Sponsors for 2024 who support our sport! Reaching rural America . . .

 Over 17 years we have had our sponsors who help us financially put these shows on all over rural America! Some have been with us all of the years also we have some new sponsors even this year. Companies have their products and services to sell to our truck markets so to reach new customers they rely on DIESEL Motorsports to get the message out!

DIESEL Motorsports endorsement is a product guarantee that we have researched the products/services for our trucks and have verified from garages that they will work. We have turned down many companies if their products were not acceptable by many garages. I'm not saying all are perfect because there will be failures but for the mast majority the products are of top quality in our industry.

Many of the national companies will not guarantee products/services if they are used in competition (which is a national standard) so always check with your shop before assuming your build comes with coverage. Most companies I have found are very reasonable regarding their product's quality even when used in competition but some users run to the keyboards and start trashing immediately (this helps no one). Most companies have now disconnected from forums and internet reviews because of false claims which hurts the real claims so another reason that if you read it on the internet it is not true.

The companies that are our sponsors are the highest rated in the industry and we have made sure to communicate with them many times during the year either by calls, email or at industry shows. The companies also attend some of the shows so they can find out directly from you about their products/services. Come to the shows and talk to them about what they have to offer, you will be surprised how much they care!

So since they are making an effort to support our sport please ask for their products/services by name when visiting your local shop or store/online!

Sponsors:

ARP Bolts: https://arp-bolts.com/

Mahle Motorsports: 

Mahle Gaskets:

Clevite:

PPE Pacific Performance Engineering:

SPAL Fans:

Auto Meter: 

ThermoTec:

Total Seal Rings:

Callies:

Alliant Power:

DPF Restoration:

Amsoil:

Epartrade:

Racing Junk:

MyRacePass:

Mothers Polish:

The Travel Shark:

A Diesel Original leaves our times way too early! RIP Dave Radzierez!

This past Thursday our diesel community lost a person who has left us with many stories and memories - Dave Radzierez of Stroudsburg PA! Dave passed Thursday having some health issues leaving a daughter and grandchildren which we are sending our condolences and prayers. 

Dave Radzierez was known recently as the XDP Diesel monster truck owner and driver plus as a professional driver for the monster truck circuit including Bigfoot 4x4 truck! To us he was a good friend who championed many firsts in our diesel community which carries a lot of stories.

Dating as far back as 2003 Dave started as a sled puller with his trucks in our circuit. As a first Dave designed and built the first tilt body sled pulling diesel truck - "How Do You Like Me Now"! Competing in many sled pulls Dave was always a crowd favorite with his personal friendly attitude toward everyone.

Dave was bigger than life and lived it that way everytime I saw him! He was respectful and always knew how to have fun without disturbing others. Like when he was the first in diesel trucks to do street burnouts during the original Thunder in Muncie event in front of the hotel! He gave it eveyrthing that truck had and put on quite the show!

When I asked him to drive to Las Vegas in 2007 for the sled pull there he was happy to load it all up and drove from Pennsylvania to compete. He even came a few days early so he could display his pulling truck in front of the Mesquite Hospital so everyone could see it. 

When he called and told me he had bought a monster truck and converted it to a diesel, he asked if I could help him find sponsorship for the truck if it came to our events. I told him I would help and we found the funding for him. Dave always called to ask what more he could do to make people satisfied with his performances. 

Dave Radzierez will go down in diesel history as having the first diesel monster truck! 

Dave later built better versions of the same truck and improved the suspensions, tires, power and appearances. As Dave did more shows and got involved in the monster truck circuits he could afford a new build truck and even designed newer systems for it. Dave was a innovative fabricator and builder of the trucks. He ended his monster truck career as the XDP monster truck performing at many events and making the crowd happy! He was considered one of the most talented drivers in the circuit.

Many of us have stories and memories surrounding the events and appearances at the shows. Not only myself but many can tell you never loan your car rental to Dave since no matter what vehicle it was he turned them into a race car. I remember in Alabama he was driving my rental and he missed the exit so he drove under the pass, cut across the median and went up the opposite lane exit in less then 2 seconds. Gene and myself screaming the entire way and all Dave could do was grin and tell us he didn't miss the exit. 

Living life to the fullest I just talked to Dave last summer when I was in Pennsylvania and we talked for over an hour laughing about what we have done together over the years. We had made plans to do a couple of shows this year or help each other at the shows.

Many of us will miss Dave and his laughter when we are at shows this year! 

2024 Season Schedule is done so make your plans now!

DIESEL Motorsports has posted our schedule for the year which is listed below so make your Spring/Summer plans now! A number of new events with some date changes so make sure to check them out. As more tracks are starting to disappear because of suburban sprawl or economy it is more difficult to find proper facilities.

Different activities depends on the track/facility so make sure to check under the activities which changes per location. Many of our old events have stayed the same such as the popular East Coast Diesel Nationals at Numidia, PA with truck drag racing, pulling, dyno and show-n-shine competitions all day long!

The long time Thunder in Muncie at the Gaston Lions Club Park since 2001 has moved dates and activities which now includes dirt drags, show-n-shine, sled pull and vendors in August on the 10th.

So make sure to check out each event with the clicks below.

Spring Horsepower Festival - Osborn MO May 11

https://www.facebook.com/events/1056541812260674/?active_tab=discussion

WTF - Wapak Truck Festival - Wapakoneta OH - May 17/18

https://www.facebook.com/events/382511574183750/?active_tab=discussion

East Coast Diesel Nationals - Numidia PA - June 22nd

https://www.facebook.com/events/733017582083671/?active_tab=discussion

Thunder in Muncie - Gaston Lions Club Park - August 10th

https://www.facebook.com/events/1871245219958839/?active_tab=discussion

Horsepower Festival Fall - Eddyville Dragway IA - Sept 21

Route 66 Performance Expo - Cowan Event Center Lebanon MO October 12th

Sponsors for 2024 - 

PRI Show 2023 - DIESEL Motorsports - what did we see?

Performance Race Industry Show 2023 is in the books so how did Diesel Motorsports do at this event and what did I see for results?

As far as attendance it was up and pretty much back to normal levels for Thursday and Friday pre-covid. Saturday was lighter most likely from people going out on Friday evening but still not bad. 

As far as the quality of the people coming by the booth it was quite encouraging and very positive for our sport. A lot more diesel businesses and manufacturers were present this year. When we started coming in 2009 DIESEL Motorsports was the only representation in the show and was for many years.

Glad to see so many different motorsports and performance groups gather at the show to discuss business. including the startup of the EPIC engine building series by AERA magazine (Mahle, Total Seal Rings, etc) the day before PRI. I attended it and saw many old faces from the past attending the seminars which lasted all day. Very good information including question sessions for the experts, more diesel engine builders should attend this.

I was especially happy to hear new SEMA/PRI president announce separation from all government agencies at the PRI breakfast! We do not need to let the fox in the henhouse! I have been telling them that for over 10 years! Performance and motorsports is Americana and part of our industry, plus a multi-billion dollar business many of us depend on for a living. 

You could tell by the business being done in the building how big our industry has become in sooo many different factions of motorsports. 

DIESEL Motorsports had many new tracks and venues stop by and wanted to arrange for new shows, plus many new companies wanting to do business with us. 2024 will be our 17th year in operation making us the oldest sanctioning body for diesel pickups and motorsports.

Finally people are coming back to shows not afraid of the virus or other fears the media has used to keep people bottled up. The downtown area was hopping all three nights and people getting to visit with each other about our industry.

I talked to many new faces and old in the industry over the two days about upcoming years and business in those years. Yes, it is work, but work we enjoy standing on your feet for over 12 hours and talking with people. 

Many award banquets are held during the show which we attended as many as we could but time is always an issue. Even our own sponsor ARP won the top SEMA MPMC award for the year, way to go Chris Raschke! 

Looking forward to the 2024 PRI Show! 

AAPEX 2023 Review - DIESEL Motorsports!

I spent the first day at AAPEX (Tuesday) and into the evening at company VIP parties. AAPEX is quite different than SEMA, we used to call it the hard parts and fluid show. However, it is far from that today! Many companies have booths at both shows but the direction at AAPEX is all business for mass buying into chain stores or service centers on an international level.

There are many companies you would recognize there from the box stores such as Peak, Valvoline, Interstate Batteries, Mahle, CRC, StaBil, and many more! A lot of smaller companies looking to sell to the larger chain stores are there including, yes, foreign companies by country. 

A different atmosphere is at the AAPEX show, business dress is expected for meetings with usually the decision makers of the companies. You need to have meetings setup with the right people in order to get business done at this show.

It is fun to look at the many different part options for hard parts and fluids at this show! Many new innovative options are available including many new fluids that make a mechanics life easier. 

I looked at CRC's EvapoRust product which literally dissolves rust on all metal surfaces, a huge have to get for mechanics tearing apart older trucks and re-fabricating them. 

Off to the side I sat down to rest at a small booth and found new brake pads and rotors for our HD trucks that are far superior to OEM equipment! NewTek which is headquartered only 15 minutes from my office. Again you never know what you are going to find at AAPEX.

I attended the MAHLE VIP Dealer Give-away which was a 1000 hp Corvette or a Crawler JEEP to their best dealer among many of their top management and dealers. Awarded with some of the top racers in the country such as John Force and Clay Milican among many others.

Later I visited Alliant Power to view their new products and met with many new people there including some old friends who they just hired from Diamond Advantage. Later they invited me to their VIP reception where I got to see some diesel shops/distributors I have not seen in years because of COVID. Always good to see people from the beginning of our DIESEL Motorsports years!

It was a very productive day at AAPEX seeing many new products that would help our diesel/gas HD pickup markets along with some very nice people. I did go downstairs to visit the Joe's Garage! A little disappointing to tell you the truth, it did not replicate any garage I know but they had a few vehicles setup with companies pushing their electronic monitoring devices. I thought it would be a real garage setting with problem solving accredited mechanics working on vehicles. 

I have to say more people were at the AAPEX show than at the SEMA show if you are measuring all day attendance - very busy!

Always a pleasure to come to this show and view what many of us see at the box stores with many different products of hard parts and fluids. The displays and people working the booths are truly there to inform you of their products and/or services.

SEMA/AAPEX 2023 Review - DIESEL Motorsports!

Every year people who can not go to SEMA/AAPEX ask me how it went and what I saw at the show. Especially since they had to close down during the COVID years!

I have gone for many years and have experienced the days of glory of the auto aftermarket over the years. Saying that everything changes and sometimes for the better or worse depending on your view. Nothing remains the same.

2023 did not disappoint! Is it the same as 1997, 2007 or 2015? No way but after the Covid stall it was a success for both shows. The industry needs the show - period.

I always go on Monday while the vehicles and companies are still moving in and setting up for the show so I can get full view shots of the trucks without people in the way. Too bad SEMA won't let us media in early to get the shots of vehicles indoors on Mondays but they do let us in 30 minutes early every morning. Once the show opens it is very hard to get shots of the special vehicles.

The SEMA show has become somewhat of a world wide car/truck show for the best builds in the country with many of the top builders showing their wares. Inside is what i want to see which is the newest products from all of the manufacturers. So many companies have now combined into one corporation investment but it does give you their products under one banner. This makes the number of booths smaller since they all used to purchase single booths.

Saying that SEMA has filled the spots with new companies and manufacturers. New products are good and some are small so you would never see them unless you came to the show. Unique products for automotive aftermarket is good for our industry giving the performance geeks a chance to design and fabricate better than the OEMs on different model vehicles.

It is what makes America great! Out think the other guy and how to make it better for our vehicles. The big 3 obviously hate this since they are no longer part of the show (in any big way)! 

I was surprised to see so many foreign companies represented at the shows and many could not even speak english thus making them useless other than collecting their monies for being there. However, the direction of making SEMA a world event has been transforming for many years so not totally surprised.

A great time to see many people in the industry I have not seen in a few years because of COVID. Always good to network at the show and talk shop with some of the industries brightest people. They all come to one place and that is SEMA. 

Now as far as the trucks go it seems the new look for show is not performance but looks. The lifted trucks diesel or gas have very detailed fabricated lift kits that are beautiful plus very large wheels and tires. Many had custom wraps with very nice designs and companies represented on them. It's all in the details that set these trucks apart and the older trucks had some great performance adds to them.

Did I go to the BIG SEMA concerts afterwards, no I did not so I can not report on them. I am there for business with many companies and walk over 6 miles a day seeing them so I am pretty wore out to stay for a concert. From what I saw they had some great acts coming.

Photo Link: SEMA 23 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.725524559608995&type=3

AAPEX review coming tomorrow in my blog so revisit tomorrow.

DIESEL Motorsports the longest sanctioning body for diesel pickups!

 DIESEL Motorsports started in the fall of 2007 as National Association of DIESEL Motorsports as members left the earliest DHRA which started in 2001!

People and companies have come and gone in the industry along with many directions for the industry. DIESEL Motorsports has honored many in our "Hall of Fame" but remember many competitors and people who have built the business throughout the years.

The setbacks have been many from not only the government but mainly from the OEM's and even people in our own industry. DIESEL Motorsports continues to add value to manufacturers and jobber shops by building the business from the drivetrain up to final trucks. 

People are keeping their trucks longer so people want them repaired in order to keep them running longer plus the new trucks are well over $70k new!

Rebuilding our enthusiasts trucks have been a booming business that is growing so fast many can not keep up with parts and service because of demand. Believe me it's a good problem to have in our automotive aftermarket business.

Covid changed everything in our automotive business which includes the diesel industry, more demand for work vehicles to perform daily because services are behind on work. The performance is still there but the shops have to be careful what they work on with fear of being turned in to the agencies. 

That is why so many have focused on the maintenance segment of the market where the demand is high right now. Our events some years ago made adjustments based on what the jobber shops were wanting for their customers.  Customers come to our events and participate and then hit the shops for improvements or breakage.

The marketplace changes about every 4-5 years so you can imagine the research we do in order to keep ahead of it. I guess that is why we will be celebrating our 17 year coming up! The past 2 years DIESEL Motorsports has been careful about publishing for obvious reasons but i see the EV craze starting to settle down when they have figured it is harder than they thought.

I already knew this because of research in the global industry of supplying batteries along with electrical demands. DIESEL Motorsports will continue to grow because the units are required to service the public and demand of transportation.

Today's modern diesel engine is so much more sophisticated than the ones from the early 2000s! Thus making the demand for parts and service at an all time high. As a shop keep educated on the new systems and available parts from many different avenues.

That is the main reason I have gone to SEMA/AAPEX for over 30 years, it's not to display, it's to do research for our industry! 

There is only one original DIESEL Motorsports even though people use our name all of the time for recognition!