(Words and photos by Bryan McTaggart) – Question: What has enough torque to slow the Earth’s rotation, enough smoke to justify suspicion of an oil derrick fire, and enough turbine noise to be confused with a medium airport?

Answer: The 2014 TS Performance Diesel Drags at Beech Bend.

This being my first time to a diesel event, I came in a little unsure of what to expect. The parking area of Beech Bend looked like a show specifically designed for the “Rollin’ Coal” crowd-one that I usually avoid. In the 90 degree heat and obscene humidity, I made my way down to the fence where I usually shoot pictures at and after two launches, I got it. Within thirty minutes, I had seen a Dodge bunny-hop itself sideways with all four tires blazing, watched a Super Duty blow not only it’s engine, but it’s grille, bumper and most of the hood all over the far end of the track, saw a pair of short buses run the slowest bracket race I’ve yet seen, and had seen a GMC pop all four wheels off of the ground in the most violent launch I’ve ever seen. Duallys that looked ready for show pitted against no-joke farm trucks, mud and all. The E-350 van running against a 30’s Chevy packing a hot 6.5L was surprising. A Cummins dragster running a 6.80 at over 200 mph, and a Cummins altered running deep 8’s. Lots of four-digit horsepower and torque numbers.

The power required for trucks like this to haul that kind of ass is impressive, check out our photos to see what we mean!

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