HEADLINES: Cummins Settles With The EPA For $1.67 Billion
Cummins receives a $1.67 billion shakedown, a 5-second 7.3L sets its sights on 4’s and we take a look back at the record-setting year that was 2023.
Didn’t know about this? That’s likely because the news dropped the Friday afternoon before Christmas. In a bombshell news release that didn’t go unmissed by the diesel community, Cummins Inc. reportedly agreed to pay a whopping $1.675 billion civil penalty to settle claims that the company intentionally bypassed emissions on more than 630,000 6.7L-powered vehicles. Vehicles affected include ’13-’18 model year Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks, as well as ’19-’23 models. It’s believed that a massive recall will be issued for owners of ’13-‘18 Rams, which will entail a software update that brings the Cummins engine into full compliance with the Clean Air Act. Unfortunately, few details are known at this point, but as we know more, so will you. Cummins has admitted no wrongdoing.
Drag Racing
Big Changes Are Coming For Brian Jelich’s 5-Second Ford
Whether you’re a Blue Oval fan, a 7.3L holdout, or both, the ’00 Super Duty campaigned by Brian Jelich should give you plenty to cheer for in 2024. A laundry list of major changes are in the works for his tube chassis, four-wheel drive F-350. When he hits the track next season, it’ll be on 9-inch axles (front and rear), rocking a Rossler TH400 with a Neal Chance converter, an SCS transfer case, and a complete rewire with an ECU Master PMU16. The chassis and drive line work is being performed at Rudy’s Performance Parts, and by none other than master fabricator (and Pro Mod driver) Nathannial DeLong. Look for Brian’s previous best, 5.38-second eighth-mile to be ancient history soon.
Track Day For TSD
Taking advantage of a little downtime during the holidays, the guys at Truck Source Diesel scheduled a track day at Houston Motorsports Park. The day would see new builds hit the track for the first time, TSD’s instantly recognizable Fummins, an old driver get back in the saddle and new personal bests set. Among the latter accomplishments, Dustin Sterling shined the brightest, with his regular cab Duramax breaking into 4-second territory thanks to a blazing 4.96 at 147 mph. Returning driver and former NHRDA Super Street champion, Phillip Franklin, nearly went 4’s as well with a new personal best E.T. of 5.01 seconds.
In The Dirt
NFMS Championship Tractor Pull Drivers Announced
As the coldest months of winter near, so does the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. And with it comes the revered Championship Tractor Pull, held in the Kentucky Exposition Center’s Freedom Hall. For 2024, the Super Stock diesel trucks are once again scheduled for Saturday. Among the invitees are Scheid Diesel’s Kent Crowder, Haisley Machine’s Van Haisley (“Rock Hard Ram”), Chase Eller aboard the “Caretaker,” Keith Witt and his new “American Pride” machine, Aiden Hodges in “On Borrowed Time,” and five others. Over in the 10,200-pound Pro Stock tractor category, one of our favorite drivers, Kevin Masterson, will compete aboard the infamous “River Rat” John Deere.
A Year To Remember
2023’s Drag Racing Record-Setters
As we usher in the New Year, join us this week for a look back at the record-setting year that was. Within the ranks of diesel drag racing, new high marks were set for all 4×4 diesels, all Powerstroke diesels, in the four-wheel drive Duramax field, and in nearly every other go-fast category. Of course, we’ll revisit Michael Cordova’s monumental Pro Dragster eighth-mile E.T. record, Jared Jones’ 6.00-second quarter-mile in the Scheid rail, and Justin Zeigler’s jaw-dropping pass that broke the Pro Street ET and trap speed records.
