It was beautiful both days of the event with cool temperatures which is great for the turbos and keeping the engines cooler. This was the 25th Year Anniversary of the US 1st diesel event in the country! Back when NO one would let the HD trucks run down the drag strip or pull at local fairs. The sports has come a long way in 25 years going from top HP in 2001 of 600 hp to over 3000 hp in 2026.
Vehicle sales of diesel trucks have increased by 300% since 2001 along with products for the diesel aftermarket. Much has changed since the first event and DIESEL Motorsports has been there for 19 years as part of the building blocks that is now a major business model in the US!
It may not be a major giant event but we like to keep alive the history and remember where it all started by honoring the locations.
DIESEL Motorsports went back to Muncie Dragstrip which we have been absent during the Covid years! It was great to be back to the track with some great runs down the track running the 1/8th mile on the 1/4 mile track.
Good thing it was cooler because the winners ran multiple classes called hot lapping to keep up with the call to the lanes. One competitor used our SPAL fan display to help cool his truck down so he could keep on racing, I think he plans to have them installed soon as he gets home! It was a fun evening and some great wins at the lights.
2nd day took us back to the Gaston Lion's Club Park for the truck show along with sled pulling! Another cool sunny day at the park for the event. We had some great looking trucks at the truck show for the people to view.
While the crowd enjoyed some good eating at the Gaston Lion's Club Food Shack the track crew was prepping the track for the trucks. While we had difficulties with the sound system (hit by lightening a few days before) the crowd saw some great runs down the track by some great pulling trucks.
Many manned by longtime pullers who have attended the event for many years. We had a couple of enthusiasts who said they had come to the original Thunder in Muncie in 2001!
We want to thank the competitors, track personnel and sponsors who helped us out at the event.
Photo Link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=DIESELMotorsports.US&set=a.1442711657890278
Thunder in Muncie 2026 Winners
Drag Racing
ET Bracket
1st- Vince Neiderhauser
2nd – Alex Leahy
7.70 Index
1st – Tyler Baker
2nd Vince Neiderhauser
6.90 Index
1st Vince Neiderhauser
2nd – Kyle Miller
Truck Show
Best of Show – Cody VanMeter – 2005 Dodge 2500
Best GM – Nate Jackson – 2016 Chevy 2500
Best Ram – Blake VanMeter – 2018 Dodge
Best Ford – Joe Kupferschmid – 2022 Ford F350
Best Work Truck – Matt Miller – 2022 Ford F550
Best Rat Rod – Justin Hartzog – 1992 Dodge D250
Best Race Truck – Vince Neiderhauser – 2007 GMC Dmax
Best Paint Job – Mason Zent – 2014 Ford F250
Best Pulling Truck – Gregg Temple – 1996 Dodge 2500
Best Service Truck – Harrison Miller – Ford 2000 F350
Best Overall Appearance – Mike Gaither – 2015 Ram 2500
Best Street Truck – Jack Bullock – 2024 Chevy 2500
Best OBS Truck – Zane Donham - 1996 Ford F250
Best Shade Truck – Matt Glasser – 2013 Chevy
Sled Pulling
3.0 Class
1st – Joe Kupferschmid 315.65
2nd – Luke Martin – 300.48
3rd – Kevin Temple – 298.42
2.6 Class
1st Cody VanMeter
2nd – Trent Davidson
Tractor
1st Cody
Street Truck
1st – Trent Davidson
2nd. Cody VanMeter
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