SPONSORS who support our sport - DIESEL Motorsports 2021!

 Some sponsors have been with us for many years because of the safe family style events and marketing we do in the rural communities! While others are getting into supplying our trucks with new upgraded equipment with great success. As manufacturers offering product or services they have chosen to support our sport because they sell product to our enthusiasts and competitors.

The DIESEL Motorsports market has changed many times over the 15 years we have been involved with it. Each year it has become a challenge to keep up with the political environment but we have changed with the markets in order to comply and stay in business.

We still provide safe SFI insured events with competitive diesel trucks/tractors within a family environment so everyone can enjoy. Our sponsors help us do so every year by helping pay into the sport. Much of the purse monies payed out at events come from the sponsors plus providing the overhead for the events such as track rental, insurance and advertising.

Below is a list of this year's sponsors with links to their web sites - check out their products/services and show them we appreciate their support by purchasing their products.

Official Head Studs/Bolts - ARP - https://arp-bolts.com

Official Pistons - Mahle Motorsports - http://www.us.mahle.com/en/motorsports/ 

Official Performance Engine Oil Pans & Trans Pans  - PPE - https://www.ppepower.com/shop/

Official Radiator & InterCooler - Northern Radiator - https://www.northernradiator.com 

Official Cooling Fan - Spal Fans -  https://www.spalusa.com

Official Clutch Systems - Exedy Clutches - https://www.exedyusa.com

Official Heat/Sound Barrier & Turbo Cover - ThermoTec - https://www.thermotec.com 

Official Gauges - AutoMeter - www.AutoMeter.com 

Official Diesel/Gas Additive - Opti-Lube - https://opti-lube.com 

Official Heads - Edelbrock - https://www.edelbrock.com 

Official Piston Rings - Total Seal Piston Rings -  https://www.totalseal.com

Official Crankshaft & Rods - Callies - http://www.callies.com 

Official Electronic Performance Racing Trade Catalog - epartrade.com - https://www.epartrade.com

Official Classifieds - RacingJunk.com - https://www.racingjunk.com 

Each manufacturer has their own products/services but do some reading, many of them have other parts we all use for everyday care of our trucks!  They chose our sport because of the enthusiasts and what I have portrayed to them about how we care for our trucks. I have told many industry leaders the next round of enthusiasts is going to come from rural counties.

Rural people still have to drive to work, use their vehicles for work and enjoy enhancing them along the way! We ARE the next motor sport wave coming to the US! TRUCKS!

 

What classes for sled pulling - DIESEL Motorsports 2021!

 NEW post on sled pulling classes 2021!

By Larry Mohney (Sleddy)

 

We get asked this every year and at every pull? 

Answer: We tried for years to make all states the same or similar but nobody wanted it! Every state wrote their own rules usually to favor one group over another or favor a large shop. 

So we attempt to write rules that will fit everyone and we adapt to what is run locally! If enough trucks show up for a class we will group them and let them run. If the class differs some from our rules and it doesn't change safety rules or increased HP over others we usually adapt.

You may think everyone's rules are the same, well I can tell you they are not! Maybe in a two state area they are but most have some little change that doesn't match some one else's rules.

Other National groups change their rules yearly in order to satisfy a group or shop or wean a class they no longer want to show up.

That is the difference between us - we want everyone to pull as long as safety rules are followed! No you can not show up with a 1200 hp truck with no safety equipment on and demand to pull! Our insurance (and everyone else) will not allow it! Safety equipment is there for a reason - no accidents!

You can read our rules, they are free on the web site and they will match most local rules for safety and classes. In general we try to run the following classes:

Work Stock - Stock turbo street truck

Hot Work Stock - street truck stock appearing turbo

2.5 non SB

2.6 non SB

2.6 SB

3.0 SB

3.6 SB

Single Turbo Open

Super Stock/Modified

Tractors - 

Semis -

What does 2021 have for diesel enthusiasts???

It could be a split view depending on what happens in January, however life goes on regardless of what happens politically. 

We all use diesel vehicles to continue as essential workers delivering food/supplies to the stores, service the streets/town municipalities plus continued construction. They still need to be serviced and worked on in order to keep going for us workers.

We still will upgrade them slightly so they last longer and made to service our needs. Our part manufacturers are getting smarter and getting EPA approval on all parts before sending them out the door. Yes, it makes them cost more (thanks government) and they continue to be made in the US of higher quality materials.

Will we attend truck events when we are not working, you bet if any indication from the 2020 year continues. You can not keep us bottled up in the homes with nothing to do since most of the older forms of entertainment have been tainted. 

If state government continues to shutdown fairgrounds then I see sled pulling falling off on the state levels with only private bigger events holding pulls. This will make the midlevel classes fall off with costs being too much for units to sit in garages. Still the street classes will be strong since we can still drive these and the higher cost trucks will be used only when needed for shop promotions. 

Drag racing will continue strong with the street classes along with a new truck street machine class being introduced this year along with ET bracket and heads-up racing. Show-n-shine will be stronger because we have had time at home to work on our vehicles.

With over eight classes now in show-n-shine it makes sure more people go home with trophies and monies for showing their vehicles.

I do know you can not hold down rural Americans for long, we are too inventive and self reliant. We do what we like to do and find a way to do it,  just like DIESEL Motorsports found ways to continue to hold events last year.

Automotive motorsports is Americana and as long as we have to drive to work, we will continue to participate in motorsports. I promise we won't get political, biased or judgemental toward the love of your vehicle!

Watch for more announcements for the 2021 events this year!

ROI - Rural America motorsports -

 I saw this coming several years ago - motorsports tracks being attacked by suburban sprawl! Right here in Kansas City our long time track closed by residents who bought land by local dragstrip, built multi-million dollar homes and then complained about the noise. They knew quite well what they were building next to for their homes. It had been there for many years with weekend events 9 months out of the year for over 50 years.

Almost all of the famous tracks in CA have been shut down and this is happening as cities sprawl out into the country. DIESEL Motorsports decided years ago to search out rural tracks for competition since pickups are mostly used in the country regions.

Yes, pickups were a favorite for aftermarket sales for years when performance sales fell for a number of years. Then guess what, performance moved into the truck market not only for diesels but gas also for offroad and other competitions.

ONE thing you need to remember! It is still a personal owned pickup and they still want accessories to personalize their trucks plus the performance parts. Used trucks are at a all time high for pricing - diesel and gas! They are really hard to find.

Rural motorsports facilities welcome you with open arms as well as the communities surrounding them. They want your business! They want visitors! They want entertainment!

People who compete at local rural tracks have money because they are workers/essential who want to enjoy their hobby of motorsports. Most won't argue with you as long as you are reasonable.

They show up with their families for a weekend of fun, the shows are much like a county fair. Trucks are everywhere, people are everywhere looking at each other's vehicles, they are eating/grilling  and sharing their experiences with each other.

A perfect location to showcase products for trucks and the best part is DIESEL Motorsports can do that for you in our sponsor's tent. It is expensive to travel to the shows so we can do it for you - or you can have a local shop/store or rep attend the show. They can be part of the sponsor's tent or setup their own area. DIESEL Motorsports hauls displays to each event, DM girls who knows trucks man the booth to tell enthusiasts about sponsor's products.

Have DIESEL Motorsports help you reach the very people who visit rural part stores such as O'Reilly, AutoZone and NAPA Auto Stores. Why do you think they go to rural small towns?

These people still have to travel to towns to work, shop and socialize from age 15 to 90! Towns are far apart from each other along with their homes so you have to drive to get anywhere!

Invest dollars where people are still buying your products!

Reaching Rural America - post-election! DIESEL Motorsports . . .

By Larry Mohney

Contributing Editor 

If you think reaching rural America enthusiasts was difficult before - you are about to see a mass exit from mainstream channels including social media!

That's right, the rural crowd is a patriotic people with many having served in the services. Many are small town backgrounds which include conservative views and ethics.

Many have already fled to alternate sites which are not controlled by big tech as to what they post and in fear what they say are being captured for other uses. You can call it conspiracy theory if you want but the migration has already begun.

So how do you reach these NOW harder to reach than ever enthusiasts?

ONLY by getting in front of them locally at rural shows and show support in their lifestyle! DIESEL Motorsports has been doing that for 14 years (starting 2021), they know us and trust we protect our members list. 

We hold family style events with a big emphasis on what they are interested in and that is pickup truck motorsport competitions. We bring mainstream products and companies to them so they can see how they can add them to their trucks. 

They will go to local shops they trust so they can order the products to either have them installed or install the parts themselves. Trust is a big word and way for these enthusiasts, so how do you reach them?

Diesel Motorsports can reach them for you and yes, I am registered on all of the alternate sites along with having shows in their backyards. We are talking a migration of in the millions during the past month.

Think it was tough before, it just got a lot harder for big company's marketing/advertising departments.

KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid - marketing/advertising to rurral America! DIESEL Motorsports

 Let me expand on this concept. . . 

In automotive the engineers demand their product be fully explained to the public, lawyers agree so liability is not a concern, and top management agrees if both of these think the same.

Did they ask the sales or marketing department will people respond to the literature or message projected about the products? 

Did anyone ask the end user would you respond to this message or materials?

Did everyone assume people would respond to their messages or materials?

 

I ask these questions all of the time when I was hired for years as a consultant. Years ago I learned from a old time direct mail writer what and how people responded to when reading mail. Those simple words used in the english language that people respond to and take notice still apply today with electronic media. 

Even more so now because of the way our youth have been taught in school which is shortened english, math and other subjects. 

The quick response language is not even good english (he-he) when analyzed by professionals. But it get results every time because people respond to these golden words for action. Combine those words with your product's benefits and you may have a winner.

Again . . .  capture first then educate! If you don't capture them they will NEVER find out how great your product or services are for their use. 

Rely on your marketing managers to find out how the end users react when viewing product/services. Let them find out how the customers can benefit from the product/services. Let them convey that information to the sales managers who in turn will get the feedback from your customers.

If you don't have the right people in place to accomplish these tasks then either get them or give me a call to help you. I have done this for many years and know what works best for which demographics and sections of the country.

Yes different parts of the country have different needs when it comes to automotive and vehicles. The landscape and weather conditions will alter the way people use their vehicles thus causing the differences. 

Next on the list is truly reaching out to the rural people away from the cities.

Reechout Marketing - KISS - DIESEL Motorsports Rural America . . .

 When I ask for materials to present to people at our rural events many of the companies just send us the regular catalogs or brochures their departments produce. This is great because anything is better than receiving nothing.

But . . . if you REALLY want to be effective - Keep It Simple Stupid - KISS! Yes it works every time at shows, benefits, benefits, and more benefits for using your products/service! 

 

Something that relates to their vehicle and why they should consider the product or services - all explained in less than 5 seconds! I know that sometimes it is impossible but it should at least get them interested before they read on for more information.

Remember that demographic getting in to our sport (18-35) comes from an electronic age. They quickly read in small bits and gather information quickly online. If they want more info then they will read further, but first you need to capture them.

Attention spans become shorter and shorter being trained in schools for quick electronic response times. This should reflect in your efforts to get your message out to people. I know the research and engineer people want the info to be out there and correct.

However, that can be covered after you capture their attention. Think of your materials like a web site with quick outline of benefits and use of your products/services.

Reechout to your potencial customers quickly and effectively . . .