The Best Builds of Every Diesel Power Challenge From I to X

Diesel Power Challenge is our annual, one-of-a-kind performance and endurance competition that pits Ford, GM, and Ram owners—and their trucks—against each other in a battle for diesel supremacy.

Throughout the Challenge, drivers put themselves and their rigs to the test, during multiple tortuous days of drag racing, dyno spinning, trailer towing, sled pulling, and more.

Here’s all the information we’ve been able to dig up about the winners of the first 10 DPCs so you can gain knowledge from their builds. Whether your truck has a Cummins, Duramax, or Power Stroke engine, you should be able to glean information about everything from tuning to fueling to nitrous to turbo setups that may turn your rig into next year’s winner.

Got a truck you’re ready to show off? Send in your specs and photos to: dieselpowerrides@enthusiastnetwork.com. Then, when you’re ready, make sure to submit your application to be a part of Diesel Power Challenge XII.

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2006 West – Nick D’Amico

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Name:Nick D’Amico

Hometown:Sacramento, California

Vehicle: 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Engine:6.6L Duramax V-8 LB7

Electronics:TTS Power Systems programmer and tuning

Induction:Stock single turbo

Injectors:Stock

Injection pump(s):TTS Power Systems

Lift pump:TTS Power Systems dual CP3 kit

Intake:Airaid

Intercooler:Stock

Injectables:Nitrous Express nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:MBRP 5-inch and MBRP 5-inch stack

Transmission:Allison 1000 automatic with TTS triple-disc torque converter

Suspension:CalTracs centerlink and tie-rod sleeves; and Bilstein shocks

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Eaton ELocker front and Torsen rear

Wheels:17-inch Weld

Tires:285/70R17 BFGoodrich

Other:NA

DPC Results

Power:721 hpTorque:1,369 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:12.0 seconds

1/8-mile trailer tow:12.1 seconds

Sled pull:236 feet

Fuel economy:17.5 mpg

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2006 East – Micheal Tomac

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Name:Micheal Tomac

Hometown:Caledonia, Michigan

Vehicle:2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Odometer:113,000 miles

Engine:6.6L Duramax V-8 LB7

Electronics:EFILive tuning by Kennedy Diesel

Induction:ATS Aurora 5000 single turbo

Injectors:Kennedy Diesel 20-percent-over

Injection pump(s):PPE Dual Fueler CP3 kit

Lift pump:Kennedy Diesel

Intake:Custom with K&N filter

Intercooler:Stock

Injectables:NOS single-stage nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:ATS 4-inch downpipe and MBRP 4-inch stack

Transmission:ATS Extreme LCT-1000 Allison 1000 automatic and ATS Five Star torque converter

Suspension:Stock with Rancho 9000 shocks

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Eaton ELocker in front and stock rear

Wheels:17x8.5 Hummer H2

Tires:315/70R17 BFGoodrich A/T

Other:NA

DPC ResultsPower:623 hp

Torque:1,065 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:12.156 seconds at 111.48 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:10.947 seconds

Sled pull:331 feet

Fuel economy:22.03 mpg

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2007 – Micheal Tomac

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Name:Micheal Tomac

Hometown:Caledonia, Michigan

Vehicle:2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Odometer:113,000 miles

Engine:6.6L Duramax V-8 LB7

Electronics:EFILive by Kennedy Diesel

Induction:ATS Aurora 5000 single turbo

Injectors:Kennedy Diesel 40-percent-over

Injection pump(s):ATS Twin Fueler CP3 kit

Lift pump:Kennedy Diesel Twin Pump system

Intake:Custom with K&N filter

Intercooler:Banks Power Techni-Cooler

Injectables:NOS single-stage nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:4-inch downpipe and MBRP 4-inch stack

Transmission:ATS Extreme full-billet Allison 1000 automatic with ATS Five Star torque converter

Suspension:Custom ladder bars and bumpstops

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Eaton ELocker in front and stock rear

Wheels:17x8.5 Hummer H2

Tires:315/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain

Other:SoCal Diesel CNC Stage II heads, ARP head studs, SoCal Diesel pistons, and Crower billet rods

DPC Results

Power:750 hp

Torque:1,300 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:11.55 seconds at 122 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:10.72 seconds at 72 mph

Sled pull:319 feet

Fuel economy:20.87 mpg

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2008 – Chris Werner

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Name:Chris Werner

Hometown:Redding, California

Vehicle:2001 Dodge Ram 2500

Odometer:170,503 miles

Engine:5.9L Cummins I-6 12-valve

Electronics:None (mechanical injection)

Induction:Custom turbo engineering by Jefferson State Diesel; compound turbos

Injectors:Dynomite Diesel Performance

Injection pump(s):Dynomite Diesel Performance 12mm P-pump

Lift pump:FASS 125-gph

Intake:AFE

Intercooler:Stock

Injectables:Single-stage nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:Jefferson State Diesel header and custom 5-inch stacks

Transmission:47RE automatic by J&H Performance with Spec-Rite torque converter

Suspension:Stock lowered

Axle ratios:3.55:1

Differentials:ARB air lockers in front and rear

Wheels:20-inch MB Motoring

Tires:305/50R20 Toyo Open Country A/T

Other:NA

DPC Results

Power:NA

Torque:1,426 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:11.41 seconds at 120 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:12.12 seconds at 63 mph

Sled pull:225 feet

Fuel economy:19.76 mpg

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2009 – Robert Evans

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Name:Robert Evans

Hometown:Reno, Nevada

Vehicle:2004 Dodge Ram 2500

Engine:5.9L Cummins I-6 common-rail

Electronics:Smarty TNT-R and custom Dr. Performance pressure box

Induction:Industrial Injection Race Series compound turbos

Injectors:Custom by Industrial Injection

Injection pump(s):Industrial Injection Dual CP3 kit

Lift pump:FASS 200-gph

Intake:Custom

Intercooler:Stock

Injectables:Nitrous Express two-stage nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:Custom with 5-inch muffler and stack

Transmission:Custom 48RE automatic by HTS and SunCoast torque converter

Suspension:6-inch Superlift and custom traction bars

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Stock

Wheels:Stock

Tires:285/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler A/T

Other:Balanced and blueprinted engine; ARP 625 head studs; cut and coated ’04 pistons; ’98 rods; and Diesel Pros custom camshaft

DPC Results

Power:879 hp

Torque:1,480 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:11.07 seconds at 127.67 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:14.38 seconds at 59.42 mph

Sled pull:299 feet

Fuel economy:14.88 mpg

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2010 – Dmitri Millard

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Name:Dmitri Millard

Hometown:Highland, Utah

Vehicle: 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Odometer:276,000 miles

Engine:6.6L Duramax V-8 LB7

Electronics:EFILive with tuning by Pat McSwain

Induction:Garrett GT45 and GT55 compound turbos

Injectors:Dynomite Diesel 32-lph

Injection pump(s):PPE Dual Fueler CP3 kit

Lift pump:FASS 220-gph

Intake:Custom

Intercooler:Banks Power

Injectables:Nitrous Express, Boss Nos, and NOS nitrous-oxide systems

Exhaust:MagnaFlow 5-inch

Transmission:Allison 1000 automatic by Inglewood Transmission and ATS Five Star torque converter

Suspension:Rancho RS9000 front shocks front and Fox Racing rear shocks

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Stock

Wheels:20x8 Incubus

Tires:305/50R20 Toyo Proxes

Other:Rollcage and race seat

DPC Results

Power:1,212 hp

Torque:1,792 lb-ft

1/8-mile drag race:6.90 seconds at 106 mph

320-foot trailer tow:6.96 seconds

Sled pull:126 feet

Fuel economy:36.55 mpg

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2011 – Rocky Horn

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Name:Rocky Horn

Hometown:Fort Lupton, Colorado

Vehicle:1997 Ford F-350

Engine:5.9L Cummins I-6 common-rail

Electronics:Smarty SSR Super Sport Revo and ATS Atomizer Power Module

Induction:Rockin’ S Diesel Performance custom S362/S480 compound turbos

Injectors:Dynomite Diesel Performance with custom nozzles

Injection pump(s):Rockin’ S Diesel Performance custom dual CP3 kit

Lift pump:AirDog II 150-gph

Intake:Custom by Rockin S Diesel Performance

Intercooler:Hypermax Tapercore

Injectables:Single-stage nitrous with 0.050-inch jet

Exhaust:5-inch to 6-inch stack

Transmission:E4OD automatic by Brian’s Truck Shop and Precision Industries torque converter

Suspension:Super Duty leaf springs, reversed shackles, and traction bars

Axle ratios:4.10:1

Differentials:Detroit TrueTrac in front

Wheels:18-inch Jesse James

Tires:325/60R18 Nitto Terra Grappler

Other:Colt Cams Big Stick camshaft, O-ringed head, ARP 625 head studs, Greely Automotive Machine valvesprings, and billet push tubes

DPC Results

Power:873 hp

Torque:1,526 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:11.77 seconds at 112 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:10.24 seconds at 72 mph

Sled pull:253 feet

Fuel economy:18.24 mpg

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2012 - Erik Clausen

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Name:Erik Clausen

Hometown:Cantua Creek, California

Vehicle:2008 Ford F-250

Engine:6.4L Power Stroke V-8

Electronics:SCT programmer with tuning by KEM

Induction:Elite Diesel High-Power compound turbos

Injectors:Elite Diesel 100hp nozzles

Injection pump(s):Industrial Injection Dragon Fire

Lift pump:Elite Diesel

Intake:Custom

Intercooler:NA

Injectables:Nitrous Express two-stage nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:Flo-Pro 5-inch

Transmission:5R110 Elite Diesel Race automatic by with SunCoast torque converter

Suspension:8-inch lift with four-link coilovers in front and rear

Axle ratios:4.33:1

Differentials:NA

Wheels:22x12 American Force

Tires:37x13.50R22 Interco

Other:Elite Diesel pistons, Stage 1 camshaft, and Stage II heads; six-piston brakes

DPC Results

Power:898 hp

Torque:1,970 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:11.80 seconds at 116.35 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:11.08 seconds at 74.04 mph

Sled pull:327 feet

Fuel economy:16.62 mpg

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2013 – Wesley Beech

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Name:Wesley Beech

Hometown:Akron, Ohio

Vehicle:2008 Ford F-250

Engine:6.4L Power Stroke V-8

Electronics:H&S Mini Maxx with Maxx Calibration Control tuning

Induction:Stock variable-geometry turbo with Bullseye Power BatMoWheel and ITS Turbos 80mm compound turbos

Injectors:60-percent-over injectors and race-ported fuel rails

Injection pump(s):Beech Performance Dual K16 kit

Lift pump:FASS Titanium Series 220-gph and XDP fuel sump

Intake:Custom with K&N filter

Intercooler:NA

Injectables:Single-stage nitrous system

Exhaust:6.0L manifolds, Flo-Pro 5-inch, and Grand Rock 7-inch stack

Transmission:5R110 SunCoast Billet Stage 4 automatic with River City Diesel triple-disc torque converter

Suspension:Rough Country 4-inch lift and custom four-link setup with traction bars

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Stock limited-slip front and Detroit TrueTrac rear

Wheels:18x10 Raceline Renegade

Tires:325/65R18 Nitto Terra Grappler

Other:NA

DPC Results

Power:687 hp

Torque:1,397 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:12.50 seconds at 116.07 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:10.34 seconds at 74.21 mph

Sled pull:294 feet

Fuel economy:17.38 mpg

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2014 – Lavon Miller

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Name:Lavon Miller

Hometown:Plain City, Ohio

Vehicle:2004½ Dodge Ram 3500

Engine:6.7L Cummins I-6

Electronics:Smarty SSR programmer

Induction:Engineered Diesel billet S366/S484 compound turbos

Injectors:Exergy Engineering 200-percent-over

Injection pump(s):ATS Twin Fueler dual CP3 kit

Lift pump:AirDog 4G-HD

Intake:AFE cone filter

Intercooler:Firepunk Diesel

Injectables:Custom nitrous-oxide system

Exhaust:Firepunk Diesel 5-inch

Transmission:48RE Firepunk Diesel Competition Stage 3 automatic with Diesel Performance Converters torque converter

Suspension:Stock with Firepunk Diesel traction bars

Axle ratios:3.73:1

Differentials:Stock front and Detroit TrueTrac rear

Wheels:20x12 American Force

Tires:305/55R20 Nitto Terra Grappler

Other:Industrial Injection 6.7L pistons, Carillo rods, ARP Custom Age 625 main and head studs, D&J Precision Machine ported heads with side draft intake, Hamilton Cams HD pushrods

DPC Results

Power:948 hp

Torque:2,034 lb-ft

¼-mile drag race:11.30 seconds at 122.46 mph

1/8-mile trailer tow:11.318 seconds at 72.77 mph

Sled pull:336 feet

Fuel economy:19.23 mpg

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