Took a while, but we got there. The road to Redding was anything but smooth sailing—or in this case, smooth hauling. The Hauler was finally loaded, the crew strapped in, and the adventure kicked off with a heavy dose of chaos and camaraderie. Chevy, brother Colin, and videographer Avery hit the road, making pit stops for some ridiculousness and the elusive Adult Happy Meal. Because who doesn’t need a toy to go with their fries? After 27 grueling hours (who’s counting?), the boys finally pulled into the Redding Drag Strip, ready for a couple of private track days and a heap of testing. Let the games begin.
Day 1: Shaking, Rattling, and Trying Not to Roll Left
First up: prepping the beast. With a shiny new driveshaft sensor, a switch to 36-inch tires, and a fresh-out-of-the-box Proline Noah’s Ark kit, the team was ready—or so they thought. Sunday brought the full crew together for the first time, and let’s just say it was a melting pot of accents and attitudes. Dean rolled in from Calgary, Jeff from Indiana, and ProLine Tuner Chase Driskell from Texas. Chevy’s parents drove up from St.Helena, California. It was a new squad, but they were united by a single goal: getting the car dialed in.
Crew Chief Dean Bettenson wasted no time laying out the plan. With 1,400 feet of air, conditions were a step up from what they were used to. Dean figured the YETI could flirt with high 70s, but the goal was high 90s. First pass? Absolute chaos. The car didn’t shift, wheelie bars were out of whack, and the entire vehicle shook like a washing machine on spin cycle. Not the dream start.
Second pass: traction? Check. No shake? Check. But the car veered dead left like it had a personal vendetta against staying straight. Cue the jacks and a frantic tire inspection. More rear steer adjustments and on to the third pass. Finally, a thing of beauty. Tuner Chase, however, wasn’t too thrilled when the times got announced—breaking the track record for the 60-foot mark is cool but broadcasting it in the No Time world is an absolute no-no. Rookie move, lesson learned.
Chevy, ever the glutton for punishment, wanted to see his light. Dean, ever the teasing instigator, couldn’t resist ribbing him about his inner bracket racer. Still, the run was solid. A-to-B, nearly perfect. The modest tune-up worked, but this was just practice. It was time to start upping the ante.
Day 2: Straight as an Arrow (Mostly)
Tuesday rolled around with the team determined to keep the car straight as an arrow. The tune-up mirrored the previous day, and the first pass was flawless. “Not Bad,” Chevy muttered as he pulled off his helmet- Strait down Broadway. Chase, always tinkering, recommended doubling the burnout adjustment. Lunch consisted of the holy trinity of track snacks: Skittles, Swedish Fish, and Uncrustables. Gourmet? No. Effective? Absolutely.
The team started clicking, their languages blending into one chaotic yet effective mix. Chase translated Canadian hillbilly to Texan drawl, and somehow, it worked. Ride height adjustments followed. A little tire rub on the right side meant more tweaks to the four-link. The car was performing, but the track was getting hot and slick, throwing a few curveballs their way. “Cattywampus,” Chevy called it. The term stuck.
After one final adjustment, the car was ready for another hit. Back to the old setup with just a hair of tweaking. Chase noticed the left tire was hooking while the right was hammering. Still, gremlins were everywhere. But hey, that’s why they call it testing.
Day 3: Hustling on a “Day Off”
Wednesday in Redding was meant to be a chill day off. Yeah, right. The team was up at the crack of dawn, diving headfirst into 4-link adjustments, fine-tuning the suspension, overhauling the FuelTech system, checking the ECU, and handling general maintenance. They even set up the pits like it was race day. Chevy took it upon himself to wash the Hauler, with Dean overseeing like a Boss. No track time, but no shortage of hustle. At least they managed to sneak in a quick dinner at In-N-Out before Redding morphed into a car show and street-legal event.
Kool April Drags: From Qualifiers to Glory
Thursday brought Redding’s largest drag event of the year—the Kool April Drags. The initial plan was to run the qualifiers for more seat time. But after a few solid runs, Chevy made a bold move: entering the Pro Mod Class for some side-by-side action. Weather hiccups and on-track incidents pushed the schedule deep into Friday evening, but when the YETI lit up the strip under the lights, it was pure magic. With its glowing headlights and jaw-dropping pass, the car stole the show. Fans swarmed the pits for swag, autographs, and a chance to meet their new favorite. The YETI was officially it!
Saturday’s Chill and Triumph
Saturday dawned cold and gray, with just one silver lining—it wasn’t raining. The frigid weather kept some fans away, but the competition was fierce. After a long day of battling, Chevy found himself in the finals. Unfortunately, as rain rolled in that evening, the team had to forfeit the final round, postponed to the following weekend. Still, Chevy walked away with his first trophy for a second-place finish piloting the YETI and a fistful of cash winnings. Not bad for a debut.
The week also came with a few blasts from the past. Claude LaVoie, a former AA Fuel Dragster racer from Alberta and now a Northern California resident, made a surprise appearance. Additionally, Jim Maher, owner of Good Vibrations Motorsports and former sponsor of the IHRA National circuit during the Reeves’ time operating the Edmonton track, was in the pit next to the team’s rig. It was a great opportunity to reconnect.
A Big Thanks to Our Partners
We couldn’t do any of this without the incredible support of our partners. Huge shoutout to Tradewind Salvage Solutions, the first to believe in the insanity with unmatched enthusiasm and confidence. Global Power Systems made the dream a reality, and Rad Torque Systems, ACE Manufacturing, FuelTech, Nortrux/Mack Trucks, Lordco Auto Parts, Evolve Wheels and Tires, Schwab Chevrolet, and Dynamic Range all stepped up in a big way to keep us moving forward. Your belief in our journey fuels us every step of the way—thank you!
Next stop? Speed Promotions Outlaws at Famoso DragStrip Bakersfield- GRAB YOUR TICKETS!
Let’s the Games begin!
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