The year that saw diesel’s first-ever 5-second quarter-mile pass, countless 3-second eighth-miles, 315 mph on the salt, and a new diesel door car record.
For the industry, for diesel fans, and especially for us at Green Handle Media, 2024 was a big year. We covered the Outlaw Diesel Super Series circuit from Florida to Indiana to Pennsylvania, brought you an exclusive, inside look at the world’s first diesel Pro 275 car in Jared Ring’s Cummins-powered Cadillac ATS-V, profiled some of the fastest drag racers in the business, introduced you to the latest PlowBoy Diesel creation (a VE-pumped, compound turbo 6.7L first-gen Cummins), took you inside the world of competitive Pro Street truck pulling, and we were even present for a pair of unfortunate race day fires.
As far as new milestones in drag racing is concerned, the record books were extremely busy in 2024. We watched the fastest eighth-mile diesel in existence break its own record on several occasions (Michael Cordova’s rail), the first diesel to ever venture into the 5’s in the quarter-mile (Paul Vasko’s dragster), and Larson Miller lower the diesel door slammer record five separate times in a single weekend. Then came Justin Zeigler’s new Pro Street trap speed record, various new micro records, a new chassis dyno high mark for the 6.0L Power Stroke, and a trio of brand-new diesel land speed records. All of them are catalogued here.
At The ‘Strip
Michael Cordova
Overall 1/8-Mile ET and Trap Speed Record: 3.77 and 209 mph
Mr. Cordova reset the eighth-mile diesel record multiple times in 2024, and it all started at the Outlaw Diesel Revenge event in Indy back in June. There, Michael’s S&S fueled, Freedom built, Cummins-powered dragster broke 2023’s 3.87-second ET record with a 3.83 (at 203 mph, and on a 0.993-second 60-foot). The same pass also marked the first time a diesel had ever gone 200 mph through the ‘660. Following that performance, Michael and team ran a 3.79-second pass at an unreal (and record-setting) 209 mph at the Bluegrass Truck Jam in July. Then, Michael reset his own ET record once more at the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza a month later with a 3.77-second blast.
Paul Vasko
Overall ¼-Mile ET Record: 5.91
The date was November 4th. The venue was Maryland International Raceway. The pass was historical. On the heels of a 1.00-second 60-foot (and a record-setting eighth-mile ET and trap speed for a Duramax of 3.83 at 193 mph), Paul Vasko’s Precision Chassis rail stormed through the quarter-mile in 5.91 seconds—the first-ever 5-second pass for a diesel. The record-setting blast came as a surprise to Paul who, still fine-tuning the car with MTKB Racing, wasn’t expecting to put an ET like that on the board. Needless to say, there may be a lot left in the tank for this sub-2,500-pound dragster. Look for Paul to mix it up in PDRA and NHRA Top Dragster classes in 2025, along with going toe-to-toe with the likes of Michael Cordova, Mattie Graves, and Jared Jones at ODSS races.
Larson Miller
Overall Door Slammer ET and Trap Speed Record: 3.85 at 198 mph
After sewing up the ODSS Pro Mod championship in September, Larson Miller and team Firepunk traded in big tires for drag radials and made an appearance at No Mercy 15. Before the weekend of October 11-13 was through, the Exergy-fueled, D&J Precision Machine, all-aluminum Cummins-powered Duster would lower the diesel door slammer record five (5) separate times. Digging deep into the 3’s, Larson’s quickest pass through the eighth-mile ended with a 3.85 at 198 mph displayed on the board. During the ODSS season, Larson and crew earned the Pro Mod trap speed record in April (194.41 mph), and also surpassed Stainless Diesel’s Johnny Gilbert for the ET high mark (4.101) in June.
Justin Zeigler
Pro Street 1/8-Mile Trap Speed Record: 161.46 MPH
Last year proved a wild ride for Justin Zeigler and the ’06 Pro Street Dodge known as “Dirty Diana.” From kicking off the season with a win in Orlando, to resetting the trap speed record, to making a full-on comeback following a fiery shutdown at Outlaw Diesel Revenge, Justin and “Team No Sleep” were relentless in their pursuit of a repeat ODSS Pro Street championship this year. While Justin and crew ended up second place in points for the season, countless 4.8x passes were made and Justin still owns both the ET and trap speed Pro Street records (a 4.74-second ET set at the Wagler Fall Nationals in 2023, and the 161.46 mph trap speed that was run at Outlaw Diesel Revenge in 2024).
Jimmy Dallaire Beauchemin
4×4 6.7L Power Stroke 1/8-Mile ET And Trap Speed Record: 5.74 at 123 MPH
JDB Diesel Performance’s Jimmy Dallaire Beauchemin definitely gave the Ford camp something to cheer for in 2024. Not only did his Super Duty set the eighth-mile elapsed time and trap speed record for a 4×4 6.7L Power Stroke (a 5.749 at 123.62 mph), but he backed it up with another 5.74 one month later at the Snyder Performance Engineering Outlaw Finals. Still equipped with a factory-based, 6R140 automatic, these E.T. and trap speed numbers also hold the record for Ford’s six-speed TorqShift transmission.
Ethan Patterson
68RFE 1/8-mile ET And Trap Speed Record: 5.66 at 125 MPH
It was a milestone year for the 68RFE platform, made possible by the relentless pursuit of WP Developments’ Ethan Patterson to push the often-hated Chrysler six-speed to new heights. At a private test session, Ethan and his team sent their Pro Street Ram through the eighth-mile in 5.86 seconds, thanks to the company’s full manual valvebody version of the 68RFE. The pass established the first-ever 5-second pass for the transmission. Days later, and following a 1.33-second 60-foot, Ethan put a 5.66 at 125 mph on the board. It all went down on a scorching hot weekend at the Bluegrass Truck Jam in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Zack Pierce
Pro Street 6.4L Power Stroke 1/8-Mile ET and Trap Speed Record: 5.06 at 139 MPH
It may be a micro record, but we couldn’t let this one slip through the cracks. Thanks to a 5.06 at 139.99 mph, Zack Pierce laid claim to the quickest eighth-mile 6.4L-powered Pro Street Ford in the world. And not only did the 5.06-second pass earn him the Pro Street win at the Outlaw Diesel Revenge event in Indy, but it came fresh off of a 5.0x pass the previous round. Zack and his potent Power Stroke would end up third overall in ODSS points for the 2024 season, a promising finish for the Blue Oval camp. You can find all the details on Zack’s nasty 6.4L Power Stroke in our Proven Race Recipes piece.
Michael Carrasco
Overall LML Duramax ET and Trap Speed Records: 6.31 at 113 MPH & 9.81 at 141 MPH
Several GM owners pushed the limits of the LML Duramax last year, and Michael Carrasco topped the list. Back in September, his 7,155-pound, full interior (with ice-cold A/C, no less) crew cab Silverado ripped through the eighth-mile in 6.31 seconds at 113 mph. On the same pass, the truck put up a 9.81 at 141 mph in the 1320—confirming his compound turbo’d LML sends more than 1,400 hp to the wheels. Michael’s build is backed by his friends at All In Truck Performance, WC Fab, and Exergy Performance. And, not to be overlooked, Michael accomplished all of this while sticking with the six-speed Allison transmission—something that’s never been easy to do.
Drew Carter
VP44 Cummins Fuel-Only 1/8-Mile ET Record: 6.26
And you thought the ’98.5-’02 24-valve Cummins was a forgotten platform in diesel motorsports… Not in Drew Carter’s world. For several years, he’s been pushing the limits of his VP44-fueled second-gen, and he set a new fuel-only record at Diesel Truck Wars back in October. His 6.26-second elapsed time (at 108 mph) beat the old fuel-only high mark of 6.277 and represents the quickest a VP44 Dodge has gone A to B in the eighth-mile on diesel alone. With nitrous in the mix, Drew’s friend and fellow competitor, Chris Parker, owns the overall eighth-mile record for a VP44 Cummins at 5.91 seconds. In 2025, Drew plans to break into the 5’s and go after the all-out record.
On The Dyno
Austin Denny
6.0L Power Stroke Chassis Dyno Record: 1,931 hp and 2,880 lb-ft
There is never a dull moment for Austin Denny, nor a lull in his schedule. Unofficially making the Hub City Dirt Drags his can’t-miss, end-of-year bash in recent years, Austin brought his compound turbo’d, Pro Street Super Duty to Wisconsin to do battle both on the dyno and in the dirt. Strapped to the Northwest Dyno Series’ load cell SuperFlow, Austin’s F-250 laid down a record-breaking 1,931 hp and 2,880 lb-ft at the wheels. Don’t be surprised if Austin pursues that 2,000 hp number in 2025. True to form, the day after putting on a show on the dyno, Austin returned to the dirt, ultimately taking the win.
Randy Reyes
2 Destroyed Deck-Plate Cummins Engines In 1 Year
We’re not sure if this is a record or not but toasting two built-to-the-hilt, triple-turbo, and deck-plated Cummins engines in a single year seems like it belongs on our list. The feat was pulled off by the guys at Randy’s Transmissions using the company’s flagship vehicle, “Red Delicious,” to do it. During the first explosion (at U.C.C.), the crankshaft left the block and tried to exit through the oil pan (left), but not before the triple (105mm) GTX55-fed Cummins inhaled a bunch of nitrous and pushed 3,180 hp out to the rear wheels. The second engine would grenade three months later at Diesels In The Mountains, and it would let loose in textbook fashion, with the factory 6.7L block splitting at the cam tunnel. The safety cable kept the head and top portion of the block (sleeves and all) from taking flight. At the time of failure, Red Delicious had cleared 2,791-rwhp.
In The Salt
Pilgrim and Stubbs
A/DS Land Speed Record: 273.313 MPH
For whatever reason, diesels competing in land speed racing don’t get nearly the credit they deserve. Aerodynamics, lightweight, and a powerplant with an ability to sustain big horsepower, mile after mile, are paramount here. The complete package, Pilgrim and Stubbs’ diesel-powered streamliner achieved the A/DS land speed record at Bonneville back in August. Created by Maxwell Industries’ Steve Watt, the chromoly tube chassis streamliner sports a 100-percent carbon fiber body and relies on an Automotive Specialists Racing Engines’ LBZ Duramax—complete with twin, Next Gen Precision 6870 turbos, a Wagler water-to-air intercooler, S&S 250-percent over injectors, two high-speed 12mm CP3’s, and a MoTeC stand-alone ECU with S&S firmware—to get this missile up to speed. The 1,300-plus horsepower Duramax is backed by an air-shifted, seven-speed Liberty transmission.
Tim Boyle
C/DS Land Speed Record: 315.570 MPH
Earning the title of Speed Week’s Fastest Diesel in 2024, Salty Box Racing’s Tim Boyle averaged better than 315 mph behind the wheel of the diesel streamliner known as “Thunder In The Morning.” It took a small army to get Tim into the 300-mph club, but readers will recognize the name Ryan Milliken, of Hardway Performance, at the top of the list of contributors. Milliken is credited with wiring up and then fine-tuning the compound turbo 5.9L Cummins using an S&S/MoTeC control system. Of all the earth-bound rockets present at Speed Week in early August, Thunder In The Morning proved to be the seventh fastest. Not a bad showing for compression-ignition.
Bill Wendt
H/DT Land Speed Record: 144.432 MPH
The last entry from the salt flats is Bill Wendt’s “Mighty Mouse,” a ’47 Crosley pickup with a 1.5L Renault diesel engine under the hood. The 85-year-old Cape Coral, Florida resident spent a decade trying to set a record in Bonneville and in 2024 he finally achieved it. Like the land speed record-setters mentioned above, this one too received support from S&S Diesel Motorsport. In fact, the common-rail inline-four benefits from a stand-alone Bosch MS15 Sport ECU that’s been calibrated by the engine control experts in Seymour, Indiana. Bill and the “Mighty Mouse” set the H/DT class record at 144.432 mph, shattering the previous record of 135 mph and change.
