Byron Dragway - Diesel Drags and Test & Tune

Wayne Maurer III

After the Saturday rain, it was nice to have good weather to race. Sunday it was the Diesel vehicles turn to hit the track. The Diesel Drags is a little different event, in that there are not any elimination rounds. It's more of a "show" event. There were five rounds of qualifications for the Awards at the end.

In the three brands of diesels the following were the winners:
Cummins
(1) #302 TJ Frey
(2) #616 Walker Knight
(3) #603 Dustin Fowler

Power Stroke

(1) #608 Dan Bigelow
(2) #601 Tyler Davison
(3) #617 Craig Grisolia

Duramax
(1) #614 Ron Saltzma (also Best Blackout)
(2) #613 Joe Tordai
​(3) #606 Derek Patterson (also Best Appearing GM)

Most Unique
​Wayne Maurer III

In addition to the Diesels, there was a Test & Tune:

Track Bites
 The Ness family brought two junior dragsters to Byron today. One was their son, Cohen Ness, age 12, testing and his sister, Lennox, age 9, was licensing.

As part of the day of racing, it was decided to offer a Diesel Bracket Race. Only two trucks decided to race. It was Gil Odjick and Brandon Schmidt. The race was won at the start when Gil had a .106 reaction time to Brandon's .736. Brandon could not overcome that.

Gil Odjick

One of the more interesting cars testing today was the 1951 Studebaker Starlite Coupe, Silver Stude", driven by Calvin Johnson from Hollandale Wi. The car has a 468 c.i. Chevy engine. When Calvin puts on the side mufflers and street car tires it becomes street legal.

The diesel that won the Most Unique award was the Mudtang of Wayne Maurer III. It is a 2000 Mustang body hung on a 2000 Ford F250 frame. The vehicle began it's life in Michigan and was bought by Wayne and brought back to Hampshire, Il. for completion.

With the great weather, it made for a great show with quite a few fans in the stands.

This was the first of two Diesel events this season. The next one will be October 29th. 

To see all the images from today's event, please click here.

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