Diesel Performance Podcast

Charlie Keeter joins Paul Wilson and Chris Ehmke for a rip-roaring good time with the two-time Diesel Power Challenge winner. How did he do it with a Ford 6.0? No doubt it takes skill to win the challenge two years in a row - but some of it was just dumb luck. 

Nick Canon's 1985 IDI beat everyone at the recent Diesel Days at the Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois. It's an amazing story of an 18-year-old with a 21.6 ET defeating drag racing expert and Podcast host Danny Voss. 

In a rowdy interview, McCoy Black recounts what happened to his '95 12V 2500 after killing it on the DYNO with 1,500 horsepower before blowing a head gasket in the quarter-mile event. 

Mike Bunkelman drives a 2004 Dodge 3500 single rear wheel - a truck he says is a daily driver compared to those he's competing against. But that's ok, according to Mike. He's just thrilled to have been voted into the Diesel Power Challenge. Paul and Danny go through Mike's truck build and ask about his strategy for the event. He says his strongest event isn't going to be drag racing - but he's pretty excited about the trailer obstacle course. 

Shaun Doran drives a 2011 Ford F250 in the Diesel Power Challenge and took a few minute to talk to Paul Wilson just before the competition begins. 

Rich Strube lives about 20 minutes from New York City. He's participating in this year's Diesel Power Challenge with 2005 Duramax. 

The Diesel Performance Podcast continues its Diesel Power Challenge interviews with Patrick Whitcomb owner of a 2008 Ford 6.4L truck. And yes, he's from Wisconsin too! 

Wisconsinite Kevin Jacobs takes a minute to check with the Diesel Performance Podcast on Sunday, June 4, 2017, the day before the start of the Diesel Power Challenge. Kevin's truck is a 2005 RAM Quad Cab Short Bed with compounds, 100% over injectors and a lift pump, among other things. Unlike a few other competitors, Kevin is fuel only at the competition. 

The Diesel Performance Podcast presents a special Memorial Day episode featuring veteran interviews. In the first part, Nick Priegnitz and Jim Rendant interview representatives from the Tattered Flag Project, an organization working to raise awareness and funds to help veterans in need. The same for the Wounded Veteran's Foundation. We also visit with Cliff Hutton of Triple C Diesel who got his start in the Marine Corp.  casualtiesofwar.org woundedveteransfoundation.com    

Paul and Danny welcome a repost of one of the more popular podcasts - the 15K + 600 horsepower Budget Build episode that was uploaded way back in January 2016.  Find a used, light duty diesel pickup - spend 15K on mods and get it below 13 seconds in the quarter-mile. That's the focus of what we call our budget build episode featuring a lively and rowdy discussion between a trio of diesel heads: Pete "Shibby" Przybysz (Powerstroke), Chris Ehmke (Cummins), and Paul Wilson (Duramax). The group discusses how they would spend 15K on their build, explaining the logic behind their decisions, which the other participants cannot understand or agree. In the end, former DPP moderator Scott Henricks picks a "winner" and pisses everyone off.

Kelsie Epp joins the podcast to talk about her passion for diesel motorsports. The addiction began early in life when she bought her grandfather's Duramax. The truck needed repairs and she took it to a diesel performance shop and the rest is history. Right now she's getting ready for the race season. Kelsie says she makes 100 drag passes a season! For those interested in participating in the sport, Kelsie says to talk to someone first for some insight about the sport before making the first launch. Along with the drag racer, she has a triple turbo truck. Kelsie participated in the Diesel Power Challenge and says she may want to participate in the UCC. 

Shawn recounts the exhaustive, grueling three-day UCC and the toll the event took on his truck. He explains his build and the transmission that apparently let go and prevented his team from being as competitive as last year.  

Paul says the highlight of the Ultimate Callout Challenge was watching Team Triple Max's Wade Minter power down the sled track hitting more than 311 feet! It was quite an accomplishment for a Duramax - finishing in the top three overall! And it was Wade's first time "playing in the dirt!"     

Derek Rose placed second in the 2017 Ultimate Callout Challenge - a tremendous accomplishment. His Cummins with a billet common rail with a 12v head and compound turbos posted 9.16 in the drag race, 2,047hp on the dyno, and ended the event with a 312 foot run in the sled pull. In this episode, Derek talks about each event and how he managed to pull off the second place finish. Despite his success, Derek is uncertain about next year's UCC. He says it depends on location and a few other factors. Preparing for the event requires an enormous sacrifice and Derek's not sure he's up to the task in 2018. 

Wade Minter holds the MPH record in ET in NHRDA went sled pulling today at the UCC and killed it. In his first run he was over 300+ but he could throw it out and pull again. Danny and Paul caught up with Wade right after and he was really excited. 

Jaran Holderdown Performance talks to Danny and Paul just before the pull event. It's been an eventful weekend for the Ford 6.0.

Paul and Danny talk to Josh with Holderdown Diesel Performance about the upcoming sled pull event and everything else that's going on with Holderdown's UCC truck. They're driving a burgundy Cummins.  

Day Three of the Ultimate Callout Challenges gets underway as Paul and Danny recount what happened in drag racing and the dyno. You hear who's on top as the event moves into sled pulling. While recording the podcast, Ryan Milliken walked by and gave an interview...

Mike Graves talks goes into detail about his strategy with tomorrow's sled pull event here at the UCC. Earlier today, Mike's Duramax LBZ has survived a the drag race and dyno events. 

Frank Kuperman of Revmax Converters drives a '08 Cummins, 2500 with 2WD - one of only two in the UCC. The other 2WD truck broke - so Frank heads into the sled pull event as the only 2WD truck still competing. Frank updates his truck's drag racing and dyno results with Paul and Danny.