The $100,000 Diesel Race

We knew the Seventy 2 Fast class was going to be a hit, but no one could’ve predicted this. In 2026, and thanks to Firepunk Diesel’s Lavon Miller (the creator of the class), the largest payout in diesel drag racing history will be on the line: $100,000. Firepunk and Tameless Performance are title sponsors ($25K apiece), while Snyder Performance Engineering, Warren Diesel Injection, and VS Racing have each thrown $10K into the pot. No Zone Diesel, New Performance Automotive, Legend Tuning, and Poor Boys Diesel Performance each ponied up $5K. Winner gets $70K, runner-up takes $20K, and each semifinalist gets $5K. Right now, entire trucks are being built for the sole purpose of competing in this race.

But Wait, There’s More

Because an air-limited class like Seventy 2 Fast tends to favor the Cummins platform, several companies are offering extra incentive to get a V-8 to the front. Snyder Performance Engineering, Warren Diesel, Powerhouse Diesel, and JDB Diesel Performance are willing to pay $11,000 to the winner, should it be powered by a Power Stroke. On the Duramax side, Merchant Automotive and HSP Diesel will pay $1,000 per round win against any Cummins or Power Stroke (up to $10,000). On top of that, Hawk Performance Diesel has agreed to pay $3,000 to the winner, should they drive a Duramax, and $2,000 if a Duramax finishes in the runner-up spot.

SDX Returns To Terre Haute

Buckle up. The Scheid Diesel Extravaganza is returning to Terre Haute, Indiana in 2026. That’s right, the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, the place where 10,000+ fans used to gather annually for the best drag racing and truck pulling action in the business, will once again host the late-summer blockbuster. Expect the relocation from Wagler Motorsports Park (the drag strip and pulling complex in Lyons, Indiana that’s hosted SDX since 2020) to serve as a homecoming of sorts, complete with an electric atmosphere, blast from the past vibes, thousands of spectators, and hundreds of competitors. PPL truck and tractor pulling, ODSS drag racing, a densely populated show ‘n shine, and an onsite chassis dyno will highlight what promises to be a very busy, 30^th anniversary show the last weekend of August.

Stay up to date with all SDX 2026 announcements here.

At the ‘Strip

Challenge Initiated

Drew Carter might own the fuel-only, 1/8-mile record for a VP44-fueled 4×4 truck, but that’s not enough. Last week, Drew made the announcement he’s pulling out all the stops in 2026 and coming after the ¼-mile record—even calling out current record-holder, Chris Krebs. In introducing nitrous to his S363/S480 compound turbo arrangement, Drew hopes to push his 24-valve Cummins-powered second-gen well into the 9’s. Krebs’ made his record-setting 9.78-second pass over the summer, and did it on a single, 5-blade, 72mm turbo from the VP44 gurus (and former VP44 record-holders) at Stainless Diesel. However, in the spring Chris plans to make the switch to compounds himself and pursue 9.50s. Stay tuned!

Chasing 8’s

After King of the Street, Hot Rod Drag Week, his own no-prep race, and a multitude of other trips to the drag strip, 2025 was a big year for Dante Delaney and the LMM Duramax-powered (and 48RE-shifted) GMC he cordially refers to as “Tory.” But now it’s time for a new set of challenges—challenges that include digging even deeper into the 5’s through the 1/8-mile, along with breaking into the 8’s in the 1320. That means a truck that lives in the 2,000 hp range or higher—and it could mean switching to a Cummins power plant. Will this instantly-recognizable, bright red Sierra house a common-rail I-6 under the hood next year? Tune in to Dante’s channel to find out. He plans to drop all the details the first of the year.

In The Dirt

The Hot Shot’s Secret Pro Pulling League Partners With IHRA And OTTPA

Hot Shot’s Secret has all but reinvented what it means to support and grow diesel motorsports in recent years, and its latest partnership with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) proves once again how committed the company is to bringing top-notch entertainment to the masses. Its alliance with the IHRA has already generated the all-new Fendt High Stakes Series, a truck and tractor pulling circuit that promises unprecedented, record-setting payouts, expanded event coverage, and exclusive content throughout the year. But that’s not all. The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association (OTTPA) is also part of this game-changing alliance. With big prize money on the line, expect to see higher caliber competition, higher competitor turnout, and peak entertainment value from these organizations in the year ahead.

Written by Mike McGlothlin