Every year, Diesel Power magazine hosts the Diesel Power Challenge. Think of this as the Drag Week for guys who make insane power with diesel trucks. The event is held over three days and consists of several individual competitions like a dyno shootout, quarter mile heads up drag race, eighth mile times trailer towing contest, trailer towing obstacle course, a mileage run where we drove into the Rockies, and finally a truck pull using a weighted “professional style” pulling sled. I was the host/announcer for the event this year and it was an absolute blast. Firstly, it is held in the Denver, Colorado area which is beautiful. Secondly, it is the type of competition that Drag Week is in the fact that racers are constantly breaking and having to fix their stuff. There’s the same sense of community the Drag Week guys have and the competitions are all violent and really push these trucks to the limit (and over it).

Diesel Power has decided to air the footage from the contest on the MotorTrend YouTube channel, so we’re going to get you caught up with the first two installments of the video today. They are releasing one video a day this week, so watch these two today and we’ll get you right up to speed. Don’t worry, this isn’t complex plot line and you can start at the beginning, learn the competitors and then see how the week played out. To say that the winner was a lock would be a complete lie. It really came down to the end and there were a few guys who had a shot at the prize…which, like Drag Week is lots more rooted in bragging rights than fame and riches.

I had a blast at this contest and anytime you can see a Cummins powered Dodge make 1250hp and over 2,000 lb/ft of torque on a chassis dyno it is a good week! Diesel Power is going long form and in-depth with these videos so they are 20 and 33 minutes in length. Grab a cup of coffee, some popcorn, bourbon, or whatever your favorite snack is and get caught up on the Diesel Power greatness with your old pal Lohnes from right here at BangShift. I like big trucks and I cannot lie.

PRESS PLAY BELOW TO WATCH THESE COOL VIDEOS FROM THE 2013 DIESEL POWER CHALLENGE!