Day Two: Diesel Power Challenge at Bandimere Speedway

The events for Day Two of the Diesel Power Challenge take place at Bandimere Speedway, the historic quarter-mile drag strip tucked against the mountains just outside Morrison, Colorado. The speedway opened in 1958 with many of the great drag racers of all time showing their stuff here.

Because we were asked not to publish scores till released by the magazine, this will be written only to give a sense of the day. Follow #DPC14 to learn outcomes.

Trailer Tow
First event for the day is the Trailer Tow. This is a test of driver skill, but it is also timed. Fastest score wins. The drivers must tow a 10,000-pound trailer through a course of cones and park back where they started within a specified area. Minus ten points for moving a cone. Double penalty for hitting the AMSOIL boxes.

At the drivers meeting Sean Holman explained the rules for this event, after which they all walked the course as a group to see it up close. Finally, they were shown what a good run would go like. The running order was announced and the first driver

Diesel products manager Mark Nyholm places a Go-pro.

Here's how they fared: #3 Lavon Miller of Plain City, Ohio had no power steering but managed to do a very clean run.
#10 Danick St. Pierre took a tentative rather than aggressive approach and had a clean run.
#7 Ryan Anderson of Michigan did a very fast, clean run.
#9 Troy Sankey also had a fast clean run, and best run of the morning at a minute and a second.
#1 Wesley Beech won this event last year, and had the first run with problems. He knocked down one cone and re-set it up with the trailer, but by the end knocked down a second.
#5 Matt Kauffman had a good clean run. .
#4 Shilo Ellingford seemed to be strong, but unfortunately knocked down three cones as he backed into the box at the end.
#8 Dan Howard had the biggest struggle on the Trailer Tow, especially while backing through the straight chute, and by the end had some other troubles.
#2 Dan Manary and #6  Cory Chomos have dropped out due to vehicle issues and did not run today.

1/8 Mile Trailer Tow

Instead of showing towing finesse, the competitors had to show their power on the track. Each would get only one run. Here was how they fared...
Oh, wait. We can't tell you that yet.









1/4 Mile Drag

ROUND ONE: Time Trials
The quarter mile drag goes like this. The trucks make as many passes as they can in a half an hour. Based on how they placed in their solo time trials they would then be bracketed for side by side showdowns till there is only one truck standing.

Here are some of the scores on those solo passes. The first up was #9, Troy Sankey in his 2006 Chevy who ran 12.59 or 116.14 mph.
Dan Howard followed with a 14.59.
Matt Kauffman came out and ran a 13.708.
Lavon Miller had a sidewinder start but made a solid run at 11.304 in his Ram 3500.
Danick St. Pierre: 11.831
Wes Beech:  13.285 first run, 12.517 second.
Ryan Anderson  had a halting start... 16.249
Dan Howard again, 15.022...
Shilo Ellingsford.... 12.461 elapsed time but fasted mph at 127.28
All was compiled into a running order for side by side competition.

ROUND TWO: Side by Side   

After the first round was completed, this is how they were bracketed:
Ryan Anderson vs. Lavon Miller:
Wes Beech and Matt Kauffman:
Troy Sankey and Danick St. Pierre:
Shilo Ellingsford and Dan Howard.

ROUND THREE: Final Four
You will find out when soon I hope. Lots of drama, thrills and heartache.

Meantime.... Thursday is Day Three, beginning with the 150 Fuel Economy Run.

Stay tuned.

Diesel Power Challenge: King of the Hill

The three events of day two were conducted at the Bandimere Speedway which is tucked into the picturesque ridges of Western Denver. At the beginning of the day there were nine trucks left after the loss of one on the dyno. By the third morning four more will have been eliminated.

The first challenge was the 1/4-mile drag racing. Trucks could take as many passes as they desired to best one another and here is how they finished.

1. Joel Saunders - 11.267 @ 125.62mph
2. Newly Tolf - 11.417 @ 125.41mph
3. Dmitri Millard -11.621 @ 117.77mph
4. Rocky Horn - 11.775 @ 112.18mph
5. Fidel Valasquez - 11.864 @ 116.87mph
6. Andy Parker - 12.026 @ 114.26mph
7. Dustin West - 12.450 @ 112.87mph
8. Shone Patel - 13.869 @ 69.31mph
9. Scott Lindsey - 14.524 @ 61.86mph

After a lunch break a five-ton trailer laden with a Bobcat was brought out onto the track. More drag racing ensued, but this new variable did create problems for some and when all was said and done we only had seven trucks left. Here's how they finished on this second challenge of the day:

1. Rocky Horn - 10.244 @ 72.38mph
2. Joel Saunders - 10.627 @ 73.34mph
3. Andy Parker - 11.014 @ 69.14mph
4. Dustin West - 11.525 @ 65.54mph
5. Fidel Velasquez - 11.611 @ 67.54mph
6. Newly Tolf - 12.676 @ 62.01mph
7. Scott Lindsey - 17.028 @ 60.63mph

The third challenge at Bandimere was conducted up in the parking lot above the raceway. In this event the trucks had to demonstrate speed and skill at executing a course while pulling the Bobcat trailer. The course involved tight turns and several places where backing up was required. Points would be deducted for knocking over cones which lined the various facets of the course.

Thursday morning broke sunny with clear blue skies as the last five trucks went to fill up their tanks for the 150 mile ride to test these vehicles for fuel economy. Yes, the challenge includes verifying that these behemoths are also roadworthy. The fuel economy results would be used for breaking any tie in the scoring, and it did indeed become a factor.

The afternoon challenge, the sled pull, was held out at Keenesburg Fairgrounds north of Denver along Highway 76. Each of the five remaining diesels gave it their best shot pulling a 50,000 pound sled donated by the NSPA, courtesy Ron Greene, Clint Cannon and Michael Sulley. When the dust had cleared, literally, the final points were calculated and the drivers were assembled for the awarding of trophies for the top three.

As it turned out, Newly Tolf and Andy Parker tied for fourth, but Andy had a better score in the fuel economy run, so Newly was bumped to fifth overall. Impressive in light of the competition coming into this thing. Third place, and a trophy, went to Joel Saunders in his 2006 Dodge Ram 2500.

Second place was captured by Dustin West of Godley, Texas in a red 2005 Dodge Ram 2500. These young 'uns showed they were definitely up to the challenge this week, and appeared to have a lot of fun throughout.

After all was said and done, our new champion turned out to be Rocky Horn with his 1997 Ford F-350 powered by a Cummins engine. This was not the first rodeo for the quiet but affable Horn who has taken second place two consecutive years in the NSPA Super Street Diesel Class. For his efforts he'll receive well deserved recognition in Diesel Power magazine this fall and a $500 shopping spree from AMSOIL.

David Kennedy noted that the competition is ratcheting higher every year. "The worst dyno score in 2011 was better than the best horsepower numbers five years ago," he said. Next year we'll undoubtedly see even more.

In the meantime, look for plenty of coverage in upcoming issues of Diesel Power, and in the DVD being produced for this event. Congratulations, Rocky!

Pictured: Winner Rocky Horn with Mark Nyholm, Technical Manager from AMSOIL.

Diesel Power Challenge Just Days Away

The much-anticipated 2011 Diesel Power Challenge is nearing, and 13 competitors are gearing up to bring their rigs to Denver for this invitational event starting May 3rd. AMSOIL will be on hand to witness the 3-day torture test that will determine who owns the ultimate diesel: will it be a Chevy, Ford or Dodge this year? Read on to see what challenges are in store for these competitors.

Day One: Stress Testing
All trucks will be hooked up to a chassis dyno to see how much torque and power each truck is capable of. Day one gives everyone a good gauge into who has what it takes and, in the words of Diesel Power Magazine, who brought a knife to a gunfight.

Day Two: Track Day
Day two finds competitors at the drag strip to see which of the trucks not only has the power, but the speed to back it up. After taking their first run, a 10,000-lb trailer is hitched to the truck to see who can haul it the fastest down the eight-mile. Day two will end with an all-new event for 2011 called Trailer Maneuvering, designed to keep competitors on their toes. Details on this new event are scarce, which could be telling of the magnitude of this new challenge.

Day Three: Convoy & Tug-of-War
Beginning the final day at dawn, the trucks will be fueled up, weighed, and sent out on a 150-mile road trip to gauge fuel economy and durability. While this may seem to be the easiest part of the challenge, these points count and could end up determining the final outcome for the winner. After the road trip, any trucks still standing will be hooked up to a 30,000-lb sled in an extreme game of tug-of-war. Whoever takes the sled the furthest gets the points, and in this challenge every point counts.

After all events are complete the truck still standing with the most points is declared winner and owner of the best diesel truck in North America. Check back next week here on the AMSOIL website for live updates and details on how it all goes down.

Top right: Trucks in staging at a raceway outside Nashville, Day 2 at last year's Diesel Power Challenge

2010 Diesel Power Challenge: And the Winner is…

Dimitri Millard of Highland, UT took home the title of Ultimate Diesel Truck owner in the 2010 Diesel Power Challenge in an extremely close race for first. His 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD was tied with Brian Parker and his 2006 Dodge Ram 2500, where it ultimately came down to the fuel economy test to break the tie.

Despite heavy flooding with up to ten feet of water at the track in Bowling Green, the show went on by moving to an alternate track in Nashville. After three days of challenges including a dyno test, 1/8 mile drag race, 30,000-lb sled pull and fuel economy test, these trucks were categorically pushed to their limits. Out of 15 capable competitors, this years’ challenge humbled 4 of some of the mightiest diesel trucks in the nation and took them out of the running.

Full coverage of the 2010 Diesel Power Challenge will be forthcoming in future issues of Diesel Power Magazine, as well as a DVD of the action. As producer of the world’s finest synthetic lubricants, AMSOIL looks forward to providing more diesel powerhouses with that extra edge in future Diesel Power Challenges.

How They Finished
1st:
Dimitri Millard of Highland UT
2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HS

2nd:
Brian Parker of Milton, KY
2006 Dodge Ram 2500

3rd:
Dustin Mintern of Greenville, NC
2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Look for the full finishing order in Diesel Power magazine later this fall.

Photos: Dmitri's red #7 threw down good numbers on both the dyno and on the track to get things started, and held on against stunning competition to bring it on home.

DPC Day Two: Music City Raceway

Due to the weekend's inclement weather (i.e. excessive rainfall) the Beach Bend Raceway found itself underwater this week. Fortunately, this part of the country features an assortment of alternative venues and Day Two of the Diesel Power Challenge (DPC) was held just outside of Nashville at a sweet little track called Music City Raceway. The weather was perfect for a trio of events to be conducted here.

The first, straight up eighth mile drags. The track was prepped, the trucks dialed in, and the morning open for as many passes as the competitors dared. Dared is the right word because when putting this much power down, things can and often do break. It takes courage to see what these trucks are really capable of. The second event today was to run the same eighth mile but towing a 10,000 pound load.

The final challenge today, which has never been part of the challenge before, was a braking test. How quickly can the trucks come to a complete stop at sixty miles per hour. This challenge the morning's fuel economy tour were to be used to determine a winner in the event of a tie.

Robert Evans, last year's champion, had to withdraw due to issues they were unable to resolve yesterday. His mood was upbeat, like the champion he is. In fact, most of these competitors have learned through first hand experience that when pushing equipment to the extreme, breakdowns show you where your limits are.

We asked Diesel Power magazine editor David Kennedy how the DPC came about. He explained, "I think we were looking for a format to sanction diesel performance. Not just one kind of drag racer or sled pulling where it gets really extreme, but the kind of diesel performance that a guy could drive his truck and relate to every day. That’s the key to this event is that these trucks are becoming more and more impressive every year but is still based on a truck that has a license plate the guy could drive to work back and forth and that really shows the power of diesel."

Diesel power is impressive. AMSOIL has been impressed by the commitment and creativity of the participants. But tomorrow afternoon, only one truck will go home champion for 2010. Will it be a Dodge, Ford or Chev? Last year, Team Cummins got the honors and Robert Evans also received a $500 AMSOIL Shopping Spree.

Photo Captions
Top Right: Camera crew films Molly Brown introducing the action here at Music City Raceway.
Top Left: A pair of the many passes down the 1/8 mile. A number of the trucks laid down truly spectacular numbers.
Mid-Right: Self-explanatory... Action, Take One... the Brake Test.
Lower Left: It's all about power.
Lower Right: It's a CAT. The crew hooks up the trailer with a 10,000 pound load. This is the real thing.

Diesel Power Challenge, Day One

Bad weather hit hard this weekend with floods ravaging communities from Tennessee to Georgia but today, here in Bowling Green, the sun was hot and the sky blue as sixteen diesels from around the country gathered for the 2010 Diesel Power Challenge (DPC). It is the second year this event was scheduled for Bowling Green, but there's been a twist. Day two will not be held at the Beach Bend drag strip because Beach Bend is ten feet underwater. Tomorrow we'll head down the highway to an alternate track outside Nashville. But that's another story.

The DPC begins long before this first week in May here in Bowling Green. It begins months in advance as the magazine invites diesel enthusiasts to send in their truck photos and specifications for consideration to participate in the challenge. The first challenge is for the editors and publishers of Diesel Power magazine, to narrow the field down to five contenders from each diesel brand, plus last year's champion Robert Evans of Nevada.

The week itself actually began Monday evening as director Larry Saarvela assembled the Source Interlink staff and a freelance film crew from Nashville to go over the details of what the week would consist of.

This is a made for TV event that provides editorial content for the magazine. This is the fourth year AMSOIL has been a sponsor of the event which, this year, will also be a ninety minute program on the Outdoor Channel, which reaches 30 to 40 million households. The major manufacturers -- Ford, Chevy and Dodge -- have also become increasingly interested in how their vehicles are being modified for these ultimate tests.

Day One is the dyno test, at TS Performance. It's a somewhat time consuming affair but emotional for every team as they strive to pull the best numbers possible. The somewhat tedious task of tying down each vehicle can make the day drag, but the end result can be exhilarating. Occasionally there is even some unexpected drama, but you'll have to wait for the DVD to see what that was about.

Here are a few photos to give a feel for what we're seeing here, knowing the best is yet to come.

Top Right: Editor David Kennedy shows the film crew the primary features of these diesel gladiators that are the stars of the show, highlighting key areas to watch for trouble and other things to highlight.

Top Left: An example of the level of sophistication many of these competitors bring to Bowling Green. This cockpit has every sensor dialed in to allow optimal adjustments at every stage of the game.

Lower Right: Molly Brown, AMSOIL Technical Product Manager, is again serving as the on air spokesperson for the Diesel Power Challenge, here being filmed interviewing one of the competitors just before he gets hooked onto the dyno.

2009 Diesel Power Challenge Hits News Stands Everywhere

Back in May, Diesel Power Magazine orchestrated another successful Diesel Power Challenge with AMSOIL on board for the third year as a major sponsor. With each year steadily getting better, Diesel Power Magazine called the 2009 challenge the ‘best event yet’ with competitors showing no signs of slowing or stopping.

Coverage of the event includes two lengthy stories appearing in the August and September issues of Diesel Power. The August issue provided overviews of the competitors, with all the details surrounding each of their modified machines. The September feature, more than forty pages worth, is titled Diesel Death Match, featuring 14 diesel guzzling, fire-snorting monsters producing enough horsepower and torque to make a diesel lover swoon. The setups ranged from mild to wild in this competition, which in the end produced one winner.

To quickly recap, the Diesel Power Challenge pits 15 trucks against one another in a series of tests designed to reveal the nation’s ultimate street-legal diesel powered vehicle. Readers of Diesel Power Magazine vote and decide on the final roster of competitors, but only one emerges with the title. In a three-day period, these diesels are put through trials and tribulations designed to dismantle the trucks not fit to be crowned all while a film crew is on hand to capture each moment, whether they fail, prevail or both.

Overall Robert Evans of Reno, NV took home the glory, but the others didn’t make it easy for him and it was close right up to the end. Each year brings out the drive, determination, and the desire to win within every competitor. With a fierce passion to build a truck that has the wherewithal to defeat each phase of this challenge, builders arrive ready to prove themselves. AMSOIL is always pleased to be on board providing lubricants that can withstand these rigorous conditions and help conquer the course.

This year’s event will be aired on Four Wheeler Television on the Outdoor Channel sometime in the fourth quarter. And be sure to subscribe to Diesel Power Magazine so you can have your say in who will be at next year’s challenge by voting online in Spring 2010. Only time will tell if Robert Evans can defend his title next year, or if the torch will be passed to the next worthy diesel-powered champion.

It’s impossible to leave this subject without mentioning the two new premium API CJ-4 diesel oils AMSOIL introduced this spring. For diesel empowerment, choose AMSOIL.

Diesel Power Challenge: Live From Bowling Green

Day one from Bowling Green is complete. The Diesel Power Challenge has been putting fifteen contenders to the test here. The first test was whether the weather would break after two weeks of rain. A few of the teams were still doing work on their trucks late last night, in the drizzle.

The first day consisted of three events. Two were held at Beech Bend Raceway Park. The day began with prepping the track, removing the last vestiges of moisture so tires could get a grip. This delay gave us ample time to visit with many if not most of the teams to see what kinds of strategies they were planning, what modifications they’d made, etc. Some were looking for speed, some were hooked up for power.

Once the strip was prepared, the trucks could make as many passes as they liked in an effort to choose their best score for fastest time. It was quite dramatic when the fellow with the fastest truck decided to take another pass just because it was an empty track awaiting him. Boom. Was he going to be out for the count? Or could repairs be made in time for the next event, pulling a ten thousand pount caterpillar a quarter mile.

Several trucks had unfortunate experiences in round one, but most bounced back with fast work and quick thinking.

The third portion of the day was the dyno competition, hosted by TS Performance. You can be sure these monsters were pulling down some huge numbers.

One reason this event is such a popular feature in the magazine is that it an opportunity for diesel enthusiasts to get an inside look at what their peers and competitors are doing in terms of performance modifications. In addition to the modifications, readers can also learn about the thinking behind these performance related decisions.

A West Coast film crew is on hand to capture footage for the Diesel Power Challenge program that will air later this year on the Four Wheeler TV show. Molly Brown from our AMSOIL Technical Department, who played an instrumental role on the team that developed the new AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oils, has been helping to draw out stories and insights from the builders in a show no diesel enthusiast will want to miss.

Photo Caption: (L to R) DPC competitor Scott Whisenhunt, Molly Brown, film producer Ryan Nonaca, Diesel Power magazine editor David Kennedy, and AMSOIL Dealer Robert Riley.

2009 Diesel Power Challenge Ready to Rumble

AMSOIL is gearing up for another sponsored event in Bowling Green, Kentucky, May 10-12, in partnership with Diesel Power Magazine. The 2009 Diesel Power Challenge pits competitors against one another to find out who has the ultimate street-legal diesel powered vehicle. In a series of events geared towards bringing out the muscle in each of these trucks, diesel fuel must be the primary fuel source during all events. However, modifications, turbochargers, and additives such as nitrous oxide and propane are not only allowed but encouraged.

Over the course of three days the following events will determine whose build has what it takes, but only one will emerge title holder of the Ultimate Diesel-Powered truck.

Day 1
Registration, inspection, and photo shoot for inclusion in an upcoming issue of Diesel Power Magazine.

Day 2
Drag Racing: Each competitor will be given an hour on a speedway to make as many quarter-mile passes in their trucks as possible. The driver who completes the fastest quarter-mile pass will be determined as the winner.

10,000-lb 1/8-mile Trailer Tow: Competitors will attempt to tow a 10,000 pound trailer for a 1/8-mile acceleration run. Each driver is only given one shot, and the truck that completes this in the quickest elapsed time will win this event.

Chassis Dyno: The highest torque output numbers, determined by the operator, will determine the best in this category.

Day 3
100-Mile Fuel Economy Drive: A test in road-worthiness and best fuel economy, this event proves it’s not only about strength and power. After all trucks have been topped off in fuel, a Diesel Power official will lead the group on a 100-mile loop to gauge the fuel economy in each. After 100 miles, the official will top off the fuel again and determine which truck used the most gallons. The truck with the least amount of used fuel will win this event.

Sled Pull: The final leg of the competition is a test in both strength and endurance. Each competitor will attempt to pull a sled for the longest distance, and the top three pullers will then compete for first, second and third place in a pull-off.

After all events have been completed, judges will tally up the scores from each event to determine which truck and driver is worthy of being crowned winner at the trophy ceremony. In addition to being covered in an upcoming issue of Diesel Power Magazine, you can look for the Diesel Power Challenge DVD later this fall. Watch this space next week for results and photos from this years’ Diesel Power Challenge competition.

FILE PHOTO ABOVE IS FROM 2007 EVENT IN SALT LAKE CITY

CLICK TO ENLARGE