The Latest, SPE Motorsport Performance Industry News - DEF Regulations; AWD Shootout; and more

First Time In The 4’s

Myer Stump’s Dodge is one of only a handful of CM849 controlled Cummins-powered Rams to go 4’s in the 1/8-mile. The feat happened last weekend in Las Vegas, after Myer’s common-rail swapped second-gen cut a break-neck 1.26-second 60-foot, blazed through the ‘330 in 3.32 seconds and, ultimately, crossed the stripe in 4.996 seconds (at a healthy 146 mph). Not bad for a setup on just its second outing at a track—and on only its eighth pass. Believe it or not, upon arriving in Vegas Myer discovered his NHRA license was expired, which means someone else had to drive… That somebody was Josh McCormack. Check out the video documenting the whole experience at the link below.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qiI4DOeukQ

The Oddest Ford Patent In Recent History

The latest patent filed by Ford is for a left foot brake pedal. Some speculators say it's a good upgrade for off roaders. Does it make sense? Yeah, sure, but why? That's the real question here. Does it really make sense for Ford to go through the lengthy and expensive patent process just to add a swing out brake pedal extension, for off roaders? Half the fun of these new patents is speculating the actual end goal of Ford's. We're not really sure about this one.  

Source: https://fordauthority.com/2026/03/future-ford-vehicles-may-get-special-pedal-for-left-foot-braking/

Long Nights And Red-Eye Flights—The Thrash Ahead Of The Cleetus AWD Vs. RWD Race

They don’t come much more dyed-in-the-wool than Dustin Sterling. While swapping engines in his 4-second Silverado, he noticed debris in the injectors he planned to use. Well, with a dyno date lined up at Truck Source Diesel and being due in Bradenton, Florida a few days after that, Dustin quickly grabbed a flight to Indiana. He then waited while S&S went through his injectors and then hightailed it back to Texas. His day went from a 4 a.m. flight out to a 5 p.m. return, followed by a 3-hour haul to TSD. In Dustin’s own words, we added a “whole new meaning to overnight.”

Duramax Chevelle 2.0 Update

Supposedly rocking a tube chassis now, Rick Fletes’ Duramax-powered ’70 Chevelle is back home at RF Garage and in a position where he can get to work and finish it. Rick’s goal is to transform the 8-second muscle car into one of the baddest diesel door slammers in the world—as well as continue to campaign it in ride-n-drive events. One visit to the car’s Facebook page and you get the hint that Rick plans to skip past the 7’s altogether and roll a running, 6-second car out of the garage later this spring. Depending on the event you spot it at, you’ll find the car sitting on radials. At other venues, it’ll have a big, floppy set of slicks bolted on out back.

Source: https://www.rfgaragedieselperformance.com/

Senators Fight For DEF-Induced Limp Modes To Be Eliminated

Picture yourself stranded inside a Class 8 truck cab during a blizzard—and with an engine that will no longer run. That’s the life-threatening scenario that can play out when a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system failure triggers the ECU to shut the engine down—and such protocols are in place in all on-highway trucking applications built over the last decade-plus. Now, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming have the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act on the table in D.C. If it’s passed, the act will allow manufacturers to end power derates and shutdowns due to DEF system failures (such as low DEF levels or frozen DEF) when operating in ambient temperatures below 32 degrees.

Source: https://www.thedrive.com/news/senators-argue-def-requirements-should-be-tossed-for-trucks-in-cold-weather

Which States Cause the Most Damage to Your Car?

Your car, truck, or SUV has its work cut out for it from the moment it leaves the dealer lot. Road conditions (think road salt), the sun (think UV rays), accidents, and even natural disasters can all damage our pride and joy. But, on average, which U.S. states cause the most damage to your car? Grease Monkey set out to answer this question and devised a scoring system based on 10 metrics commonly associated with car wear, deterioration, and damage. Texas claimed the number 1 spot, followed by a close battle for Second Place between Mississippi and New York. As for the state that causes the least amount of damage to your vehicle…that’s Idaho.

Source: https://www.greasemonkey.com/car-tips/which-states-cause-the-most-damage-to-your-car/