The World's Quickest Diesel Drag Truck
No matter what has been said, speculated, or rumored, the quickest and fastest diesel drag truck on the planet for the last few years has been Dr. Performance's Predator. The first diesel pickup in the 8s, the truck ran an 8-second pass every time it hit the track in Vegas and has run a best of 8.42 at 161 mph.
The Predator also set a DHRA record for the Pro Diesel class in elapsed time (8.61 seconds) and speed (157 mph) in Vegas despite slipping and sliding all over the track. The Predator itself has a Jerry Bickle-built Pro Stock truck chassis and a single-turbo'd, P-pumped, 24-valve Cummins engine. The 24-valve has a Dr. Performance-built P-pump and injectors along with an Industrial Injection turbocharger, which doesn't blow through an intercooler, but instead relies on multiple stages of nitrous to keep the charge temperature down.
The 3,000-pound truck sends 1,400 hp back through a Lenco three-speed manual, which helps generate 1.2-second 60-foot times. What's scary about this truck is that there's a lot left in it. Doc Sadler, co-owner of Dr. Performance, reported he found water in the No. 5 and No. 6 cylinders after Vegas, indicating a leaky head gasket. Not only that, but the truck still has plenty of power left in it if he can ever find a track that will hook. Doc reported that when the truck runs in Indy, he's looking for low 8s, which should keep the Predator firmly on top of the heap.
 The Bentz dragster also had...  The Bentz dragster also had one of the wilder powerplants at the event-a P-pumped, 24-valve with compound turbos and three stages of nitrous. |  A just-for-fun grudge match...  A just-for-fun grudge match was staged between Zane Koch of Wide Open Performance and Richard "Mad Dog" Madsen of Mad Dog Motorsports. The real kicker was they drove each other's truck-Richard was in Zane's white Ford (left), and Zane was in Richard's Fummins. Richard got the jump and ran an arrow-straight 11.29, while something broke in the green bus's front end, and the truck headed toward the wall about 100 feet out. Luckily, Zane corrected out of any trouble and coasted through the traps without any body damage. |  Industrial Injection was there...  Industrial Injection was there with its '04 F-650 and took the Best Ford and Best in Show awards, and it's easy to see why. With a massive airbag lift and trick frame, this unique vehicle made everyone else's trucks look small. |
 Chris Werner was on hand with...  Chris Werner was on hand with his mega-horsepower '01 Ram fitted with a 12-valve Cummins engine that put down some serious power numbers. A few days prior to the DHRA Diesel Nationals, Chris had flat-lined the dyno at 1,200 hp at the May Madness event. New dyno software was loaded in Vegas, and the truck made a record 1,237 rear-wheel horsepower. |  Mad Dog's Fummins-a '95 Ford...  Mad Dog's Fummins-a '95 Ford with a twin-turbo Cummins-brought the house down, spiking 1,150 rear-wheel horsepower on fuel only. He also was nice enough to tow his portable dyno from Utah and later ran a 12-second pass at more than 120 mph in two-wheel drive. |  Sled pulls were a big part...  Sled pulls were a big part of the DHRA event, and three different classes were represented-Work Stock, Street Diesel, and Super Street. Nick D'Amico took home First Place in Street Diesel. |
 In Super Street, Clint Cannon...  In Super Street, Clint Cannon from ATS showed no shortage of power or black smoke with a winning pull of 305 feet with the Boogie Max, his '02 Chevy pulling truck. |  There were also a couple of...  There were also a couple of Modified pullers in Vegas to put on a show. If you've never seen one of these 1,500-plus-horsepower trucks in person, they're truly a sight to behold. | |