2018 ULTIMATE CALLOUT CHALLENGE

trucks started out fast and hard by running in the low 9s. While the lightweight trucks of Miller and Delekta were the favorites, we were amazed as truck after truck got the launch at the tune down and dipped into the 8-second zone.

The Cummins-powered, Super Street spec Ford driven by Chris Buhidar blasted off an 8.57 at 165 mph while weighing more than 6,100 pounds. A few tenths back (and with a great back-half) was the Jag’s Pro Truck entry, which nailed an 8.74 at a blazing 160 mph. The 8.80s were also an area that saw more than one ride, starting with Shawn Baca’s. Baca has always struggled at the track, but this year he had his “Master Shredder” ride dialed in, and clicked off an impressive 8.88-second elapsed time. The top of the field was an all-cummins affair until Wade Minter managed to place in the 8s, clicking off an 8.89-second elapsed time in his Duramax-powered Chevy. The 8-second pack would also be joined by Cody Hale of Anarchy Diesel, Donovan Harris in the Armor Inc./ Dynomite Diesel Products entry (at 8.58!), and Justin Andres, who drove what would be the first all-steel truck (that we know of) to crack into the 8-second zone.

Just a couple years ago 9s would have put your truck toward the top of the UCC ladder at the drag races, but this year Anthony Reams’s 9.06-second run put him in tenth place. There were other notable 9-second performances, including the 9.24-second run by the Duramax/allison combination of Husker Diesel, and the impressive 9.56-second run by Jesse Warren’s compound-turbo 6.0L Ford. The 10s and 11s were littered with a combination of heavier trucks and others that had problems. Power Driven Diesel did well at last year’s sled pull, and they were more than anxious to make a good showing at the drags this year. A 10.00-second run would be their best pass, however, as they would be sidelined by

 Derek Rose had nothing but trouble at the dragstrip yet still managed to click off a 9.08 at 131 mph without shifting into overdrive. Rose is confident the truck has mid 8s in it with more tuning.

 The JA Performance Dodge of Justin Andres doesn’t look like an 8-second truck, but it is. This Dodge still has a full interior, stock dash and steel bed. It made a heroic 8.94-second pass before being permanently put out of competition due to engine damage.

 The Banghart Diesel truck started out the day with a solid 9.37-second run that would lead the way to a solid showing in all three events.

 Jesse Warren in the Warren Diesel Injection Ford was the Blue Oval favorite, as he’d already finished strong in 2017. After dropping some weight out of the truck, his dragstrip time improved by nearly a half a second to 9.60 at 141 mph.

 Josh Gruis from Jag’s Diesel Motorsports brought a gun to a gunfight with his lightweight Dodge. The 5,500-pound truck ran an 8.74 at 160 mph, justifying the need for that parachute.