HEADLINES: On Top Of The World

There is a whole lot to unpack from this weekend’s Ultimate Callout Challenge, but here’s the short scoop. California-based Kenny Bruner traveled 2,300 miles to Indianapolis and put on a dominant performance. On the drag strip, his quick-staging third-gen made 5-second eighth-miles look easy and turned in the quickest E.T. of the event, a 5.29 at 139 mph. On the dyno, Kenny and the Capital Diesel Performance-backed, Bruner Racing Dodge took Second Place with 2,832 hp and 3,120 lb-ft of torque. Then during the truck pull finale, they inched passed runner-up finisher, Colt Carter, moving the sled the furthest distance in the dirt. The victory was bittersweet, too, being that the Cummins power plant that made it all possible belonged to the late “Turba” Tom Borrell.

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Destruction On The Dyno

As is always the case at U.C.C., carnage came knocking, showing its face in various forms. Friday afternoon, the Randy’s Transmissions flagship truck, the “Red Delicious” dually that owner, Randy Reyes, once sent through the quarter-mile in 9.2 seconds, had a date with the Northwest Dyno Series SuperFlow. Since its last visit with these rollers (back in April), the truck had been fitted with 3.42 gears (instead of 3.73’s) in an effort to load the engine harder. It worked, gleaning an additional 60-psi of boost out of the triple GTX55 arrangement. After making an incredible 3,180 hp, the crank tried to force itself out of the block but couldn’t thanks to the steel cable wrapped around the block and head. Thankfully, no parts went flying, but this sizeable window in the block was left behind.

Drag Racing

Another ODSS Event, Another Record—Another First In Diesel Motorsports

The story just keeps getting better for Michael Cordova and his record-setting dragster, who once again made history, this time at the ODSS Outlaw Diesel Revenge event that runs alongside U.C.C. in Indy. Not only did Michael beat his previous best E.T. (the world record), but his 3.83-second blast at 203 mph marked the first time a diesel has gone 200 mph in the eighth-mile. Without question, the WrenchWorkz-supported, Freedom Racing Engines-powered, S&S Diesel Motorsport fueled, controlled, and calibrated rail is proving to be one of the most formidable combinations in diesel drag racing. The next stop on the ODSS circuit brings Michael and team to Bowling Green, Kentucky—their home turf. Don’t rule out the possibility of something even bigger happening while they’re there July 12-13.

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Repeat And First-Time Winners Crowned

Despite the rainout on Saturday, ODSS racers hung tough in Indianapolis, eventually getting their chance to get back to work on Sunday. Not exactly strangers to the winner’s circle, Michael Cordova took Top Dragster, Jeremy Stickney won 6.70 Index, and Larson Miller—despite still in the middle of fine-tuning the Firepunk Duster—returned to the top ranks of Pro Mod. In a 5.90 Index field boasting 17 racers, Will Cunningham earned his first W, while Zack Pierce secured his first Pro Street win. Emanuel Yoder would take top honors in 7.70 Index, and Austin Bridges did the same in ET Bracket—a class with 94 entries.

An Unfortunate Crash, But An Unscathed (and Unphased) Driver

At first, it was business as usual for Justin Zeigler at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, with his Pro Street Dodge living in the 4’s and presumably on its way to yet another Pro Street win. After setting a new Pro Street trap speed record in the first round of qualifying (159.97 mph), Justin reset it once more in Q2, going 161 mph on his 4.78-second pass. Then near-catastrophe struck. A ruptured fuel line sprayed the engine down, kick-starting a big fire under the front clip. Fortunately, Justin was able to get out of the truck and escape any serious burns. Now comes the task of assessing the damage, finding out what’s salvageable and what isn’t, and getting back out on the track. With any luck, we’ll see him back at it in Bowling Green in five weeks.

Written by Mike McGlothlin