Backbone of Drag and Drive Part 3: The Low 11-Second Hot Rod Taxi
One thing you will notice upon arriving at a drag race event is that the eclectic mix of people is in perfect proportion to the eclectic mix of rides. Vehicles from almost every generation of automobile will be represented. And the styles and forms of expression will be as varied as the personalities of those who own and race them. That variety is indeed the spice of these events and as a Louisiana native.. I love the spice! This week we are visiting with fella serving up an old family recipe for fun and it’s a perfectly balanced mixture of heat and sweet!
Jeff Russell And his 1937 Pontiac deluxe 8 “hot rod taxi” have been making the trip to Fl for Sick Week since 2024. To say his car gets a lot of attention might be an understatement. Maybe it’s because it’s dressed up like a taxi. Maybe because pre war pontiacs are not very common at the race track, or local roads for that matter. Perhaps it’s because it has a traditional sbc hanging out in the wind. But It might be because with that old school combo small block and turbo 400 he lays down low 11 second ¼ mile time slips like a copy machine.
His performance in DYO at SW 2025 was exemplary of a seasoned bracket racer that knows how to run his number. Jeff and his Hot Rod Taxi are gonna be driving to and from his local tracks this year dishing out reminders that a fun fast race car can also make the trip, look great, and be a blast doing it.
What made you start racing?
Just the love of cars and competition.
Who inspired you to build a hot rod?My dad got me started at a young age. He said it kept me out of drugs and alcohol.
First Race and Where?
Mobile International Dragway. Mobile Alabama. Still race there.
What was your first car?
1968 Firebird. At 15 I built my first 383 Stroker and put in it with Manuel powerglide
Bucketlist Race or Event?
Have raced the last 3 Sick weeks so I want to do Drag Week when I retire in a couple years.
What's your PB and how/when did that happen?
11.05 1/4 mile this year at Sick Week 2026
Unlimited budget..what are you building?
I mainly race 1/8 mile so I would say the 1958 Chevy pickup I have to run the 6:50 index.
Favorite car movie?
Gone in 60 Seconds
Favorite music for cruising?
Life is a Highway
Favorite Roadsnack?
Peanut butter crackers
First drag and drive event?
Sick Week 2024
Tell us about your most successful event?
Sick Week 2025 2nd place DYO .005 out of first.
Event Average: .031 spread
Behind the Story: The DYO Class is designed to test your consistency, the standings are based on a racers spread between their Quickest and Slowest Submitted ET of the Week from the 4 tracks, 5 days of racing.
The real test begins at the end of Day 2, when you begin to see the spreads and everyone begins calculating…..
Day 2 saw Jeff in a Tie for 10th place with a 0.031 spread from his Day One 11.505, to Day Two’s 11.536, meaning he needed to keep the remaining THREE days of racing within that gap…. Day 2 was led by Will Stoneberg with a 0.002 Spread (Day 1 - 10.349, Day 2 - 10.351). Other mentions for Day 2 are Amber Matts at 0.008 and Brett Antila at 0.009 Spreads.
Day 3 begins to separate the pack a bit, racers are now 450+ miles into the trip and running on little sleep. Jeff moves up from 10th to 6th with his 11.515 submission. Amber jumps to a tie for First with Brett, both leaving the track with a 0.009 spread. Will has fallen to Third with a 0.017 spread.
Day 4 showed that consistency pays off as Jeff moves into Third, submitting an 11.505 timeslip to Tonya and the girls in the tower, matching his Day 1 slip. This keeps his 0.031 Spread intact. Amber moves to First with a 0.017 Spread, with Will Stoneberg on her heels in Second with his 0.018 spread. Brett Antilla has fallen to 8th with his 10.016 pass, making his spread a 0.067.
Day 5 is the most important day, racers have traversed 900+ miles, made passes at 4 different tracks, lived on gas station food, barely slept and are running on instinct and adrenaline. This is where staying until the last possible minute on Day 1-4 pays off…..if you can keep it together.
Jeff goes into Day 5 0.013 behind Second Place and 0.014 out of First. If either racer missteps, he is there to take the win.
Amber finishes the Day in Third with a 0.040 Spread, with Jeff moving into Second after submitting his 11.518 pass. And Will Stoneberg moves from Second to First with his Quickest pass of the week of a 10.326, making his spread 0.026.
This class saw 122 entries for 2025.
As of the end of Sick Week 2025, Jeff’s Spread put him as the 3rd Lowest Spread in Sick Week DYO History. But, 2026 would be an even tighter year, with Jeff’s 2025 finish netting him 6th Place on the Sick Week DYO Leader Board. The new Record? 0.011 Spread by Jonathan Montesino from Sick Week 2026. Added by Mike Narx
Tell us about your vehicle:
Year, Make, Model
1937 Pontiac Deluxe 8 HOTROD TAXI
Powertrain Combo at time of Event:
Engine: Sbc 400
Transmission: Th 400
Rear Gear: 3.39
Power Adder: none
Tires: M/T ET Street SS
How long have you had it?
since 2016
How many races have attended in this vehicle?
Probably 100
Any maintenance required from all the passes?
None this year
What are 1-2 struggles from the week?
Only thing this year was violent tire shake which slightly bent the axle flanges.
Plans for events this year?
Local drag races
Which vehicle? 37 Pontiac
Which class? Super Pro
Goals? 10.80 1/4 and 6.90 1/8
Any changes or upgrades planned?Trans brake and air shifter. Then 4 link a 9” rear with 4.11 gear.
Also adding a gear vendors
Hot Rodding is alive and well with Jeff’s Hot Rod Taxi and we are always excited to see the car rolling into the gate at any event. The looks, sounds and Jeff’s attitude make it one of our favorite cars in drag and drive. The conversations Jeff has at gas stations need to be recorded, everyone is always surprised that he drives it on the street, and races it in events.
These conversations, the thumbs up and the pictures taken along the road are why these “slow cars” are so much fun and, in our opinion, the best way to bring more people into this amazing automotive community.
