Diesel Power Challenge: Day One in the Record Books

Day one at the 2011 Diesel Power Challenge is in the record books. Ten trucks and thirteen hours in the dyno booth at ATS Diesel made for one long day, but with some serious excitement along the way. The last to take a run, Dmitri Millard, was first when all was said and done, but there were a lot of trucks pulling some serious horsepower and torque numbers.

Shone Patel of Olive Branch, Mississippi filled the second slot with his 2008 Ford F-350 Super-Duty. Owen Horst pulled great numbers for third in his 2006 GMC 2500 but blew up in the process as the oil pressure fired the oil fill cap like a mortar shot and a geyser of oil painted an abstract design on the hood. Horst, a Tennessee builder, is out for the rest of the competition.

The first hour today is an open drag strip with the nine trucks taking turns pushing the limits. These guys are pulling some serious numbers in Colorado's thin mountain air. Currently Joel Saunders holds the fastest time with an 11.276 on the quarter mile. Dmitri Millard, after a few runs in the 12.3 area has now taken second away from the superquick Fidel Velasquez with an 11.621. Newly Tolf of Las Vegas, in a Silverado, also cracked the 12 second barrier, an impressive feat in these big trucks.

Bandimere Speedway, nestled in the western ridges of Denver, is an idyllic location for Day Two of this year's competition. Blue skies, decorated with a handful of scattered clouds, make for a perfect day here at the track.

Newly Tolf has now pulled a 11.496 to bump Millard down a notch, so we're seeing Dmitri screeching through several more attempts to regain a higher score. Here's an 11.71, again leaving him short.

Rocky Horn has leaped in front of Fidel with and 11.775 and time is running out to best Saunders in his Dodge Ram, the only black truck in the field. And the ten minute call has just been given. Five or six passes later and time runs out on the field. The first segment of the day is finished. They'll break for lunch and then do the 10,000 lb. trailer pulling drags.

Stay tuned!

A Mile High and Rarin' To Go

Here we are at ATS Performance on Day One of the 2011 Diesel Power Challenge. Yesterday evening the Diesel Power staff hosted a hospitality room for early registrants as they came rolling into Denver from all points of the compass. Editor David Kennedy called Dmitri Millard, last year's winner, to see where he was and he was still ten hours away and apparently planning to pull an all nighter. The longest drive, though, was by Joel Saunders from New Hampshire. By mid-morning today the trucks were glistening in the sun, numbered and bedecked with decals. After a photo shoot prelude, the event was underway.

ATS Diesel Performance has been serving the diesel truck market for nearly two decades, designing and manufacturing hundreds of products for the diesel truck market. Specializing in power and performance, they have made their dyno facilities available for today's competition.

ATS has a very classy facility with engines, turbos and other performance apparatus displayed all about the showroom. At the center of the room is a billiard table which was actually incorporated into the competition in the following manner. Each of the drivers was given a chance to lag for position on the dyno. That is, whoever had the best lag could select when to do their dyno run. Naturally everyone wants to be last so they see what numbers they have to pull to finish best.

Owen Horst from Clarkrange, TN, arrived in his white 2006 GMC and though he'd love to be top dog, he's really "just here to have fun." In preparation, Horst said, "I think it’s just a quest for more horsepower all the time. This year we built the motor again, put heads, cam and twin turbos and a little bit of everything. Last year we were running pretty much stock so now we’re pretty much modified."

David Kennedy, editor of Diesel Power magazine, clearly gets jazzed about this event. We asked how he came to be a truck guy and he said, "I think for me the truck world comes from needing trucks, from growing up in inclement weather and mud in a rural area. Always wanting to go places no matter what it was like outside. So a car, two wheel drive really wouldn’t work for me. A diesel truck gives you the power and versatility to do whatever you want, so its perfect for guys like me."

And for guys like the ten competitors in this year's Diesel Power Challenge. To follow along this week, visit www.dieselpowerchallenge.com.

Catching Up With 2010 Diesel Power Champion Dmitri Millard

The 2011 Diesel Power Challenge event is set to descend on Denver, CO May 3rd and final preparations are being laid out now. 12 diesel-powered rigs have been selected to compete head-to-head against one another and returning champ Dmitri Millard. Dmitri sat down with Jason Thompson, Feature Editor of Diesel Power Magazine, to discuss what it’s like to be the one to beat at this years’ challenge, and why the pressure has eased since he started three years ago.

Following is an excerpt from that interview, with the full article to be posted on the Diesel Power website soon.

Q: How does it feel to be the “returning champ” and having to defend your title?
A: It feels great. First off I want to give a big thanks to Diesel Power and its staff for putting on this one of a kind event.

Q: How are you dealing with the pressure? Is it more than last year?

A: The pressure tastes like chicken. This will be my third year experiencing the Diesel Power event both competing and being on a pit crew. The pre-game jitters are gone now.

Q: Who are your crewmembers this time?

A: Matt Handwork (also a 2010 Diesel Power Challenge competitor), David Browning, Dallas Penn, Chris and Tim from last year

Q: What is your strategy going to be for each event? What’s the game plan?

A: We are going to go for broke on every event. Not holding anything back but our strongest events will be on the rollers and asphalt.

Dmitri will be running his 2001 Chevrolet 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4 in this years’ challenge. Modifications are extensive and of course, AMSOIL is powering the engine to ensure it can take the heat of the 2011 Diesel Power Challenge. Will Millard hang on to his title? Check back often as we draw closer to the event start May 3rd for info on other participants and the rigs they are bringing to battle. This invite-only event is closed to the public, but AMSOIL will be providing exclusive live updates from company reps on site watching it all go down.

Photos courtesy Diesel Power magazine.