BY JASON SANDS
It’s no surprise that Kentucky is a hotbed of diesel activity, but even we were surprised at the quality of the turnout at the 2018 NHRDA Thoroughbred Diesel Nationals. The dragster class had the heaviest of the heavy hitters, with Scheid Diesel and Wade Moody both showing up for a heads-up shootout. Pro Mod saw one of the newest efforts from FirePunk Diesel, a customerowned tube-chassis S-10 truck powered by a Cummins common-rail with an enormous single turbocharger. The NHRDA also had its usual selection of classes from the 10.90 Index class all the way down to ET Bracket, where even a bone-stock Jetta could compete. Sled pulls were also scheduled, but unfortunately a torrential downpour made the track unusable, despite the prep team’s best efforts. Still, drag racing action could continue!
Qualifying saw numerous surprises, as the normally reliable Scheid dragster clicked off a couple half passes without making a full run. Wade Moody, on the other hand, had a stellar qualifying session, clicking off a 6.53 at 178 mph while dumping the parachute out early. What’s even more impressive about Moody’s run is that it’s less than a tenth of a second away from the 6.46-second ET record held by Jared Jones! Pro Stock mainly had some test passes by the “Save the Racks” truck built by FirePunk and driven by Larson Miller. A number of big rigs showed up for the sportsman classes, and Super Street saw a number of competitors doubleclassing and slowing their trucks down for the 10.90 Index as well as running the heads-up class.