Diesel drag racing is still a small, tight-knit group of racers who have accomplished amazing things on limited budgets. Often, travel is limited to within a few hours of racers’ hometowns to go spin some tires. So when we saw the very best racers from the West Coast, East Coast, and Canada all show up in one spot, we knew it was something special. Where else but the World Finals can you see a 4-ton dualie racing a ½-ton common-rail swap with a parachute? In this race, Malcolm Smith drove his Cummins-powered Chevy around Brian Carter’s 9-second dualie, which was only able to muster a 10.90-second pass on this occasion.Where else but the World Finals can you see a 4-ton dualie racing a ½-ton common-rail swap What it was, was the NHRDA’s Second Annual World Finals, held in Topeka, Kansas. It was there that champions were crowned in all of the NHRDA’s classes, including E.T. Bracket, Super Diesel, Super Street, Pro Street, Pro Stock, and Top Diesel. Hang on as we bring you the very best that diesel drag racing has to offer! Gord Cooper brought his awesome Detroit Diesel-powered semi down from Canada to run in the Super Diesel Class. The huge rig had no problem with massive, smoky burnouts, or running right on the 11.90 index time.Gord Cooper brought his awesome Detroit Diesel-powered semi down from Canada to run in the The E.T. Bracket Class had racers from all over. Here, a California-based Ford F-350 went up against a Canadian Chevy with a Duramax swap. Both of these trucks are a good example of the variety of vehicles you’ll see at an NHRDA event.The E.T. Bracket Class had racers from all over. Here, a California-based Ford F-350 went Rat Rod diesels are starting to become more and more popular, and Kansas saw these twin flat-black trucks show up. This one was powered by a Cummins and ran 11.90s, while the other was 6.5L-powered and ran in the 13-second zone.Rat Rod diesels are starting to become more and more popular, and Kansas saw these twin fl One of the most exciting classes of the event was Super Street, which mandated a 6,000-pound race weight. This meant a lot of trucks showed up that still looked like real trucks, rather than tube-chassis race vehicles.One of the most exciting classes of the event was Super Street, which mandated a 6,000-pou Josh Gruis’ common-rail Cummins was featured in the March ’11 issue of Diesel Power (“Just One Fix”), but a lot has changed since then. A set of mammoth compound turbos allowed the truck to make 1,197 hp on a chassis dyno and make four-wheel-drive burnouts easy. Josh qualified in First with a 10.08-second pass at 136 mph and made it all the way to the semifinals before he was eliminated by Brian Spooner’s triple-turbo Duramax.Josh Gruis’ common-rail Cummins was featured in the March ’11 issue of Diesel Power (“Just Brian’s triple-turbo Duramax was on a hard charge to the finals until he pushed an injector cup in the semifinal race. With a 9.94-second elapsed time at 144 mph, he was running right with Rob Coddens’ Max’d Out truck, which went on to be the overall winner.Brian’s triple-turbo Duramax was on a hard charge to the finals until he pushed an injecto Eric Stelly’s ’08 Chevy was another strong Super Street contender, as the white Duramax qualified Fourth with a 10.33-second effort. He was also taken out in the quarterfinals by Brian Spooner.Eric Stelly’s ’08 Chevy was another strong Super Street contender, as the white Duramax qu Rob Coddens hot-lapped his Max’d Out truck to an overall victory and then ran a blazing 9.69 seconds at 148 mph on a final bye run to send a signal to the competition that he’ll be the man to beat for next year, too.Rob Coddens hot-lapped his Max’d Out truck to an overall victory and then ran a blazing 9. Phil Taylor blew an intercooler boot so violently that it knocked the front bumper off the truck—and then he ran over it. Still, the truck qualified with a 10.0-second effort at only 110 mph.Phil Taylor blew an intercooler boot so violently that it knocked the front bumper off the Aaron Rudolph has run as quick as 9.49 seconds at 147 mph in his 6.4L-powered Super Duty, but at the Topeka event he had issues. His truck made a 10.07-second pass at 138 mph but couldn’t make the first-round call despite his team’s hard work to get the Ford fixed.Aaron Rudolph has run as quick as 9.49 seconds at 147 mph in his 6.4L-powered Super Duty, Two of the most exciting trucks in attendance were the wheels-up ’90 Chevy owned by Malcolm Cross, and the ’97 Ford Lighting driven by Zane Koch. Malcolm ran a 9.65 in qualifying, but Zane was pulling away until motor issues sent some flames out the stack, and the Lighting nosed over.Two of the most exciting trucks in attendance were the wheels-up ’90 Chevy owned by Malcol The ultra-reliable Scheid dragster pushed through the beams on what looked to be a 7-second effort, and then later it did the unthinkable—it broke. That didn’t stop us from getting this cool burnout shot, though.The ultra-reliable Scheid dragster pushed through the beams on what looked to be a 7-secon Darren Morrison cut a 0.19-second light before slipping and sliding to an 8.32-second elapsed time at 139 mph. The Warren County Diesel truck driven by Rob Houslett had run a wheels-up 9.97-second pass in qualifying, despite the transmission not shifting into Fourth. In the finals, a slow reaction time combined with problems gave Darren the win.Darren Morrison cut a 0.19-second light before slipping and sliding to an 8.32-second elap The Top Diesel final saw Mike Wood’s dragster, driven by Emily Herod, face the High Tech Turbo-sponsored altered driven by Matt Handwork. After a quick 0.11-second light, Emily went on to take the victory with an 8.13- second pass at 173 mph.The Top Diesel final saw Mike Wood’s dragster, driven by Emily Herod, face the High Tech T The Pro Street final was held under the cover of night and featured Harvey Grant’s ’87 Ramcharger against Phillip Palmer’s ever-reliable ’94 Dodge. Both trucks launched hard, but the Ramcharger spilled coolant under the tires and coasted to an 11.95 at 90 mph, while Team Green Dodge sped on to a 9.60-second winning effort at 144 mph.The Pro Street final was held under the cover of night and featured Harvey Grant’s ’87 Ram By Jason Sands Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
