Recently, we attended Fred Owens' Truck Drags, an event held every year in Sacramento, California, featuring both gas- and diesel-powered vehicles battling it out down the quartermile. Sponsored by Orangevale Diesel, more than 100 trucks showed up this year, and more than half of them were diesels. We picked 10 of the quickest and most interesting trucks, and found out what makes these bad boys tick. So, hang on for quite a ride as we take an in-depth look at these 10-, 11-, and 12-second trucks.
Kathy McSwain
Hometown: Norco, California
Year/Make/Model: '06 GMC 2500HD
Engine: 6.6L Duramax LBZ
Turbocharger(s): Stock
Injection Pump(s): Stock
Injectors: Stock
Intercooler: Stock
Intake: Banks Ram-Air
Programming: Patrick McSwain using EFILive
Power Adders: None
Exhaust System: Bassani 4-inch with Diamond Eye downpipe
Lift Pump: PPE
Transmission Type: Allison six-speed built by Inglewood Transmission using Sun Coast parts
Torque Converter/Clutch: Sun Coast 1057
Suspension Modifications: Tie-rod sleeves and Cognito centerlink braces
Axle Gear Ratio: 3.73
Weight: 6,780 pounds
Best E.T.: 12.50 @ 107 mph
Rear Wheel Horsepower: 542 hp
Why it's cool: Kathy McSwain is another competitor who is doing more with less. Her truck proves how fast these new Duramax-powered trucks can be with a few simple modifications, and some good tuning.
Brad Ponci
Hometown: Fortuna, California
Year/Make/Model: '94 Dodge 2500
Engine: 5.9L Cummins 12-valve
Turbocharger(s): Compound turbos, 64mm/74mm with dual wastegates
Injection Pump(s): 160hp P-pump, 5,000rpm governor spring kit, custom delivery valves and holders, custom fuel plate, modified AFC, and dual fuel inlets
Injectors: Custom 80-liter-per-minute injectors from Dynomite Diesel
Intercooler: Stock
Intake: Custom
Power Adders: None
Exhaust System: 5-inch custom
Lift Pump: FASS 180 gph
Transmission Type: Ponci's Diesel/Goerend full-billet automatic
Torque Converter/Clutch: Goerend triple-disc
Suspension Modifications: Custom traction bars
Axle Gear Ratio: 3.54
Other: O-ringed head with head studs
Weight: 6,400 pounds
Best E.T.: 11.31 @ 120 mph
Rear Wheel Horsepower: est. 700 hp
Why it's cool: Brad is adamant that proper pump tuning is key to good performance. He notes that his truck still has a 160hp pump which has never been off the truck, yet it still has enough fuel to run deep in the 11-second zone and make more than 700 horsepower. Believe it or not, the truck also has 250,000 miles on it.