Diesel News 11.12.18
Truck of the Week
Just an 1,800hp Test-Run
The Mick – 2000 Ford F350
Following several repairs after the NHRDA World Finals in October, Chris Buhidar’s Truck Source Diesel Super Duty known as “The Mick” was thrown on the rollers prior to heading to the fall Diesel Thunder event in Gulfport, Mississippi. After clearing 1,800 hp at the wheels aboard the TSD in-house chassis dyno, we’d say things were in order for the next round of abuse. Buhidar’s triple-turbo, Cummins-powered ’00 F-350 has been as quick as 8.57 at 165 mph to date in the quarter-mile, and even ran Pro Street at an ODSS race in 2018. This is one truck that definitely backs up its dyno numbers.
Events
Rough News
NHRDA Ceases Operations
After much consideration, Randy Cole and the National Hot Rod Diesel Association (NHRDA) team are closing their doors after 15 years. Short-staffing, declining sponsorships and lower competitor turnout all are said to have contributed to the decision. The unfortunate news hit the diesel world hard on November 4, as Randy and his wife, Stacy, made the emotional announcement live on Facebook. In his closing statements, Randy spoke from the heart and pleaded with all the movers and shakers in the diesel performance world to get more involved in events if they want to see the industry succeed. “We’re in a niche sport,” he said. “We don’t need to be divided. If it [the sport] gets bigger, it gets bigger for everybody. Please start supporting what’s left.”
Diesel Thunder
At Gulfport Dragway
Like many other national events held in 2018, the Diesel Thunder series was plagued by bad weather this year. However, despite a rainout on Friday followed by unseasonably cold weather on Saturday, the fall Diesel Thunder event did get underway at Gulfport Dragway over the weekend. After kicking off the day with a pedaled, 4.20-second pass at 165 mph, Wade Moody and the NGM Diesel team earned the win in Top Dragster with the twin-turbo Duramax rail.
Outlaw Diesel Super Series
2019 Schedule
Next year’s Outlaw Diesel Super Series racing schedule has been finalized and 2019 will be the biggest year yet in the sanctioning body’s history. Thanks to the addition of the invitational Quick 8 Shootout at U.C.C. 2019, Outlaw Diesel Revenge hosted by Firepunk Diesel, and Hollyrock Customs’ Summer Diesel Showdown, the ODSS circuit will expand to eight events in 2019 (seven of which count toward a points championship). Classes will remain the same, with ET Bracket, 7.70, 6.70, and 5.90 Index, Pro Street, Pro Mod, and Pro Dragster classes all still being run at each affair, less the U.C.C. invitational.
OEM News
Dodge 1320 Club
Now Open to Diesels?
In an effort to reward and further promote its enthusiasts’ quarter-mile achievements, Dodge created the 1320 Club, an online community (at dodgegarage.com) where Mopar fanatics can share their accomplishments. Open to 2008-newer Challenger and Charger owners, the question we have is whether or not Cummins owners can join the club, too… After all, hundreds if not thousands of Cummins-powered Ram 2500 and 3500’s can run 13’s, 12’s, 11’s, and even 10’s. According to the 1320 Club announcement, achievement badges and decals will be created for vehicles capable of running a quarter-mile between 8.0 and 13.9 seconds, grabbing a 60-foot time ranging between 1.4-2.0 seconds, and trapping between 105 to 170 mph. Does your truck qualify for any of that? We think so, too.
Ford Trucks
On the History Channel
The weekend of November 10th, Ford trucks were front-and-center on the History Channel’s “Truck weekend in America,” a six-hour programming event highlighting the company’s legacy of toughness, heritage, and performance. Six separate shows, all airing in prime-time, showcased Ford trucks inside and out. From truck owners putting their driving abilities to the test to restoring classic Blue Ovals to a look inside the F-150 factory, the first-of-its-kind series provided a unique mix of all things F-series. According to Mark LaNeve, Ford’s Vice President of U.S. marketing, sales and service: “Truck Weekend in America is a tribute to the passion of our engineers as well as our customers, and to both the history and the future of the pickup truck.”
Parts Rack
L5P Injectors Are Here!
S&S Diesel Motorsports
With out-of-the-box performance potential unequaled by any other Duramax to date, the L5P market just got a huge shot in the arm. S&S Diesel Motorsports is blazing the L5P Duramax trail with the first high performance ’17-plus injectors to hit the market. Customers can choose between 50-percent, 100-percent, or 150-percent over-stock capacity injectors, and the folks at S&S have stated that even higher flowing options are currently in development. With aftermarket tuning recently becoming available for L5P-powered GM trucks and hard-part engine upgrades (and also turbo systems) on the way, S&S’s announcement couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for late-model Duramax owners.