DIESEL vs GAS Drag Racing at MO Truck Shootout! DIESEL Motorsports

This drag race only event in Northern Missouri was compiled together after discussing with a local diesel and gas fabrication shop Mike Goacher of Goacher Street Legends about the local trucks. The local track in Kansas City is now US 36 Dragway near Cameron Missouri since the old KCID near Nolan Road was shutdown by city officials almost 2 years ago and Topeka/Heartland went bankrupt last year.

It's a nice rural 1/8 mile track out in the middle of no-where but has tons of parking and space for our trucks. There appears to be a good amount of diesels already racing there plus a good amount of gas trucks so it was suggested to me by Mike Goacher and the owner of the track Mike Franks to include both types to run against each other - thus Grudge Match!

DIESEL Motorsports normally does "diesel only" events but I saw maybe this is an opportunity to persuade some gassers to convert and maybe they don't think diesels can go that fast. Nothing makes for a rural matchup like DIESEL vs Gas trucks.

Years ago we converted many young people at tracks when we had the faster trucks come in early on Friday for Test-N-Tune to run against local young people in their ricer cars. Many of the youth converted quickly when the trucks outrun them on the strip.

From what I saw in the crowd many of the local youth showed up in their diesel trucks, over 1,000 to watch the competition. For a week delayed rain-date and on a Friday night we were surprised at the turnout plus about 60 trucks racing in 3 classes.

Most of the trucks were street performance trucks but we had some fast trucks there running in the 6.7-6.9 in the 1/8th mile, that's pretty fast for a full size pickup truck.

Revolution Performance from Junction City, KS provided the dyno and quite few lined up to see what their trucks could do in horsepower and torque.

The staff at US 36 and the owners Mike and Ruth Franks were great people to work with during the event. We also found out they have an excellent place to also host a sled pull on their dirt circle track.

I had a blast with a nice turnout of trucks and the local enthusiasts who lined both sides of the track! Cameron and surrounding areas has some really nice people. A BIG thanks to the local shops who helped us put this event on: Goacher Street Legends, MCON, Tyrant Diesel, and MPE Machinery! 

K&W Diesel Drag Racing

Unlimited Heads-up Diesel
Champion - Dylan Grooms, 2nd Jesse Brisco

Unlimited Heads up Diesel vs Gas
Champion Robert Reffeh, 2nd JR Kjplshu

ET Bracket Diesel vs Gas
Champion Dan Holland, 2nd Matthew Doyle

Mothers Show-N-Shine
Best of Show - Dylan Goacher
GM - Nick Rickels
Ford - Joel Silvey
Vintage Truck - Peter Gilbert

Revolution Performance Dyno Highest HP - Dyno - Doug Perry

One down - how's the season looking for the year? - DIESEL Motorsports!

DIESEL Motorsports finished it's first event of the year a few weekends ago with lots of people and diesel trucks - we have another event this Friday in Missouri! A drag race Friday night at US 36 Dragway near Cameron MO and a benefit sled pull with MMTTPA in Jefferson City on Saturday!

The trucks are looking slicker, more high-tech and produce more hp than ever before. This is testament for our sponsor's products and other diesel performance manufacturers in the country.

Our enthusiasts are buying your products and using them on their trucks. But the main point being is the diesel enthusiast is enjoying what they do with their trucks and the people they meet at the events!

It is a lifestyle and no matter what level their truck is currently at there is always like people with an interest of what they are doing to their truck.

Is the economy better than past years? It's about the same very roller coaster around the country, some companies reporting to me the had the best March ever then the worst April ever, so it is inconsistent. I can tell you from experience this always happens during election years. Why? Who knows but for years the same pattern exists but I can tell you it should be a great winter.

I see more enthusiasts staying closer to home and going to events that are close to them, That is why DIESEL Motorsports does an event a month in a different state where trucks are popular.

Looking forward to this year since we are in some new areas for the season. Make sure to check our events since we update these every month with new events.

Diesel Pre-season - hurry up and finish . . .

This time of year I hear so many saying they are trying to get their trucks rebuilt for the season but are running into obstacles - such as funds, part delivery and time to do the work! Many of our competitor's trucks are shop trucks, that is how they advertise their business!

If we build a killer 1st place competition truck then you will want our shop to do the work to your truck! It is what keeps our sport rolling and growing every year!

And for the individual competitors it is time from their normal work and the expenses of getting it done for an event that is coming up fast.

We see it every year and if we get the events too early then a lot of the trucks are not done to compete. But yet, the early events are great for those who are done to come and test what they have built before the main events start during the Summer months!

That is why we are doing early events in new areas, not only to build in those areas but give our guys in the bigger states to either compete early or gitrdone!

The diesels to compete are much more than they used to be even five years ago and the expense goes up every year in order to stay on top. But yet if you are competing in the sport to have fun then you can easily come to the early events and have fun along with the rest of the trucks.

It's all about coming to the events, meeting people you have talked to online and looking at everyone's new trucks or what they have done over the winter months.

One event a month for the next 6 months in every part of the country! GITRDONE!

How to reach Diesel Motorsports enthusiasts???

I get asked this all the time at the industry meetings during the winter months. Yes, our enthusiasts and fans are in rural counties all across the country.

What is left for conventional advertising in order to reach the rural counties?

Rural newspapers in small towns are dead or gone, newsstand magazines circulations has dropped every year with social media taken their place and radio is replaced by bluetooth personal music. So what is left, the forums are dead and numbers have dropped.

Social media through FB, Instagram, and twitter seems to be the most efficient way to reach the diesel market using electronics. The best way is grass roots events like DIESEL Motorsports and some of the State diesel groups we designate as affiliate events.

The state pulling groups hold multiple events from June 1st to the end of September in many small towns at city and county fairs wanting sled pulls. People in the industry have no idea how popular the sport is in the rural towns, they are shocked when I tell them there is a pull almost everyday of the week in every state from Missouri over to New York!

DIESEL Motorsports has in the past 10 years held diesel events in every part of the country, North, South, East and West. The past years we have focused on where the sport is highly concentrated since it cost a lot of money to hold an event along with the travel.

We get quite a few calls from people who want to hold an event, DIESEL Motorsports tries to help any way we can to educate them on the expenses and liability for holding an event. It can be daunting when you evaluate all aspects of holding an event.

When it comes to reaching the right people for diesel, we change and upgrade every season in order to properly reach the diesel crowd. Over 1/3 of our budget goes to reaching the right people for our events!

If you want to know how to reach the market, give us a call or email!

What is best for your truck? Performance parts, wheels/tires, oil/fluids, interior accessories, and which brand of truck??? DIESEL Motorsports . . .

I get a lot of people wanting to know what is best for their trucks? I see a lot of questions on FB and forums what someone should do for their truck?

It can be very confusing for any novice diesel truck owner, there are a lot of people who claim to know what is best! And they are the first to tell you all about it!

Remember a couple of crucial elements, how do you drive your truck and what do you want your truck to do for you?

I have seen may trucks outfitted with similar products and have seen them all get repaired or not because of how they are driven. If you drive like a old man then you would make a normal diesel truck last a very long time. If you drive like a bat out of hell or like the kid who can break any toy then you will need repairs often.

What is best for your truck is what is best for the way you drive your truck. I drive moderately but I was always the kid who broke toys and drive vehicles hard. So I keep my modifications on my diesel truck simple but powerful and always overbuild. It looks like a plain old truck but can gettyup and go when I want it to and stop it when I want.

Every one is different and for those who are good with electronics and pushes their truck there is a great amount of what can be done to their truck. Many companies offer all levels of what is best for your truck. Some are really innovative at what they provide and do for the diesel performance market, but then again some are very careless. 

If you read it on the internet it must be true - right? I think we have all seen that scenario play out many times. Talk to the actual brick and motor shops who work on these vehicles on a daily basis. They know what will work with how you drive your truck.

I tried 20" wheels and tires and went back to 18" with my older truck. It just rode better with smaller tires and wheels plus adding newer shocks and Ride-Rite airbags made all the difference in the world.

It's different for everyone and their different trucks, I have seen Dodges, Dmaxs and Fords I like just as much as mine. It depends on what YOU like and how you use it.

Of course I try and use our sponsor's products because almost all of them are built in the USA! Jobs for every truck owner provided by our very own sponsors. Our sponsors contribute to the sport and deserve to have their products used because they are giving back to the sport!

It's only fair right? Do what is best for you and your truck . . .  bottom line!

How to sell more at your diesel shop - part II - planograms!?

What is a planogram in a retail or shop environment?

It's a small display of your most popular products that the customers can view or see at your shop or office while discussing what to do with their truck! Usually a easy 4 x 8 foot section of pegboard or wire mesh works best!

It doesn't take much space and it showcases what you like to install and provide services. DIESEL Motorsports has installed a few of these at auto stores featuring our sponsor's products. Many of the manufacturers will supply the parts or boxes if they know it is a display in your store or shop.

If your WD does not offer this service you can do it yourself!

You can go to your local lumber/hardware outlet or store to purchase the pegboard or wire mesh sheet(s). They usually have the hanging hardware to go with the pegboard or wiremesh panels for hanging your products or parts. 

For those near a major city most have retail warehouses where you can buy the displays for any size wall along with the hardware.

Lay the sheet or area out on your floor and start to think what you would display. Start by going to your inventory or what you sell the most to your customers. Make a list of 10-20 products from that list and start collecting either the parts or the boxes they come in for display. Like I stated many of the warehouses or manufacturers will help if you ask. 

Once you have collected the items start with the bigger heavier items at the bottom. Many of the stores sell shelves that can attach to the sheets which makes for a great bottom. Leaving a couple inches between each item start placing the biggest to the smallest near the top. It's just like putting together a puzzle!

If you want to feature a couple of items make the space for them larger and place some small advertising signs around the item. These can be made on your computer using thicker paper or mount with spray glue on cardboard, then zip tie or velcro to the wall board.

The idea is to show the parts that customers would want on their trucks with you installing them! Seeing is believing and a customers always like looking at the product before they purchase. You can even use cleaned up units that no longer work as long as they look good. 

Show the chemicals and oil you sell to your customers and service their vehicles, people always like to know what is being used and what is available for their trucks. 

Many times it opens to conversations based on the 1st article on how to sell better at your shop which in turn leads to sales and profits!

Planograms - easy to make and always leads to sales!

PS - if any diesel shop needs help in laying out the planogram you can contact myself for some help!

What Classes are running for Pulling 2016!

Looks like the post from 3 years ago gets read a lot so let's move up to this year. Yes, the classes for pulling have changed somewhat in order to include everyone who wants to pull.

All the rules for pulling and classes are FREE on our web site - www.DIESELmotorsports.US

2016 DIESEL Motorsports Pulling Classes

Work Stock - street trucks with bolt-on modifications but with a OEM like turbo

2.5 Class - Street truck with 2.5 turbo with ballast

2.6 Class - Old 2.6 turbo rules for past trucks that built strictly for 2.6 turbo with no fixed driveline

2.6 Pro Class - smooth 3.0 with open driveline

3.6 Super Pro Diesel - smooth 3.6 turbos, dual turbos and modified/Super Stock trucks

Street Semi - street legal licensed semi trucks

In a nutshell but check the rules for clarity and make sure all safety equipment is present for pulling. DIESEL Motorsports will reserve the right to combine some classes if enough trucks are not present to fill a class. 

It is our intention to run all trucks who want to compete using a fair ruleset for all. The trucks are important to us and the diesel shops who rely on them for business. There is a reason the tractor clubs do not change their rules every three years, it keeps the costs down for the competitors so their numbers remain strong.

This is the first time we have changed rules for pulling in five years. The sport is still growing and including the street trucks are very important to our business.

Come pull with DIESEL Motorsports where you get paid right after the event!