HEADLINES: Ready For Takeoff
Firepunk Diesel’s new Pro Mod is ready to hit the track, a Pro Stock tractor engine lets loose and a common-rail first-gen dominates the dirt.
The long wait for the debut of Firepunk Diesel’s new Pro Mod is nearly over. The finishing touches are in the works with last-minute plumbing and fabricating duties. Next up, the guys at Firepunk plan to bolt the brand-new ’70 Duster to the hub dyno and hopefully hit the track soon after. For anyone who doesn’t recall, the Duster will be powered by the same aluminum Executioner Cummins built by D&J Precision Machine—the engine that set ODSS records and made Firepunk’s former S10 the first diesel in the 3’s. How deep into the 3’s will this lighter weight, lower and modern chassis Pro Mod take them?
Drag Racing
Are Diesel Dragsters Making A Comeback?
We hope so! Already this season, five rails have shown up at an ODSS event—which is more than double the turnout we’ve seen in recent years. Once upon a time, the Pro Dragster category seemed to be growing, with several rails going together in multiple shops. Now, it looks like at least four will be readily available on the ODSS circuit. Perhaps even bigger news is that the newcomers took First and Second Place at the recent Beech Bend Diesel Drags in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Paul Vasko took the win in his Duramax-powered machine, with Michael Cordova (pictured) finishing runner-up. Cordova also ran a new personal best of 4.07 at 182 mph in Bowling Green. Side-by-side, low-4-second dragster races? Yes please!
Carnage
We Hate To See This
It’s never a good sign when engine oil oozes from the side shields. Unfortunately, catastrophic failures do happen from time-to-time when you’re pushing the limits (somewhere in the 3,500hp range). The Pro Stock engine in David Justison’s 10,000-pound “Wheat Fed” Minneapolis-Moline let go shortly after moving the sled. All hell broke loose at an Illinois Tractor Pulling Association (ITPA) event in Nashville, Illinois with the number 1 and 6 rods checking out. With no replacement short-block on hand back at the farm, the engine failure brought Justison’s season to a premature end last Tuesday night. On the bright side, bigger and better plans are already being made for next year.
Vintage Power
A Fiery First-Gen That’s Fixing To Own The Dirt Drags
In case you were wondering, diesel dirt drags are still a thing. And for Cole Turner and his nasty first-gen they’re a very big thing. But this is no ordinary early Dodge—It’s a common-rail swapped monstrosity that’s been treated to parts and help from WP Developments, Revmax, Dynomite Diesel Products and Maverick Diesel. For an extra kick (if the truck manages to find traction), there’s also a nitrous button… Last week, Turner trekked over to nearby Terre Haute, Indiana and pulled off the win at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds (the old Scheid Diesel Extravaganza stomping grounds) in front of a packed grandstand.
EV News
What Charging Employee-Issued EV’s At Home Might Look Like
According to an article written by members of MoveEV, an EV transition company, allowing employee-driven fleet vehicles home at night to charge can save a company thousands of dollars each year. However, the article goes on to state that failing to adequately reimburse employees for their electricity use is a class action lawsuit just waiting to happen. In California, a state that has gone all-in on EV technology, reimbursement (or lack thereof) type lawsuits are becoming more and more common. In the Golden State, acceptable forms of reimbursement for charging company EV’s at home are: a lump sum payment, the IRS’s published mileage rate, a mileage rate that’s been agreed upon by the the employer and employee, or actual expenses paid separately (fuel, repairs, maintenance, insurance, etc.).
