The Sidewinder Type-D
The D-truck is a Don Ness Racecraft Pro Stock drag truck with an '01 Chevy S-10 body. Gale is building the truck in an effort to hopefully bring about a new diesel drag class to the NHRA. Currently, several of the western divisions have adopted the class, and at press time, the D-truck was under development.
The D-truck is obviously a different animal with a different purpose when compared to the R-truck. The heartbeat is virtually the same, though. The heavily modded Duramax is there, except the D-truck uses a sophisticated nitrous injection system to help boost low-rpm power during holeshots at the starting line. The N20 also has a side benefit-it also helps clean up the exhaust. Like the R-truck, the D-truck is fully caged inside. Power is put to the pavement via a Liberty Racing clutchless five-speed transmission, a Bruno BRT torque converter, and Mark Williams axles, which are stuffed inside a Don Ness-fabricated rearend housing. Lamb provided the struts, springs, and rack-and-pinion steering system. The Type-D truck rolls on Weld Racing wheels and Mickey Thompson drag tires.
The Original Sidewinder
Banks isn't just in the business of making Duramax-powered trucks go fast, either. The original Sidewinder truck is the Cummins diesel Dodge Dakota rocket truck that set the FIA world record for speed on the Bonneville Salt Flats at 217.306 mph in 2002. That's quite an amazing feat, but what's more amazing is that the truck was driven to the track in Utah from California while towing its own support trailer and averaging a staggering 22 miles per gallon. The 15:1 compression, 5.9L Cummins diesel puts out 735 hp and 1,300 lb-ft of torque, and has run the quarter-mile in 12.16 seconds. The truck was also radared at more than 222 mph on the Salt Flats. Imagine cruising this thing to work every day. It still has the stock radio and air conditioning on board.