Thinking of Drag Racing your diesel pickup? Here is what you should know first:

The NHRDA (National Hot Rod Diesel Association) has several sanctioned events throughout the year.  Hosting the best drivers in the diesel industry running the fastest diesel powered trucks/vehicles in North America.  Many of the trucks entered are being piloted by someone with years of seat time and experience.  

However, most truck owners will not build a truck capable of competing with these record setting drag racers.  Furthermore, many owners simply do not have the available resources to gain years of experience and hundreds if not thousands of passes it takes to become a Pro.  

• Diesel Performance Podcast:XDP Drag Truck With Anthony Reams
• How to Drag Race Your Diesel, TruckTrend.com Article
• Idaho Rob and Drag Racing on the Diesel Performance Podcast

Before the Track:

Being good at anything starts with preparation!  These important points are a "must do" before even driving to the track!

1. Maintenance is Key

* Nothing is more disappointing then showing up to the track and already be at a disadvantage.  Go through all of the basic jobs: oil change, fuel filter replaced, check the external spin on filter for the transmission.  Don't forget to inspect the drive line and suspension components, such as ball joints, tie rods, drive shaft, transfer case, steering components, tires and alignment.  Top off all fluids and give the truck a bath!

2. Get Comfortable

* If you are new to the truck it is going to show.  Take some time to go through all of the controls on your truck.  Only rookies and people who are unprepared race with the A/C on.  Know the options available for your truck and how to operate them.  Tow Haul, 4x4 HI, 2nd gear start, manual shifting, which side to pull the headlight out of, and a slew of other options can make or break your ET. 

3. Check and Double Check

* You can only expect, what you inspect.  That means if you hear a noise and think you might know what it is, don't assume anything. Take the time and check it out.  When you are done, double check it.  This also should cover your basics for making power.  Just because your truck made 500 RWHP last year on a trailer dyno, does not mean you are good to go.  Data log whenever possible and compare PIDs that impact fuel delivery and boost.  Work with your tuner to see when this is possible.  Boost test your truck before every race.  Leaks easily develop through out the charged air system and no visual inspection or sound check is going to catch it.  

At the Track:

Now that you showed up at the track, there are a few things to know.   

1. Staging Lanes

* This is where you will spend most of your day.  Sitting in line waiting to move up and race.  It is common for those in the back of the line to shut the truck down if things are moving slowly.  However you do want to make sure the truck Engine Coolant Temperature is up to operating range prior to running at WOT down the truck.  If there are any accidents or spills on the track you can get stuck in line for a while.  Take advantage when this happens, jump out of your truck and socialize with the other participants.  It is a great time to soak up some insightful advice and share experiences. 

2. Burnout Box

* Before you actually hit the line, you will need to decide if your going to use the burnout box.  General rule of thumb is that 4WD trucks skip the burnout, 2WD trucks hit it.  Some really high horsepower trucks with 4WD will still do a burnout but if you are new to drag racing this probably is not for you.  Focus on the other aspects of racing first and gain some experience before jumping into it.  The line is enough to deal without having to include the burnout box for beginners.  

3. At the Line

* Now it is time to focus.  Go through your check list, Windows Up, A/C OFF, 4HI Engaged, Radio OFF.  You are going to creep up to the line at this point.  On the Tree there are usually Red, Yellow, Green and White lights.  The White lights are there for measuring your placement at the Start Line.  As you are creeping up slowly you will see the first White Light come on.  This means you are almost set.  Hold your foot harder on the brake with your left foot and start to build some boost by pressing your right foot on the accelerator.  Those new to racing with a tree should ignore the vehicle in the opposing lane to get started.  Really try to make this about focusing on what you are doing.  

4. Launching

* This is what it's all about! Once you have built up the desired amount of boost, lightly pump your brake until you roll forward enough to trigger the 2nd light.  Once both people have 2 White lights the "Tree will drop".  In other words, the lights will illuminate from top to bottom, and quickly.  As soon as the green is lit, you drop your right foot and lift your left foot.  Once you get more comfortable with launching you can dial in your reaction time, which is a measurement of how much time passes from when the Green light illuminates until your truck moves forward.  2WD trucks will not want to build much boost as 4WD trucks.  If you are unsure of how hard you should launch it, give a call to your tuner or a well known drag racer with a similar setup for advice. 

5. When it Goes Wrong

* Hopefully nothing ever goes wrong for you.  However, if you race long enough, you are going to break something.  If you break anything, shut it down and pull over.  The track owner, other participants, and even your wife do not want you running down the track with anything broken.  This is counter-intuitive and in the moment it will seem to make more sense to just run to the end of the track and worry about it in the pits. 

6. Consistency Counts

* Every racer who truly competes knows how important consistency is.  Your first few times out, the time slip doesn't really matter.  It is all about finding a routine that you are comfortable with and repeating it.  Guys break it down to the tiniest details, which glove they put on first, which order they engage a switch or set a mirror.  The more of a detailed routine you have, the better chances you have achieving consistency. 

Below you will find a link to download a checklist for drag racers.  Simply complete the form on the following page and the Checklist will be emailed to you within 1 business day.