SECOND TIME’S A CHARM
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
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Our SEMA 2025 Hot List
SEMA always delivers sensory overload — the unveilings, the crowds, the horsepower echoing off every hall. But this year, the real thrill came from the unexpected. Tucked between the headline builds and mega displays were the parts that made us slow down, lean in, and say, “Okay… now that’s something special.”
California Autofest
As an automotive enthusiast, you know that a huge part of our scene is showing the world your pride and joy, and car shows have traditionally been the best places to do so. They give you the opportunity to talk shop with people who share the same passion. Individuals with different makes of vehicles are drawn together by the same love affair, whether they are into Hondas, VWs or Nissans, so these are great networking places to learn and make things happen.
DRASTIC SUBTLETY
Picking out a car seems so simple, whether it’s at the dealership or sketching lines in the drawing room, or at least that’s the way it looks from the outside. It’s easy to have designs on what’s come before or some version of that, but coming up with something unique that is also appealing continually challenges the imagination of every creative force. Anything but simple, even describing this eclectic process can test the understanding of all but a few gifted visionaries.
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STROKIN DIESEL’S TAILGATE SHOOTOUT 2026 BROUGHT THE HEAT TO ALABAMA
No fluff. No filler. Just boost, fuel, and everything on the ragged edge.
On April 18th, the STROKIN DIESEL TAILGATE SHOOTOUT 2026 lit up Alabama with a back-to-back assault on horsepower, starting on the dyno and ending under the lights at the dragstrip. Backed by Diesel Motorsports, this wasn’t a sit-around-and-look kind of show. This was a run-it, prove-it, break-it-if-you-have-to kind of day.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Scott Killeen
DYNO RUNS AT STROKIN DIESEL
It started where it should, on the rollers at Strokin Diesel. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the shop stayed wide open as truck after truck climbed onto the in-ground diesel dyno with one goal: lay it down or get out of the way.
Many enthusiasts hooked up to the dyno throughout the morning while others packed into the vendor area, including the Diesel Motorsports sponsor tents, creating a steady flow of action around the entire complex.
No two builds were the same, but they all had something to prove. Big single turbos, compound setups, clean street builds, and all-out race trucks. Every one of them got their shot. The crowd stayed tight, packed in close, watching the numbers climb while the shop echoed with screaming RPM and the kind of controlled chaos you only get when limits are being tested.
And the numbers weren’t soft.
Justin Earwood dropped a hammer with 1,278 horsepower, putting a target on the board nobody could touch. Chase Conley came in swinging at 955 hp, with Trapper Doyal right behind at 915 hp. Real power. No excuses.
Between hits, the energy didn’t dip. Industry pros broke down tuning, setups, and what it actually takes to keep these trucks alive when the boost is cranked. Vendors lined the building, giveaways kept hands full, and the entire place felt like one long, loud conversation about going faster.
DRAG RACING AT BAILEYTON DRAGWAY
Then it moved. That’s when things got serious.
Just down the road, Baileyton Dragway flipped the switch from measured power to all-out war. The 1/8-mile strip, known as the “Good Time” dragway, turned into a battleground from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with trucks stacking lanes and barely getting time to cool between passes.
Footbrake ET. Heads-up. Diesel. Gas. No favorites.
The mix hit hard. Diesel Motorsports opening the door to gas classes this season brought a whole new dynamic, and it showed. Different combos. Different strategies. When the tree dropped, none of that mattered. It was all about who could hook, who could hold it together, and who had the nerve to stay in it.
The Baileyton Dragway, a family-run track with roots going back decades, delivered one of the better racing surfaces competitors had seen in years, according to regulars in the Diesel Motorsports circuit.
Weather started creeping in late, forcing the program to pick up the pace. No downtime. No second guessing. Just line up and send it.
When it was over, Justin Earwood backed up his dyno dominance by taking the win, proving his setup wasn’t just big power, it was usable power. Trapper Doyal stayed in the fight and made a deep run, keeping the pressure on to the end.
BUILT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP
Out in the pits, it was exactly what it should be. No ropes. No separation. Just trucks and the people behind them. Clean show builds sat next to work trucks that clearly didn’t get trailered in. Some came to win. Some came to learn. All of them came to be part of it.
That’s the difference here. You don’t have to be the biggest or the baddest. You just have to show up ready to run.
THIS IS WHERE THE SCENE IS GOING
The 2026 Tailgate Shootout wasn’t just loud, it was a snapshot of where the diesel truck racing world is headed. With Diesel Motorsports continuing to expand classes and bring diesel and gas competitors together, Diesel vs. gas isn’t a debate anymore. It’s a matchup. Structured classes, real rules, and builds that keep getting faster, smarter, and harder to beat.
From dyno pulls to side-by-side passes, the gap between street and race keeps getting thinner, and nobody’s complaining.
FULL SEND, NO APOLOGIES
Hosted by Strokin Diesel and backed by Diesel Motorsports, along with PRW Performance, Total Seal Rings, AMSOIL, and PPE Diesel, this wasn’t just an event. It was a statement.
The STROKIN DIESEL TAILGATE SHOOTOUT 2026 didn’t play it safe. It didn’t slow down. And it didn’t care who you were. If you had something to prove, this was your shot.
And judging by the turnout, the noise, and the numbers… people are more than ready to take it.
RON KNOCH — THE FORCE BEHIND DIESEL MOTORSPORTS
Nineteen years in, and Ron Knoch is still doing exactly what he set out to do—build the diesel performance scene from the ground up and keep it moving forward.
When he launched Diesel Motorsports back in 2001, the idea was simple: connect brands, showcase diesel performance, and give diesel trucks a real stage. What started as a sponsor-driven effort quickly turned into something much bigger. Drawing from his background in the automotive aftermarket and marketing world, Knoch helped bring companies into the diesel industry, guiding product development and creating a pipeline between manufacturers and enthusiasts. That connection still drives everything today.
Through events across the country, Diesel Motorsports events don’t just promote parts—they put them to the test. From dyno competitions to diesel drag racing and truck pulling, the organization has spent nearly two decades building a platform where performance isn’t talked about, it’s proven. And through it all, Knoch has stayed hands-on.
From navigating the 2008 market crash to dealing with years of EPA regulations, rising fuel costs, and constant industry shifts, he’s kept Diesel Motorsports moving forward. The industry itself has evolved from simple diesel bolt-ons to full-blown, high-horsepower diesel engines, and Knoch has been right there alongside it—helping shape what modern diesel performance builds look like.
But ask him why he’s still doing it, and it’s not about the numbers—it’s the people. Over nearly two decades, he’s built relationships across every corner of the country—racers, builders, sponsors, and fans who’ve all played a role in growing the diesel truck community. That same mindset led to the creation of the Diesel Motorsports Hall of Fame, recognizing the individuals who’ve helped push the diesel performance industry forward year after year.
Safety and structure have remained a constant focus as well. With nearly 20 years of diesel motorsports events under the Diesel Motorsports banner, maintaining controlled, family-friendly environments while pushing the limits of performance has always been part of the mission.
Now, heading into its 19th season, Diesel Motorsports continues to expand, evolve, and raise the bar. From a single event in 2001 to a national presence with massive growth across the diesel performance market, the foundation hasn’t changed: show up, run hard, and represent the diesel industry.
And if you ask Ron Knoch, they’re just getting started.
ARTICLE SOURCES
Strokin Diesel
Combat-veteran owned. Built for power, tuned for WAR.
Custom diesel tuning on our in-house Dynojet chassis dyno, diagnostics, wholesale parts, and maintenance & performance builds.
DIESEL Motorsports
The exclusive sanctioned association for diesel drag racing and sled pulling in the US. Representing for over 18 years! The longest sanctioning body for diesel and gas pickup trucks in the 1/2, 3/4 an 1 ton range.
