The East Coast Diesel Nationals and Thoughts on Why Motorsports Competition Matters

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Tomorrow the East Coast Diesel Nationals will be underway. As you read this, teams and enthusiasts are packing their gear or already on the road. Promoters are setting up to make everything is fan-friendly, or tying sponsor banners along fences and talking with the media. 

To give you an idea of the scope of the East Coast Diesel Nationals, here's a Diesel Army story about their 2017 event here. The Official Oil this year is Champion Blue Flame Diesel Oil, which you may have read about in The Shop Magazine.

Diesel Motorsports is the official sanctioning body for this event. In addition to tractor pulling and drag racing in multiple classes, there's a Show 'N Shine and a Dyno competition. The full range of events can be found here. 

THOUGHTS ON MOTORSPORTS RACING 

Some of us have been involved in racing nearly all our lives -- many as fans, and later some of us as drivers, and still others as sponsors. What's evident is that there is much more to racing than simply trying to see who is fastest. There are economic benefits, social benefits and many other benefits not immediately observed. 

In 2017 Automotive News published an insightful article on why racing matters. It begins with an anecdote about Henry Ford, who in 1901 beat the country's most famous racer in a 10-mile dash. One result of this victory was that it attracted investors into a fledgling company that has continued to this day.

The Automotive News editors were intrigued that whenever they had long discussions with auto industry leaders, somehow the conversation often drifted to racing. The AN editors came to realize that racing was itself a microcosm of the industry. 

In 1963 Roger Penske significantly observed that racing is not about individuals doing magnificent feats. "You're dealing with a team sport here, not just an athlete."

When you go to a diesel competition, you'll see how much these are truly team efforts. It would be fascinating to study how the character of leaders is such that their mechanics will stay up all night to get their vehicle ready for the next day's race.  

There's more to racing than what takes place on a weekend, though. All the top teams are gathering data that is used to for improving the vehicles in production for the masses. Whether it's dirt bikes, snowmobiles cars or diesel trucks, data is being gathered and innovations are being noticed in Detroit and elsewhere. 

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For those who love trucks simply for their beauty, the East Coast Diesel Nationals is the place to showcase your passion. Here are a couple Show 'N Shine stars from the past. Maybe your truck is the one that will shine tomorrow.

Photos courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Related Links

Why Sports Car Racing Still Matters (Motor Trend)

What Matters More in a Race: The Car or the Driver

Diesel Events: East Coast Nationals 2021 

Champion Blue Flame Named Official Oil of 2021 East Coast Diesel Nationals

Photos courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Here's another sign of spring, and evidence that things are opening up again for diesel enthusiasts and the economy.

This week Champion Oil announced that the National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM) has selected Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil as the official oil of the annual East Coast Diesel Nationals on July 17^th  held at Numidia Dragway, 10 Dragstrip Road, Numidia PA. 

 

NADM, established in 2007, is the only sanctioning body for diesels that promotes all diesel motorsports associations, clubs and events. Diesel Motorsports holds over 70 diesel events around the country each year while also building a membership that offers benefits for business members as well as fans with diesel drag racing, sled pulling, and Dyno competitions. Diesel Motorsports events are all about diesels, and include a large Vendor Alley at each event. 

 

The prestigious event in Numidia, PA is Diesel Motorsports' biggest “diesel only” show of the year with drag racing, sled pulling, Show-N-Shine, dyno competition and more.  Gates open at 8am. Drag and pull registration, Dyno and Show-n-shine opens at 9am. Drag racing starts at  10am with pulling starting at 1pm. Visit the Diesel Motorsports website for specific class guidelines.

This year Champion Oil has designed a special contingency program which includes cash and product for all class drag and pull winners at the East Coast Diesel Nationals. Register here:  https://www.championbrands.com/racer-contingency/

 

Drag Racing Classes include:

• Street Truck: Competitors will run with street trucks with no times, just lane winner at end of track lights! Race against your buddies with no worries about anything but who the winner was on the pass!

• ET Bracket Class: Competitors race against their dial-in efforts to predict, react and perform better than the competition without breaking out from their timed number.

• 12.0 Quick Diesel: Indexed at 12 seconds, this class leaves the starting line together (heads-up style) and the first legal racer to cross the line without running quicker than the index wins.

• Heads-Up Truck: Full size trucks with proper safety equipment compete on an unlimited, heads-up racing in 1/8 and/or 1/4 track!

• Pro Stock: Fiberglass-bodied diesel-powered trucks and cars compete heads-up to the finish in the 1/8 and/or 1/4-mile action. 

• Top Diesel: Diesel dragsters designed for all out speed compete heads up in 1/4-mile action.

• Work Stock: Stock OEM turbochargers, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited.

• Hot Work Stock: Street turbochargers that plug no larger than 2.55, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited, licensed for street, DOT tires.

• 2.5 Street Diesel/2.6 Smoothbore: Single turbo, 2.5 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited or 2.6 smoothbore turbo, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted.

• 2.6 Street Diesel: Single turbo, 2.6 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted. 

• 3.0 Smoothbore Diesel: Single turbo, 3.0 smoothbore, water injection prohibited, solid rear suspension, receiver style hitch required, drive shaft u-joint shields required, hanging weights permitted.

• 3.6 Single Turbo / Super Pro Multiple Turbo: These classes will pull together, with 300# weight difference. Other handicaps may be used if there is an agreement of the majority of both classes. The 3.6 (3.6) Single Turbo is based on stock chassis and the Super Pro Multiple Turbo (SP) is based on a tube frame.

Sled Pulling Classes include:

• Work Stock: Stock OEM turbochargers, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited. 

• Hot Work Stock: Street turbochargers that plug no larger than 2.55, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited, licensed for street, DOT tires.

• 2.5 Street Diesel/2.6 Smoothbore: Single turbo, 2.5 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited or 2.6 smoothbore turbo, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted.

• 2.6 Street Diesel: Single turbo, 2.6 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted.

• 3.0 Smoothbore Diesel: Single turbo, 3.0 smoothbore, water injection prohibited, solid rear suspension, receiver style hitch required, drive shaft u-joint shields required, hanging weights permitted. 

• 3.6 Single Turbo / Super Pro Multiple Turbo: These classes will pull together, with 300# weight difference. Other handicaps may be used if there is an agreement of the majority of both classes. The 3.6 (3.6) Single Turbo is based on stock chassis and the Super Pro Multiple Turbo (SP) is based on a tube frame.

 

Champion Brands Blue Flame® Performance Diesel Motor Oils are formulated with workhorse performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic and conventional base fluids. In addition, Champion Brands Blue Flame® Diesel Motor Oil delivers unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, has the muscle to combat oil shear, maximizes and sustains cylinder compression, and is proven to increase engine horse power and torque. Purchase oil here at  https://theblueflameblogger.blogspot.com/2021/

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion also produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information about the Champion Blue Flame® Performance Diesel Engine Oil contact your nearest Champion distributor or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, or go to http://championbrands.com