The First Duramax To 3,000-rwhp

It’s not just the Cummins camp having all the fun on the chassis dyno these days. At Blessed Performance Truck Fest, Cody Hawk’s U.C.C. build laid down an insane 3,140 hp with Dirty Hooker Diesel’s Morey Logue behind the wheel. Not only is this the highest horsepower number ever recorded for a Duramax, but it also makes the GM 6.6L the first V-8 to crack the 3,000hp barrier. As for the bullet under the hood, it’s a DHD-built, deck-plate Duramax packing dual Exergy Alpha 550’s and DDP injectors that was originally intended for a 3.6 (Pro Stock) pulling truck. It looks like it’s loving life with compound turbos and nitrous filling its lungs…

At The ‘Strip

The World’s Fastest 4×4 Diesel Truck Set To Return In ‘26

It appears as if NHRA and SFI certifications may have finally caught up with Derek Rose and his record-setting third-gen. The world’s quickest (and fastest) 4×4 diesel was deemed a bit too fast back in 2023, after having run a blazing 4.41 at 173 mph in the eighth-mile. Rumor has it there will be new NHRA/SFI rules in 2026, rules that will allow sub-4,000-pound vehicles with 25.6 certifications back on the track. Look for one of the nastiest diesel pickups in existence to come out of retirement next season—just in time to challenge several trucks currently being built to chase his record(s).

On The Hunt (For Billet-Aluminum)

Nathan Wheeler will be attending the PRI Show in December, and he’ll be shopping for an aluminum power plant to shed some weight off of the 4,200-pound no-prep monster known as “Crazyhorse.” Rumor has it he’s looking to lose 300 pounds up front and go waterless. In short, things are going to get even more serious for the Crazyhorse Ford. Will it be a CX series Cummins from Wagler Competition Products, a Freedom Racing Engines bullet complete with Fleece’s 260-pound aluminum block, or something else? Perhaps Nathan even stops by the Scheid Diesel booth… With the horsepower-making side of things already figured out, weight savings and the speed at which he can secure an engine are said to be his primary concerns.

Dinosaur Tech

Extreme RPM For The VP44

After temporarily shelving its stand-alone VP44 program, WP Developments is back in the R&D room working on a way to get ’98.5-’02 24-valve Cummins owners more rpm. Its stand-alone controller option for the often-revered yet perpetually underrated injection pump will offer nearly all of the same capabilities common-rail owners get with MoTeC systems. Those capabilities include nine different fuel curves and quantity settings, a launch limiter for staging, air-fuel ratio control for cleaning up smoke, nitrous system controlling, an open CAN bus network for custom dashes and, of course, much higher rpm (provided that the VP44 can keep up, mechanically). Additionally, the pesky accelerator pedal position sensor (APPS) goes away in favor of a more consistent TPS.

Industry News

Wehrli Custom Fabrication and Calibrated Power Solutions Join Forces

Many didn’t see this coming. On the other hand, most industry insiders weren’t surprised. After working together for more than a decade, the products from WC Fab and Calibrated Power Solutions (home of DuramaxTuner.com) have complemented each other so well that each name has become virtually synonymous with the other. Now, these two juggernauts have officially merged. By joining forces and combining their resources, knowledge, and segment-leading skillsets, look for these two entities to become even more recognized for excellence in the diesel industry. CPS’s top-tier calibration expertise and next-level drop-in turbocharger development will continue (if not ramp up), while WC Fab’s top-shelf, precision-fit bolt-on products—as well as its unmatched fabrication capabilities—will continue to define quality in the diesel aftermarket. Expect new, cutting-edge products for the ‘24+ L5P Duramax, ‘23+ 6.7L Power Stroke, and ‘25+ 6.7L Cummins platforms in the future.

Written by Mike McGlothlin