HEADLINES: Is This The Perfect 650-700 HP Truck?
Jelibuilt’s exotic 7.3L Power Stroke build, $1,000 grudge racing returns to ODSS, a dozen organizations sue the EPA, and does 650-700 hp make for the ultimate, do-everything third-gen?
Curious how much horsepower it takes to be competitive in the 7.70 index drag racing category? For David Hurst and his standard cab third-gen Cummins, it’s 649 hp, per the chassis dyno at CAM Performance in Stevens, Pennsylvania. For a fast, reliable, all-around performer, his parts recipe is pretty hard to beat (and we’ll note that David also has a hotter, 721hp tune in his arsenal). Putting the do-anything nature of his third-gen to work over the weekend at the 717 Street Truck Showdown—an event where drivers compete in dirt drags, on the dyno, and in a sled pull—David took Second Place overall.
Drag Racing
One Step Closer To Running…
One of the quickest, fastest Power Stroke-powered trucks in the country is nearing its first fire-up following a host of major go-fast changes. Brian Jelich of Jelibuilt Performance has dropped his Kill Devil Diesel-built 7.3L Power Stroke into place, a HEUI-fired, nitrous-fed V-8 Brian will tune himself. The big single charger (from KC Turbos) boasts an 11-blade, 80mm compressor and the engine is bolted to a Rossler TH400. Prior to the most recent upgrades, Brian’s best eighth-mile in the truck (a 2000 model year F-350) was a 5.38 at 128 mph, but he now believes he can tap the 4.99-second ET his cage is certified for. We hope to see that happen soon.
$1,000 Heads-Up Grudge Racing
Thanks to S&S Diesel Motorsport, Friday night grudge racing will return at the Bluegrass Truck Jam on July 12—the Bowling Green, Kentucky leg of the 2024 ODSS schedule. These no rules, heads-up, instant green battles pay $1,000 to the winner, along with awarding a belt to the victor. They’re also a great way to see what an index truck is truly capable of with an all-out tune-up in the mix. Case in point, 5.90 Index drivers Brett Marcum and Mitchell Wicklund will square off in Bowling Green. Jeremy Stickney and Avery Micek are locked in as well, which means two belts and $2,000 in cold, hard cash will be on the line.
Emissions
Growing Push Back Against The Coming Ban On ICE-powered Vehicles
A bipartisan coalition of union workers, community members, energy producers, and business leaders will rally in Trenton, New Jersey on Tuesday, June 18, calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to change course on policies that will ban most new internal combustion powered vehicles. The group claims the EPA’s recently finalized 2027-2032 tailpipe emissions standards for passenger vehicles are so stringent that automakers will, within eight years’ time, have no other choice but to phase out the production of most new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. Additionally, the rally will call attention to the California waiver which, if approved by the EPA, will allow a ban on the sale of new gas, diesel, and hybrid vehicles not only in the Golden State but New Jersey as well.
A Dozen Organizations Sue The EPA
Twelve organizations, including the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), a largely outspoken critic of the coming light and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards set to phase in beginning in 2027, have filed a petition with the DC Circuit Court to sue the EPA over its emissions regulations finalized back in March. According to AFPM’s President and CEO, Chet Thompson, the EPA overstepped its bounds in developing its recent fleetwide average standards. “Since no gas, diesel or traditional hybrid today can meet 85 grams/mile (CO2), EPA’s averaging scheme—which is already being contested for the 2023-2026 standards—is clearly meant to force EV adoption,” Thompson said in a statement on Thursday.
Written by Mike McGlothlin
