Scheid Diesel Extravaganza

1301Dp 01 Scheid Diesel Extravaganza Cummin On Dodge Ram Pulling Sled

Every year, the end of August ushers in the mother of all diesel truck events: the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza. Held at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds in Terre Haute, Indiana, it’s become the premier diesel truck venue in the country. Not only does the Extravaganza host what many consider to be the Super Bowl of sled pulling, but it’s also where you’ll see the quickest diesel vehicles in existence blast down the eighth-mile dragstrip, two chassis dynos measuring horsepower, and a massive show-’n’-shine competition.

In 2012, 15,500 enthusiasts attended the three-day show. Friday and Saturday kicked off with sled pull qualifying for the 2.6 Class trucks, followed by the finals later that night, during which 2.6, 3.0, and Super Stock classes were run. Once again, the Pro Pulling League’s wheels-up, Hot Rod Semi Class concluded Saturday night’s pull. As for drag racing, Crossroads Dragway hosted a test and tune on Friday, ET Bracket and 7.70 Index Classes on Saturday (as well as Pro Street qualifying), and ran all classes on Sunday. With $75,000 in prize money on the line (between the sled pull and drag race), it’s no wonder trucks came from as far away as Utah, Texas, and Florida to compete.

Like thousands of other diesel enthusiasts, we pencil this event in the following year’s calendar as soon as the date becomes available. There’s really no ifs, ands, or buts about it: When it comes to the upper echelon of diesel motorsports, all roads lead to the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza. Read on to see all the action we captured at this year’s show.

2.6 Class (Top 3) Friday Night Sled Pull Finals

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Rob Hall	Chevy	Full pull, 320.60 feet in pull-off
2nd	Adam Hallien	Dodge	Full pull, 317.45 feet in pull-off
3rd	Josh Hlad	Dodge	316.84 feet

1301Dp 05 Scheid Diesel Extravaganza Thunder Struck Dodge Ram Pulling Sled

Hot, dry conditions, along with 84 trucks stirring up the dirt made qualifying for the 2.6 Class finals tough this year— especially if you pulled late in the afternoon. Typically a frontrunner wherever he goes, John Shriver fell victim to this on Friday, but an earlier hook on Saturday yielded him and his high-powered Dodge a Third Place qualifier position.

Hot, dry conditions, along with 84 trucks stirring up the dirt made qualifying for the 2.6

3.0 Class (Top 3)
Friday Night Sled Pull

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Brad Ingram	Dodge	302.56 feet
2nd	Curt Haisley	Dodge	298.62 feet
3rd	Billy Deblasio	Dodge	297.25 feet

2.6 Class (Top 3)
Saturday Night Sled Pull Finals

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Daniel Mooney	Chevy	316.76 feet
2nd	Richard Lowry	Dodge	316.47 feet
3rd	Will Dalenberg	Chevy	313.54 feet

1301Dp 06 Scheid Diesel Extravaganza Ford Super Duty Pulling Sled

A regular top-runner in the Central Ohio Truck Pull Circuit (COTPC), Rocky Roark’s Cummins-powered Ford pulled out 7th and 11th Place finishes in the 3.0 Class.

A regular top-runner in the Central Ohio Truck Pull Circuit (COTPC), Rocky Roark’s Cummins

3.0 Class (Top 3)
Saturday Night Sled Pull

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Curt Haisley	Dodge	361.46 feet
2nd	Chris Muhs	Dodge	358.96 feet
3rd	Tyler Dillard	Dodge	358.14 feet

Super Stock Class (Top 3)
Friday Night Sled Pull

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Kent Crowder	Dodge	299.64 feet
2nd	Shane Kellogg	Dodge	289.40 feet
3rd	Van Haisley	Dodge	287.62 feet

Super Stock Class (Top 3)
Saturday Night Sled Pull

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Shane Kellogg	Dodge	351.87 feet
2nd	Erik Stacey	Chevy (Cummins)	329.92 feet
3rd	Van Haisley	Dodge	328.92 feet

Hot Rod Semi Class (Top 3)
Saturday Night Sled Pull

Place:	Name:	Truck:	Distance:
1st	Mike Laribee	Chevy	331.53 feet
2nd	Mike Haselby	Peterbilt	310.36 feet
3rd	Joe Metzger	Brockway Husky	306.50 feet

Sunday Drag Race Winners
E.T. Bracket: Jonathon Robertson
7.70 Index: Johnny Gilbert
Pro Street: Phil Taylor
Pro Modified: Darren Morrison
Pro Dragster: John Robinson

Although carnage was low this year, some breakage gremlins always surface. During Friday afternoon’s 2.6 Class qualifying session, Jeremy Tedrow’s second-gen Dodge spit this out—a compressor wheel missing every blade. However, a new turbo was installed and Jeremy qualified his way into the big show on Saturday night.
Although carnage was low this year, some breakage gremlins always surface. During Friday a
One staple at the Scheid event is the fact that two chassis dynos are onsite, measuring horsepower from early Friday morning until late Saturday evening. For nearly 12 hours each day, onlookers gather ’round giant screens to see what kind of power each truck makes.
One staple at the Scheid event is the fact that two chassis dynos are onsite, measuring ho
We were pleasantly surprised to see Big Bad Dodge make an appearance. The Ohio-built Super Stock rig that lived on the West Coast for several years (with owner Scott Vorhees) is now owned by Chris Ryan, who hails from Texas. In all, 11 Super Stock trucks would make the call.
We were pleasantly surprised to see Big Bad Dodge make an appearance. The Ohio-built Super

This year’s show ’n’ shine was sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College, and we found this ultra-clean ’91 first-gen sitting under the open implement shed. Owner Steve Glynn drove from Indiana to Alabama to pick up the 180,000-mile, rust-free, original-steel Dodge. If there was a classic diesel trophy to be awarded, this would’ve had our vote.
This year’s show ’n’ shine was sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College, and we found this
Darrek Leis’s 2.6 Class Duramax mixed things up all weekend. Not only was it a top qualifier during the two-day sled pulling action, but the Chevy took home a best of Fifth Place amongst the stiffest competition in the country.
Darrek Leis’s 2.6 Class Duramax mixed things up all weekend. Not only was it a top qualifi
Always tough to beat, Haisley Machine’s Off Constantly truck put in strong efforts in the 3.0 Class. Friday night saw the Dodge take Second Place, followed by a First Place finish on Saturday. An impressive 31 trucks showed up to battle it out in 3.0 this year.
Always tough to beat, Haisley Machine’s Off Constantly truck put in strong efforts in the

DP-Tuner’s new Dynocom chassis dyno was also running all day Friday and Saturday. This H&S-tuned 6.4L Power Stroke laying down 519 hp was just 1 of 81 trucks to grace it.
DP-Tuner’s new Dynocom chassis dyno was also running all day Friday and Saturday. This H&S
Browsing through the pits, we noticed the hood up on Lee Edington’s Pro Stock semi. A single-turbo’d 19.0L (1,150ci) KTA Cummins powers the 20,000-pound Kenworth down the track.
Browsing through the pits, we noticed the hood up on Lee Edington’s Pro Stock semi. A sing
Rules for the Pro Pulling League’s Hot Rod Semi Class dictate a maximum hitch height of just 18 inches (vs. 26 inches for the pickups), DOT-approved rubber (no cut tires), and the factory frame (no tube chassis are allowed). Semis are limited to a two-stage turbocharger system, although many opt to simply run a large single.
Rules for the Pro Pulling League’s Hot Rod Semi Class dictate a maximum hitch height of ju

Like last year, Class 8 trucks hit the dragstrip on Saturday. Kevin Powers took his CAT-powered W900 Kenworth (right) to the final round of eliminations.
Like last year, Class 8 trucks hit the dragstrip on Saturday. Kevin Powers took his CAT-po
Just days before the Extravaganza, the Bean’s Diesel Performance crew took this two-wheel-drive ’99 Super Duty in a trade deal and transformed it into a 12-second drag truck. Treated to a Garrett GTP38R turbo and a set of 300/200 injectors, we’d say the 7.3L under the hood responded well. It ran an 8.16-second eighth-mile at 84 mph the first time we saw it go down the track.
Just days before the Extravaganza, the Bean’s Diesel Performance crew took this two-wheel-
Scheid Diesel employee Jerry Frey has a knack for building unique vehicles in his driveway, and this shortbed 3/4-ton Dodge is no different. Motivated by a 12-valve Cummins, the lightweight, two-wheel-drive Ram clicked off mid-8s with ease.
Scheid Diesel employee Jerry Frey has a knack for building unique vehicles in his driveway

Ryan Millikan’s standard-cab, common-rail Dodge spent the weekend running the 7.70-second Index Class (12.0 Index in the quarter-mile). He took the win on Saturday but broke out in the second round on Sunday (running a 7.68 at 85 mph).
Ryan Millikan’s standard-cab, common-rail Dodge spent the weekend running the 7.70-second
In an eventful head-to-head matchup with Jeff Dean’s Duramax-powered dragster (not shown here), John Robinson, having been beaten on the tree (0.0269 seconds to 0.4092 seconds), still managed to pull off the win in the Pro Dragster Class. The 5.00-second eighth-mile pass at 145 mph was also the quickest 660-foot elapsed time the diesel funny car had ever seen.
In an eventful head-to-head matchup with Jeff Dean’s Duramax-powered dragster (not shown h
For the third year in a row, Georgia native Phil Taylor took home First Place in the Pro Street Class. With 19 of the country’s quickest Pro Street diesel trucks in attendance, this was no small feat. But like previous years, Phil made his 6.46-second final pass look easy.
For the third year in a row, Georgia native Phil Taylor took home First Place in the Pro S