who won, there was no light at the end of the track to tell you who won/loss. So until you got your timeslip you had no idea. When I got that final slip I was screaming in the car. (Mike came through the pits so excited that he slammed on the brakes when he saw me and a group of racers, you could see and hear the excitement. It was AWESOME - Mike Narx
Event Average: 11:05
vehicle at that event? The 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger
Powertrain Combo at time of Event: stock 360 short block, cam, edelbrock heads, dual plane intake. 750 vac sec carb and nitrous
Transmission & Rear Gear: 904 trans with 3500 stall converter and 8 ¾ rear with 3.3 gears
Power Adder: NX Express nitrous system
Tires: Mickey Thompson Pro Bracket radials (things will hook up on a gravel road)
History of that race car/truck: Purchased it after sitting for over 20 years as a rolling shell, built the entire car myself, engine, trans, rear end, roll cage, paint and body work (yea I suck at it) you name it I do my own work
How long you’ve had it? 10 years now
How many races have you attended in this vehicle? I’ve not done 18 drag n drive events with only 1 DNF
Why did you build this car? To be different and not be the ice cream cruiser, something to enjoy and have a good time in.
Any maintenance required from all the passes? Always do a nut and bolt check after every event, inspecting u joints, oil changes, transmission services, tires, wiring enhancements, its always a work in progress and never finished.
What are 1-2 struggles from the week? During 2023 the only struggle was day 0 at VMP it absolutely poured and the car was sitting in a low spot in 6” of water, pushed it out of the water to make sure engine was good and everything was alright. Otherwise just getting turned around a few times during the cruise was the biggest struggle.
Plans for events this year? Already completed in Mickey Thompson Turn and Burn finished 2nd in DYO, won the 7.50 index class at Drop the Hammer. Attending SIck Summer, Big Sky, HRDW, and Sick 66, who knows maybe sneak in one more event.
Which vehicle? 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger
Goals? Have fun, help others, meet others and make life long friendships. I’ve met people that we’ve kept in contact with by random chance and we just hit it off. Keep in touch and hang out when doing the events we happen to be at. Random texts or calls to see how a build is going or asking for advice. It’s cool to know people from Queens NY, Nashville TN, Canadian Yukon, Pittsburgh, Kansas, Arkansas, and the UK as examples.
Any changes or upgrades planned? Over this past winter added a fiberglass hood, rear leaf spring sliders, rewired nitrous, all new MSD ultra plus ignition, repainted the car, fixed wiring, and a whole lot more
Bucketlist Race or Event?
Some future events I’d like to do is Street N Yeet, go back to The Circuit, Buckeye Skips, a bucket list race I am going to this year will be Big Sky Race Week (in Montana).
Mike Turner is an incredible example of striving for excellence with what you have. He’s built a cool car, that sounds great, looks good and absolutely works. Let’s take a look at his Drag Week 2023 runs.
He starts the week at 11.281. Day Two was a big swing (probably from the extra nitrous, lol) to a 10.903, his quickest drag and drive pass until that point. Day Three was a bit of a struggle and he slipped back to an 11.288. Day Four was a better day at 10.919. But, Day Five would reset his PB up to that point, with a 10.867.
Street Machine Eliminator class at Hot Rod Drag Week runs a 32 car Bracket Race to end the week. Being in the 32 Quickest cars of a class with 100+ entries is one of the most prestigious accomplishments for the “Slow Cars”. The SME class has a 10.00 Minimum, which means the racing in the Bracket Race is CLOSE. And we all know that drag and drive racers aren’t necessarily the best at cutting lights, mainly because we don’t have to…. All an event cares about is our Elapsed Time to make it down the ⅛ or ¼ mile.
Mike made it through a list of heavy hitter, veteran Drag Week Bracket Race competitors, like Jay Grabiak, Geoff Dugapolski, David Fontaine, Nick Cryer, Dale Gebhart, Mike Rymarz, and many more.
Another fun story is his honorary acceptance into the Rymarz family because he is such an awesome person. The Rymarz family gave us some history on how all of it began, plus some other great stories….
“The whole process started at Sick Summer ‘23. Mike Turner and his daughter, Paige, decided to park and set up camp next to us and we became fast friends. Per Mike Turner, “We talked, pitted next to each other, travelled together all week, and had a blast. From then on we’ve hung out at Sick Week and Sick Summers and had a great time. We have a good time keeping in touch through texts, calls and ribbings that happen. That and they keep me fed during the week.” We basically became like family. At Sick Summer ‘24, we made it official by writing on the back window of Mike Turner’s car that he was adopted by the Rymarz family. Jim and Mike just hit it off and are still friends to this day. I'm pretty sure they talk at least once a week. Mike is just an all around good guy who would do anything to help any one. Mike has a goof sense of humor and almost always a has a funny story to tell and a lot of laughs to share. Cole and Jace’s (Jim and DeNichole’s sons) favorite stories were of Dale bringing them sweet treats for their graduation. Dale gave Cole My Little Pony snacks and had a cake made that said “Jace, Congratulations High School Survived You”.”
And I know you are asking why they call him Dale…… DeNichole also sent, “Oh and for context. We call him Dale because his daughter Paige called him that at the 1st Sick summer. It wasn’t until close to the end that we found out his real name was Mike. His daughter called him by his middle name because she said it drew less attention than if she yelled dad or Mike because at those events there are a ton of Mikes and dad’s but not a lot of Dales so unfortunately for Mike he is now officially known as Dale to our family.”
Stories like these, and all the others, make Mike one of the best people to call a friend. Next time you see him in the pits, at a route stop, or in the hotel parking lot, make sure to introduce yourself.
Also, you can hear these stories and more on Mike’s youtube channel, Shop Dog Fabrication.
Article written by Rodney Reeves, Mike Turner and Mike Narx, with help from DeNichole Rymarz. Photos provided by Eric White and Mike Turner.
