Backbone of Drag and Drive Part 12: Kelvin Poe and the Art of Doing It Right

One of the best things about tech day at a drag and drive type event is the unbelievable car show the tech line turns into. When I walked the lanes at Ozark Raceway in 2024 for the day 0 tech for Sick66, I was amazed. The level of quality, the variety, the absurdity, and the raw unfinished glory. And I was struck by one common thought.. all these various cars and trucks (one tractor) and a couple motorcycles, were aimed at the start line for drag racing. If you're a car guy, it is as cool as it gets. Then you begin to notice the people standing there with the rides. And if you watch it closely, you can often see the personality of the owner in the design and feel of the vehicle. It’s not accidental. Generally speaking we adapt the look and feel of our car or truck into an expression of ourselves. That’s one of the reasons Americans fell in love with the automobile 118 years ago. The car became a blank canvas for self expression. So on that beautiful fall day in 2024 as I walked the pits waiting on my turn for tech I noticed a car that was uncommonly clean. Detailed. Well thought out. In a word everything appeared.. deliberate. The beautiful pale yellow paint. The trim. The stance. All perfectly fitting a nicely restored 65 GTO. But then you see it. The way the door bars match the angles of the seat. The wheel and tire choice. The sound of cubic inches slightly muffled by… a turbo? This car is more than meets the eye. It’s a bruiser all dressed up in a nice shirt and some Bermuda shorts. Everything in its place. Careful attention to detail. Yep this car belongs to someone who cares deeply about doing things the right way. And then .. 

Mr Kelvin Poe steps round the corner. And you know. This is his car. I introduced myself and commented on how nice the GTO is and he graciously thanked me and shook my hand and wished me luck for the week. I’ve since seen Kelvin at three other events and the presence of his yellow 65 Pontiac was just as impressive. And based on the level of respect offered to him and the way he carries himself I’m pretty sure Kelvin’s car says a lot about the kind of man he is.  In the pits he is composed. Pulling in the staging lanes ..calm. Doing a burnout. Deliberate. And then…it’s on. The light goes green and a car that is scaring 4k lbs to death knocks down a 10 sec pass. Cool Is a word that’s used a lot. It found mainstream use as a synonym for composed in the 1960s, when Kelvin’s GTO was brand new and likely had some “funkadelic” tunes coming from the speakers.  But “Cool” is more than a description. It is a state of being. An innate quality. And if you look in the dictionary you might find a picture of Kelvin Poe and his yellow GTO. A fella that has been representing the drag and drive movement for over a decade. And is  sharing these experiences with his family. His son Issac in a hellcat powered 70 satellite, and his brother Renzie Poe in a turbocharged 63 Pontiac Boneville, recently joined him at “The Circuit 2026”. And they have plans for several more events this year including another run at Route 66. So if you’re out and about the drag and drive scene this year look for Kelvin. And when you see him take a minute to look at his car. It’s a case study in 505 cubic inch of turbo charged Pontiac coolness. Spend a few minutes with him talking about his history with Pontiac powered race cars and you’ll figure out why folks Kelvin Poe are the “backbone of drag and drive”

Where are you from/live?

I live in Wamego, Ks.

What made you start racing?

I’ve always been into cars and started drag racing back in the early 80’s. I started bracket racing probably around 1985-86. 

Who inspired you to build a hot rod? 

I’ve always liked cars and hot rods as long as I can remember.

First Race and Where? 

I started racing in the early 80’s at Midwest Raceway, Manhattan, KS.

What was your first car? 

My first car was a 1967 Rambler American. LOL

What was your first Drag and drive style event?

My first event was Hot Rod Drag Week 2014

What vehicle?

I had a 1961 Pontiac Tempest Wagon that I swapped in a 6.0L LS out of a ‘05 Pontiac GTO

What's your PB and how/when did that happen?

My personal best was in my old drag car. It went 8.08 @ 165mph, that was in 2014 at Tulsa, OK. It was a full tube chassis ‘70 Trans Am, 529 ci Pontiac motor, n/a on alcohol. Definitely not a street car.

Favorite car movie? 

Has to be Smokey and the Bandit. (the first one) 

Favorite music for cruising? 

I like all kinds of music, mostly old school funk and R&B

Favorite road trip snacks? 

Sun flower seeds and twizzlers

For the story, tell us about your best/favorite event.  

My favorite event thus far was probably Sick Smokies. The drives and the scenery was really cool. 

Event Average: 

I didn’t have a great average that week, because I was fighting a boost issue. I couldn’t get it to build boost consistently. I was able to get things somewhat figured out by the end of the week and was able to build 10 lbs of boost. It was my best run and went 6.67 @ 108 mph, it was an all ⅛ mile event.

Vehicle at that event?

1965 Pontiac GTO

Powertrain Combo at time of Event?

Pontiac 505 ci engine, 4L80E trans, 9” Ford rear end w/3.50 gears

Power Adder: 91mm turbo

Tires: Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S. 295/55-15

How long you’ve had the Pontiac? 

I originally bought the car in 2020, but have only had it done and on the road for about a year and a half.

How many races have you attended in this vehicle? 

It’s been a work in progress, but I’ve done 4 drag and drive events with it so far. 

Why did you build this car?

The ‘65 GTO has always been one of my favorite cars and I always wanted to build one.

Any maintenance required from all the passes and street miles? 

It’s a fairly mild combo, so not really a lot of maintenance required IF everything is in check from the start. Lol

What are 1-2 struggles from the week?! 

I fought a boost issue most of that week, but was able to get it somewhat figured out by the end of the week.

Plans for events this year?

We’re gonna be busy this year. We’re getting ready to do Rocky Mountain Race Week 1.0, then Sick Michigan Miles,Hot Rod Drag Week and then finishing out the year at Sick 66. (They also raced The Circuit in early May)

Which vehicle? 

I’ll be taking my ‘65 GTO

Goals? My goal is to just run consistent 10.0’s since, at this point, it’s not legal to run any quicker. 

Any changes or upgrades planned? 

Not at this point, just get the bugs worked out and be consistent. I had some boost issues at the last event, so I’m hoping I got that problem fixed over the winter and I’m good to go this year.

Bucketlist Race or Event?

 Sick Week

Kelvin Poe and his wife Cindy are some of the coolest people in drag and drive. They are nice, welcoming, and drive the most unassuming Pontiac out there. This car caught my eye at Drag Week 2024 at a route stop. I had only seen the car with the hood down and assumed it was your standard carbureted small block Pontiac with a TH400 and was pleasantly surprised when they had the hood popped at the drive-in route stop. The huge turbo made EVERYONE take a second glance, everyone. 

Since meeting Kelvin at that stop, I have always made sure to stop and say hi. The crew with Kelvin continues to grow and seeing everyone have so much fun is one of the best reasons to swing by their pits at the next event. 

Let’s get nerdy for a minute, Kelvin has competed in fourteen drag and drive events, that means he has covered some serious street miles across the country. He’s always driven a Pontiac on those miles….  

His Quickest quarter mile pass submitted came from Race Week 2021, at a 10.506. With a few ⅛ mile events sprinkled in there, he has turned in a best of 6.67 at Sick Smokies 2025. 

Currently his list includes Hot Rod Drag Week (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024), Rocky Mountain Race Week (2019, 2025, 2026), Race Week (2020, 2021), Sick 66 (2024), Sick Smokies (2025), Sick Michigan Miles (2025) and The Circuit (2026). 

We can’t wait to see how Kelvin performs at Rocky Mountain Race Week that is happening at the time of this publication. We’ll update his performance once the week is done. Help us wish Kelvin the best of luck on his attempt at his 14th event.

Article by Rodney Reeves, Kelvin Poe and Mike Narx. Photos by Kelvin, Eric White of Drag Drive Repeat and Jesse Fox of 3G Video.