Diesel Motorsports: DIESEL Motorsports Hall of FAME! 2025

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

DIESEL Motorsports Hall of FAME! 2025

DIESEL Motorsports started a HALL of FAME many years ago with many recipients over the years! We thought it would be a good idea to publish those who help build this business from the early years from 2001 to current.

The original “DIESEL ONLY” event was held in Muncie Indiana at the Gaston Lion’s Club Park in 2001! Before all other diesel events there were none and “Thunder in Muncie” was started by Eric McBride (DHRA) from nearby Albany Indiana.

Thunder in Muncie was started because at the time no drag strips, fairground, and tractor pulling groups would allow diesel pickup trucks on the tracks. They were disbarred from competing in all competitions.

Thunder in Muncie is still held by DIESEL Motorsports on May 3rd at the same location as the original, the Gaston Lion’s Club Park. This year a special dedication will be held in the club house placing a plaque with all the DIESEL Motorsports Hall of Fame recipients!

Many of the people current diesel enthusiasts most likely have not heard of since it was over 20 years ago some of these people have not been active or some have even passed. Many great people who in their own way helped build the multi-billion-dollar business it is today and for the future.

All were picked for their passion for the sport and diesel technology. Many were picked for being the first as a diesel competitor or vehicle. What seems a norm today, for these people it was a first!

In the beginning there was only 2 to 3 events for diesel vehicles in the entire country. By 2010 there were diesel truck events everywhere in many different states whether it was fairgrounds or drag strips. I used to tell people around 2012 that there were sled pulls starting in June till the end of September almost 5 days of the week in each state from Kansas all the way over to New York! Most included tractors and trucks but I knew teams in each state that traveled after their work 4-5 days of the week to sled pulls.

Covid curtailed many of the activities in all of motorsports including the diesel activities and they are slowing coming back to local facilities. Below is the complete list of those inducted from past years along with this year’s inductees that will be presented this year at Thunder in Muncie on May 3rd.