HEADLINES: The First Ever 5-Second Pass For A 68RFE
Diesel drag racing in Thailand, the first 68RFE in the 5’s, truck pulling carnage and triumph, and the end of Chevron deference—and what it means for the diesel industry.
It would’ve been much easier to do it with a TH400, but where’s the fun in that! Ethan Patterson of WP Developments pushed the 68RFE automatic platform into the 5’s over the weekend, the first time it’s ever been done. Launching in second gear, Patterson’s Pro Street third-gen cut a 1.40-second 60-foot in route to a 5.86-second eighth-mile at 120 mph. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. With a higher rpm leave, another kit of nitrous, and lockup, expect WP Developments’ ’05 Ram to dig much deeper into the 5’s. It might even happen this weekend at the next stop on the ODSS schedule: Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Drag Racing
Diesels In Southeast Asia
Who knew Thailand was such a happening place for diesel drag racing? Universally, people like to go fast, but here in southeast Asia in particular they seem to share our affinity for diesel drag racing. Daniel Green (a.k.a. Danny Diesel) recently immersed himself in Thailand drag race culture, complete with the acquisition of an 8-second Pro Mod truck, and began sharing his experience. Here, in this foreign land, race crews are known to lift and hold the trucks in place during the burnout—and we now know they do this because it’s common for vehicles to push through the brakes (they have line lock systems but the actual service brakes don’t hold). And, because manual transmissions are utilized, a take-off man holds the truck in place so it doesn’t roll through the beams.
In The Dirt
A Rare Head Failure For The Jumping Jack Flash Team
When you’re out on your own island, pioneering the only setup of its kind, you can expect a few gremlins from time to time. Such has been the case for the Jumping Jack Flash Pro Stock Pulling Team this season. Their Hypermax-built and S&S-fueled 6.7L Power Stroke has encountered blown fuel lines, exposed a few weak links, and even suffered a little engine damage recently, as is evident here. Not to worry, a brand-new set of heads were already in place a few days ago and the Blue Oval die-hards will make the call at their next hook: Southeast Illinois Summer Heat in Fairfield, Illinois.
Jason Wayman’s Megatron Dodge Travels South To Dominate In Texas
It’s not the first time Jason Wayman of No Way Man Diesel and his Megatron Limited Pro Stock Ram have left home, but this time it might’ve been his winningest trip. The Missouri-based, late-model bodied 3.0 smooth bore class Cummins ventured down to Whitewright, Texas for a pair of hooks with the Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pulling Association at the tail end of June and swept the field. On his way to back-to-back victories, Jason topped the efforts of fellow pullers Cody Lee, Ryan Stahl, and Skyler Leeper. Back up north, Jason and Megatron sit second in the PPL 2024 Champion Seed Western Series points chase.
Emissions
The End Of Chevron Deference—And What It Could Mean For The Diesel Industry
Big, big news broke in Washington D.C. recently with the Supreme Court’s overruling of the 1984 Chevron vs. Natural Resources case. In doing so, the power of federal agencies to interpret the laws they enforce, and as they see fit, was reduced significantly. The Supreme Court’s decision could have far-reaching effects on environmental regulation (among other things). As it pertains to the diesel performance industry, it could (hopefully) mean that products can now safely be manufactured and sold for dedicated race vehicles again—without fear of financial penalty and/or prosecution from the federal government.
Written by Mike McGlothlin
