Thunder in Muncie

Long before diesel became “cool” and enthusiast magazines sprang up, the only publication that dealt with diesel pickups was the [Turbo Diesel Registry] ([TDR]). This magazine was essentially a technical publication for [TDR] club members geared toward the Dodge Cummins turbo diesel. [TDR] also put on rallies, which were open to anyone who owned a Cummins turbo diesel.

 

One of the group’s earliest rallies was in Muncie, Indiana, home of the Muncie four-speed from muscle car days. The event was held at Gaston Lion’s Club Park, just outside of Muncie, and featured all the typical diesel gathering stuff, such as vendors, food and good company with other Cummins owners.

 

 

The event in 2000 was also historic, in that TDR hosted the first diesel truck-only drag race and sled-pulling event. Industry veterans Gene Mohney, of Diesel Motorsports, and Eric McBride, former head of the Diesel Hot Rod Association, were instrumental in getting diesel pickups into a sport that had been dominated by tractors up to that point. And so the original Thunder in Muncie was born.

 

 

Nearly 12 years later, Diesel Motorsports (NADM) is keeping the Thunder in Muncie legend alive and well by hosting both a diesel drag race and diesel truck-only sled pull at the same Gaston Lion’s Club Park at which it all began. This year’s event, held on June 23^rd, brought back much of the same magic, with drag racing at Muncie Dragway in the morning and a full schedule of sled pulling later in the day at Gaston Lion’s Club Park.

 

 

Cool temperatures and great track prep at Muncie Dragway led to some new Diesel Motorsports records being set. Jared Vollmer, behind the wheel of the Bully Dog Dodge, clipped off a 9.55 and backed it up with a 9.46 clocking at 147 mph to set an Unlimited World Record. Also in fast company was Wade Moody’s Flo-Pro S-10 pro stocker, which laid down an 8-second pass at 174 mph, and a 9.50 run by Dimitri Mallard and his Dimitri’s Custom Auto Duramax. This was followed by a 9.80 run by H&S Performance’s clean 6.7L Ram. Dimitri also got the Ironman Award for running two trucks and changing boost boots between rounds while also being a one-man pit crew, according to NADM.

 

Shortly after the awards were handed out at the track, the crowd headed toward Gaston’s Lion’s Club Park, which is approximately 7 miles down the road. There, everyone was met with a huge vendor row featuring a who’s-who of the diesel industry. Many of the vendors had driven a long way to participate. The short list included Beans Diesel Performance, Alligator Performance, H&S Performance and Industrial Injection, to name just a few.

 

By late afternoon, the sled pullers began to arrive and get teched-in, and by early evening, the action began in four classes. The old Lion’s Club Park stands—probably the same ones that were there 12 years ago—were packed with spectators. Even more folks lined the course in the infield, and the action started in early evening and continued well past 10 p.m.

 

Prior to the start of the sled-pulling action, Dave Mitchell was selected as the first inductee into the Diesel Motorsports Hall of Fame. Mitchell’s daughter accepted the award, because Dave passed away earlier this year. Dave owned and operated Enterprise Engine Performance and was one of the innovators in the sled-pulling industry.

 

For more information on next year’s Thunder in Muncie or any other Diesel Motorsports (NADM) event, access its website: www.runnadm.com.

 

Drag Racing Results

 

ET Bracket:
Dan Holland 1st Place
Johnny Gilbert 2nd Place
Jim Layden Semi
Shane King Semi
Quick Diesel:
Johnny Gilbert 1st Place 12.04 116.82
Jim Layden 2nd Place 11.96 116.68
Shane King Semi 12.34 109.90
Unlimited:
Jarid Vollmer 1st Place 9.69 148.00
Payton Hugie 2nd Place 10.07 140.71
Dmitri Millard Semi 12.24 75.32

 

 

 

Sled-Pulling Results by Class

 

2.6 STREET DIESEL		Thunder In Muncie
	Name/Team Name	City/State	Year/Color	Make/Model	Distance
	Scott Amos	Summitville, IN	1999 Black	Dodge rehook (309.05)	311.02
	Tyler Eller	Lafayette, IN	1995 Black/red	Dodge	310.06
	Evan Smoot	Eaton, IN	!997 Black	Dodge	305.10
	Kile Clamme	Upland, IN	1996 Black	Dodge	304.04
	Brandon Overmyer	Rochester, IN	1996 White	Dodge	300.08
	Tyson Dillard	Fountain Run, KY	1997 Black	Dodge	300.04
	Terry Coopess	Elwood, IN	1998 Blue	Dodge	299.09
	Erik Hucke	Oxford, OH	Purple	Dodge	297.07
	Adam Hallien	Fort Wayne, IN	1997 Blue	Dodge	294.10
	Jeremy Tedrow	Delta, OH	1998 Black	Dodge	293.09

 

3.0 STREET DIESEL		Thunder in Muncie
Hook #	Name/Team	City/State	Year, Color	Make, Model	Distance
	Bryan Barker	New Carlisle, OH	2001 Black	Dodge	313.08
	Curt Haisley	Swayzee, IN	1995 Silver	Dodge	309.07
	Joel Reese	Connesville, IN	1997 Green	Dodge	307.05
	Mike Wiesehan	Antwerp, OH	1993 Black	Dodge	306.02
	Tyler Dillard	Fountain Run, KY	1996 Green	Dodge	302.04
	Rocky Roark	Amanda, Ohio	2008 Black	Ford	290.05
	Terry Biggs	Noblesville, IN	1995 Black	Dodge	290.02
	Chris Webb	Vanwert, OH	2004 Silver	Dodge	286.04
	Chase McCombs	Connersville, IN	1997 Red	Dodge	219.01

 

 

SUPER STREET/MOD		Thunder in Muncie
Hook #	Name/Team Name	City/State	Year/Color	Make, Model	Distance
	Van Haisley	Fairmont, IN	1997 Black	Dodge	333.04
	Calvin Miller	Guysmill, PA	2002 Red	Dodge	302.09
	Wayne Greier	Salem, OH	1997	Dodge	282.00
	Corey Hendershot	Russiaville, IN	1999 Silver	Dodge	20.09

 

 

WORK STOCK		Thunder In Muncie
Hook #	Name/Team Name	City/PA	Year, Color	Make, Model	Distance
	Kyle Harness	Frankfort, IN	2005 White	Chevy	291.08
	Adam Ruple	Delta, OH	1995 Marroon	Dodge	290.04
	Kerk Kesler	Frankfort, IN	2005 Black	Chevy	279.10
	George Ponder	Alexandria, IN	2001 Silver	Dodge	278.08
	Robert Smith	Summerville, IN	2012 Black	Dodge	273.06
	Austin Jones	Delphi, IN	1999 Red	Dodge	272.03
	Mitch Pierce	Elwood, IN	2001 White	Chevy	271.10
	Dustin Poling	Convoy, IN	2001 White	Dodge	270.11
	Matthew Utter	Rochester, IN	2005 Red	Dodge	270.09
	Joe Kopfeschmid	Kokomo, IN	2005 Red	Chevy	266.04

 

 

Sponsors

H&S Performance

South Bend Clutch

Fluidampr

Industrial Injection

ARP

Fuelab

Flo-Pro Exhaust

Champion Blue Flame Oil

K&N Air Intake

Mahle

Carrillo

Victor Reinz

Sinister Diesel

Covercraft

System One

SSBC

Custom Diesel

National Rifle Association

Alligator Performance

Ny-Trex

Vulcan Performance

Little Power Shop

Class Sponsors

Workstock Class—Rollin Smoke Diesel.com

2.6 Class—Second Wind Performance

Quick Diesel Class–New Era Diesel

Event Sponsors

Sled Pulling—Pure Diesel Power.com

Drag Racing—DDPPI Diesel Performance Parts.com

Show-n-Shine—The DieselStore.comBy Kevin WilsonPhotography: Kevin Wilson