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16-Year-Old Jake Nolan Wins Burnout Competition in Modified Chevy Cavalier

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Teen Driver Wins Burnout Competition in Father-Son Build

A 16-year-old driver, Jake Nolan, has won a burnout competition in a vehicle he built with his father over a three-week period. Nolan placed first in the Development Class at Summernats USA and later placed fifth in the Open Class at a separate Burnout Rivals event in Florida.

Competition Results

Jake Nolan competed in two recent burnout events:

  • Summernats USA: Presented by Amsoil, Nolan won first place in the Development Class, receiving a trophy and $500 in prize money. According to his father, Brian Nolan, this was Jake's first time driving a car in competition and his first burnout. The Development Class is described as being for newcomers to the sport.

  • Burnout Rivals: At the event held at Freedom Factory in Florida, Nolan placed fifth in the Open Class, earning $150.

During the Burnout Rivals event, Nolan competed in a head-to-head challenge against driver Cleetus McFarland. McFarland's vehicle experienced a driveshaft failure during the run, while Nolan's vehicle completed its burnout.

Following the event, Cleetus McFarland stated he "blew the drive shaft trying to keep up to him."

Vehicle Specifications

The winning vehicle is a heavily modified 1989 Chevy Cavalier coupe.

  • Chassis and Body: The front-wheel-drive Cavalier body was mounted onto the chassis of a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck.
  • Drivetrain: The car is powered by a 6.0-liter LS engine paired with a 4L80E transmission. The rear axle is from a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe.
  • Modifications: Brian Nolan stated that modifying the vehicle's firewall to accommodate the larger LS engine was the most challenging part of the build.
  • Build Cost: Described as a budget build, Brian Nolan estimated the total investment between $2,000 and $2,500, with parts sourced from online marketplace platforms.

Background and Future Plans

Jake Nolan and his father, Brian, built the car in the three weeks leading up to the Summernats USA event. Brian Nolan stated that his son "has always been obsessed with anything with an engine."

The Nolans plan to compete at Summernats in Indianapolis in September and have received an invitation to a Burnout Rivals event there. Brian Nolan estimated the cost for fuel to travel to Indianapolis would be approximately $1,200 and mentioned they are seeking sponsors.

Contact for sponsorship inquiries was directed to the Brian P. Nolan Facebook page.