10-Speeds To The Front!
Presidential pardons, a freedom to fix memorandum, 6.0L cylinder head tech, and a 10-speed Allison equipped L5P Duramax dominates in the dirt.
New truck, First Place. We’ve seen late-model diesels drop the dovetail and hook to the sled in the past, but never quite like this. Kane Becker put his father’s 2025 Silverado 3500 at the front of the pack last week in Manson, Iowa. The like-new L5P Duramax-powered Bow Tie won the 9,000-pound Stock Diesel class thanks in part to Blake Crenshaw’s (UDT Tuned) keyboard wizardry. The E42 ECM was treated to a custom-tailored, max-effort calibration—along with a sled-friendly TCM file that keeps the 10L1000 Allison in Sixth gear (4-Low) and the torque converter locked. With peak power making it to all six tires, there was no stopping Kane’s hard-charging L5P. Watch the full video of his hook here.
Presidential Pardon(s)
Aaron Rudolf (And Others) Granted Clemency
After fighting a legal battle with the Environmental Protection Agency that stretched more than a decade, founder and owner of Rudy’s Performance Parts, Aaron Rudolf, was pardoned by President Donald Trump on Friday. Charged with alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and subsequently persecuted, Rudolf (“Rudy”) was facing a $7 million civil penalty following a consent decree that was signed in May of 2024. In a statement released on Facebook, a humbled Rudy stated he believed the day would never come—and promptly thanked President Trump for the pardon.
Rudy went on the say that “the 2007 diesel emissions standards created widespread reliability problems that affected countless hardworking Americans who depended on their trucks to earn a living and support their families.” He continued, “I believe protecting the environment and having effective emissions standards are important. But those standards should be based on sound science and implemented in a way that doesn’t create unnecessary hardship for the very people they are meant to serve.” Among others, Diesel Freak’s Ryan and Wade LaLone were also pardoned on July 3rd.
Freedom To Fix
President Trump has been on a roll lately when it comes to the automotive industry. Prior to the historical pardons issued last Friday, President Trump signed a Freedom to Fix memorandum, which effectively allows independent shops and even individual owners to repair their own vehicles. The action came after the administration learned that mechanics were being criminally prosecuted (and some even serving prison time) for repairing vehicles and making them more reliable in the process. After the world discovered that both Ford and GM were actively lobbying for legislation to prohibit the average car, truck, and SUV owner from repairing their own vehicles, the memo could not have come at a better time. More details to come here.
Timely PSA From Kill Devil Diesel
KDD’s Industry-Leading Heads Are Often Imitated—But Never Duplicated
When it comes to Power Stroke cylinder heads, it’s undeniable that Kill Devil Diesel has arguably become the best in the business. Unfortunately, that’s made them a target for copycatting. In a recent video with KC Turbos, a set of Kill Devil Diesel 6.0L heads were pitted against a pair of eBay specials. The result? Using starting fluid and a torch, the Kill Devil units (unlapped, no less) proved to have proper valve to valve seat sealing—while the eBay heads leaked like a sieve. It’s proof that you get what you pay for—and that it always pays to buy from a trusted, reputable source, and do it once rather than end up doing all the work twice… Check out the video of the test here.
Upcoming Event
Boosted Blackout
A new business is bringing a fresh event to Paducah, Kentucky the weekend of August 7-9th. The shop’s name is Stack’d Diesel Specialists, the venue is Beacon Dragway, and the event is coined “Boosted Blackout.” The 3-day affair will bring dirt drags, asphalt drags, a dyno competition, a burnout pit, and a show ‘n shine to western Kentucky. Racing classes have been left simple: Work Stock and Unlimited. The mobile chassis dyno, a dual Eddy current load cell unit, will measure horsepower all day Friday, with awards going to the truck that makes the biggest number, as well as the one that incurs the most carnage. If you’re looking for a new event, or an event with a good mix of everything, make sure to add Boosted Blackout to your calendar next month.
Written by Mike McGlothlin
