HEADLINES: On Top Of The World
At drag strips all across the country, diesels are turning up the heat. Everywhere you look, compression-ignition is on the march toward the winner’s circle.
After years of trying, history was made at No Mercy 14 over the weekend. For the first time ever, a diesel-powered vehicle won an X275 race—and the man to do it was Ryan Milliken. Behind the wheel of the infamous glacier blue Nova, Ryan earned the number 1 qualifier spot and was awarded the first-round bye. Then he got to work, going rounds and coming out on top each trip down a tight, South Georgia Motorsports Park track. Ryan met Grady Underwood in the final and won it on the tree. For Hardway Performance, Fleece Performance Engineering, Sun Coast, Tin Soldier Racecars, S&S Diesel Motorsport, Hot Shot’s Secret and everyone else associated with this extraordinary victory, the entire diesel world thanks you!
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Diesels Make A Strong Showing At SGMP
A pair of nasty, Cummins-powered Dodge Rams were also in the house at No Mercy 14—and both of them made it into the semifinals of their respective classes. Fresh off of a Third Place points finish in the ODSS 5.90 Index field, Jerry Parrott put up a fight within the ranks of a very competitive 6.00 Index category. In Pro Truck N/T, Derek Rose mixed it up for a shot at the $5,000 payout. Even though Derek would battle several issues that kept him from winning, data was collected and much was learned. And although Mr. Parrott lost on account of forgetting to lock his transfer case in four-wheel drive, his impressive showing helped further build upon what Ryan Milliken was doing: proving diesel can compete with the quickest vehicles in the world.
Turning A 5.90 Index Truck Loose
Without question, it was a good weekend for Hardway Racing. Hardway customer, Will Cunningham, slapped a fresh set of Hoosier slicks on the General Truck Repair Dodge and brought it to the Shadyside Showdown in Shelby, North Carolina. He then turned his ODSS 5.90 Index Ram loose in the heads-up, Unlimited class and ended up dominating the action. It’s another success story where a diesel proves itself as a platform that can be both fast and consistent—and we love to see it. Will finished fifth in the 5.90 Index points chase for the 2023 ODSS season.
Don’t Call It A Comeback (Yet)
If you remember this Cummins-powered Silverado, you probably recall the time it ran an 8.53-second quarter-mile at 167 mph at the 2017 NHRDA World Finals—an impressive pass for a 6,000-pound behemoth. It was one of Industrial Injection’s flagship vehicles for a period but was sold five years ago. Now, rumor has it that the truck’s former driver, Jared Delekta, has inquired about buying it back. Is a comeback tour in store for this old GM workhorse? We hope so. And hopefully we’ll see those old, spool jet-induced fireballs leaving the hood stack on the starting line…
OEM
Ford Super Duty Production Grinds To A Halt
On October 11, the UAW strike rolled into Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, the automaker’s most profitable operation (and one of the biggest revenue producers in all of the automotive world). Ford fired back, calling the UAW’s actions “wrongheaded” and “grossly irresponsible.” The Super Duty, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator are produced at Ford’s Louisville location, and some 8,700 plant workers will be immediately impacted due to the strike. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. According to Ford, the halt in production will jeopardize nearly a dozen additional Ford operations and supplier networks which, together, employ more than 100,000 people.
