One of the biggest threats...
One of the biggest threats to take the $1,500 Tough Truck prize was Robert Evens and his Dodge common-rail. With 840 horsepower on the dyno, a 12.27-second run on the dragstrip, and a strong showing in the sled pull, he was a definite threat to Nick D'Amico for overall Tough Truck honors.
It's not often that you see dyno-melting power figures, super-quick dragstrip times, and strong pulling trucks all at one event, but that's exactly what the 2008 NorCal Diesel Rally had in store for the fans who made the drive. Located in Redding, California, and presented by J&H Performance, this event has become one of the leading diesel events in the Northwest. This year there were multiple drag racing and pulling classes, an Outlaw Dyno Shootout, and a Tough Truck Challenge-an event that pits competitors against each other on the dyno, dragstrip, and on the pulling track. Last year's winner was Nick D'Amico, who also won Diesel Power Challenge in 2006. This year Joel Gooch and Harvey Grant (the "J&H" in J&H Performance) made things more interesting by putting a $1,500 bounty on Nick D'Amico for the Tough Truck Challenge, who said he "wasn't going down without a fight." You read right, if anyone other than Nick finished in First Place, they were going to take home $1,500. To see who took the win in the Tough Truck Challenge, and for all the drag racing, dynoing, and sled pulling action you can handle, flip the page as we bring you coverage of the 2008 NorCal Diesel Rally.
 John Esteves was on hand with...  John Esteves was on hand with his 700-horsepower Duramax, which placed a strong second in the sled pull with a distance of 272 feet, along with running a 12.83-second quarter mile. |  Back on the dyno, this '07...  Back on the dyno, this '07 Ford made more than 450 hp at the wheels despite looking like it just came off a dealer's lot. |  Albert Mendes had one of the...  Albert Mendes had one of the coolest looking trucks there, but had problems on the dragstrip and sled pull after posting a 550 horsepower reading on the dyno. |
 Nick wasn't the only truck...  Nick wasn't the only truck in the 11s, as Victor Sileira blasted off an 11.62 at almost 120 mph during the drag racing portion of the event. |  Nick D'Amico proved he was...  Nick D'Amico proved he was a force to be reckoned with early in the afternoon. After making 859 horsepower on the chassis dyno, he went on to run an 11.33-second pass at the dragstrip, a new best for the silver and white rig. |  Chris Werner has a 10-second...  Chris Werner has a 10-second capable truck, but his '01 Dodge went "boom" on this dragstrip pass. He did hold the high mark on the dyno though, with an awesome 1,142-horsepower pull. |