Tailgate Shootout Review 2026 - Alabama

 DIESEL Motorsports had a great time down in Alabama last weekend at Strokin Diesel and the Baileyton Dragstrip! Both hidden gems in the South for performance and fun with pickup trucks!

Strokin Diesel is owned by Dylan Edgil and his family since 2015 where they have worked on diesel and gas pickups for many years. They have quite the complex there in Oneoneta Alabama along with garages, storage, gun shop, and in-ground dyno complex. It takes up the entire hillside on the edge of town with trucks sitting all around to be next in line for repairs.

Many enthusiasts hooked up to the dyno on Saturday morning along with visiting the DIESEL Motorsports sponsor’s tents in the vendor building. A great collection of trucks and people showed up to watch the trucks roll on the dyno from 9am to 2pm. Top dyno competitors were Justin Earwood 1278 HP, Chase Conley 955, and Trapper Doyal 915 HP.

It started out as a beautiful day at Strokin Diesel but reports coming in from the track showed inclement weather moving in on the track in the late evening hours. The Baileyton Dragway has been in business and the family since 1966 with many years of fun drag racing with many famous vehicles going down the track. The track was started by Jack Walker and his family still works the track including grandson Russ Easterwood and his wife Sasha!

The Baileyton Dragway is a perfect 1/8th mile track that is like a park with nice paths, pit area and Pit Tower! The track is known as the “Good Time” dragway along with their track mascot “Ole Tater Hauler” which is a 1953 GMC truck! The DIESEL Motorsports regulars said it was one of the better surfaces they have run on in a couple of years.

The races were hurried up a bit since we saw inclement weather moving in about 7:30 pm so the trucks ran quickly down the track. The top two racers standing at the end were Champion - Justin Earwood, Toppa, AL, and Winner - Trapper Royal, Oneonta, AL!

DIESEL Motorsports wants to thank the folks at Strokin Diesel, the Baileyton Dragway and our sponsors that attended the show – PRW Performance, Total Seal Rings, AMSOIL, and PPE DIESEL! We appreciate the support for our industry! This was a first event in Alabama for many years so we move on to a 10 year event next at US 36 Dragway in Osborn Missouri on May 9th!

NEW Season kicking off for our 19th year as DIESEL Motorsports! 2026

 If someone would have told me I would be doing the same thing 19 years ago when we started DIESEL Motorsports (National Association of DIESEL Motorsports) I would have laughed for at least 3-5 minutes! 

Here we are 19 years later and I am still doing what I started out doing as sales only for the diesel association (getting sponsors for the events)! I come from the automotive aftermarket side of the business as a marketing agency for many companies which many transferred over as diesel sponsors. 

I helped many of my clients start making parts for the diesel marketplace and continue today to help them with new products as we need them. DIESEL Motorsports then markets those parts at the shows held across the country. Since COVID we have held most events in areas with higher concentration of sales for our industry.

The 19 years of doing business in the diesel market has opened many doors and I have met many friends, associates, enthusiasts, and interesting people in ALL parts of the country. I would not have traded out any of it during the years. In fact, many ask why I still keep doing it? It's because of the people and passion for the diesel trucks, helping many who I have met on my event trips.

I have learned a lot over the 19 years and thank many of my teachers along the way! I have passed on much of what I have learned to many young people in this business and I have helped them in the industry. There are many good people in our industry who work hard and deserve recognition. That is why I developed the DIESEL Motorsports Hall of Fame that we recognize every year at the original "diesel only" event  Thunder in Muncie June 19/20th this year (25th Yr)! 

19 years of stories as you can imagine, only a few of you have heard these stories. Some good players and some bad players over the years that has molded me as a person in the industry. There still has to be a person in charge at these events in order to get them done - that person was me!  

It is a business and I can say we have not had (knock on wood) any accidents (insurance claims) at our events in the 19 years. Safety has always been a priority because what we do is dangerous -  it's racing or pulling! DIESEL Motorsports holds family friendly events that puts on safe entertainment at the events.

We have gone through many obstacles over the years such as National stock market Crash 2008, EPA hassles starting in 2013-2025, fuel pricing with diesel $6 gal, and industry change over with companies being bought/sold. We have gone from a bolt-on performance industry to a highly technical engine builds for performance in our trucks. All OEM parts have been replaced with heavier parts to withstand the extra horsepower along with the punishment our trucks take in use. 

As we host the 25 year celebration for Thunder in Muncie on June 19/20 as the first "diesel only" event we reflect back over the years as the business has increased over 300% since 2001!

See you at the events - remember we started with only one event in 2001!