Black smoke, revving diesel engines and screeching tires highlighted the 2019 Ultimate Callout Challenge at the Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, IN, May 3-5 as Derek Rose captured the overall championship with his Dodge Cummins truck.
There was plenty of excitement, especially on the dyno as several trucks literally went up in flames in their effort to generate maximum horsepower. But that’s the price competitors are willing to pay as they match their tuning and mods against the best diesel pickups built.
The three-day event, battling with a little unsettled weather this year, featured diesel trucks competing in three popular events—drag racing, sled pulling and dynos. Not only are the competitors fighting for the best runs, but also fighting to keep their trucks running under such strenuous circumstances. They take their equipment to its limit … and hopefully not beyond, as they earn points based on their performance.
Rose of Casco, MI, and sponsored by DNR Customs, won the Dyno competition, finished fifth in the Sled Pull and seventh in the Drag racing to finally capture his first overall title. He was driving a Dodge Cummins. Rose had finished in the runner-up position in both 2018 and 2017.
Second in the overall competition was Shawn Baca of Salt Lake City, UT. Sponsored by Industrial Injection and driving a Dodge Cummins, Baca earned his overall point position by finishing third in both the Sled Pull and Dyno, and ninth in the Drag Racing.
Finishing third overall was Todd Welch of Cedar City, UT. Welsh, sponsored by Power Driven Diesel, also used a Dodge Cummins to place first in the Sled Pull, sixth on the Dyno and 15th in the Drag Racing.
During the Drag Racing competition, although Rose had the fastest time, it was Aaron Rudolf who proved most consistent to take the title. Rose struggled lightly in the head-to-head competition to finish seventh.
Although Wade Minter could only manage the ninth fastest time, it was his performance during the head-to-head competition that vaulted him into second place. Kodi Koch rounded out the top three.
The Sled Pull was captured by Welch who edged out Tony Burkhard for top honors. On the Dyno, Rose out-powered Justin Andres for the top honors.
Rose and his bright-blue, center-drive regular cab Dodge has been very successful in Ultimate Callout Challenge competitions since the very first UCC event in 2016. The first year his team finished 5th overall. Then, in both 2017 and 2018 he took the runner-up role overall.
His Cummins engine features: triple BD R900 CP3 pumps, two Borg Warner SX-E 488 Turbochargers - with a GT55 mounted on BD's T6 exhaust manifold, BD Double Stacked Transmission coolers, and a TrackMaster 48RE transmission with a manual valve body and equipped with the BD Hi5 serviceable 5 clutch converter and 12 bolt flex plate.
Rose has always been consistent in the drags and pulls. But his strength is in the dyno, where he’s put out horsepower numbers well over 2,000 hp in each of the four years he’s competed.
Baca, driving his Master Shredder 2 Cummins diesel truck, is the lead technician at Industrial Injection Diesel Performance. His truck features a 6.7L Shredder Series engine with a triple turbo compound setup backed by a B&J 4-speed transmission. His sponsors include: Aeromotive, ARP Fasteners, Beans Diesel, CP-Carrillo, Diamond Pistons, FASS Fuel Systems, Hamilton Cams, Hardway Performance, Nitrous Express, Pure Diesel Power, RKL Diesel, Schmidt Body and Paint, Trend Performance, TS Performance, Valair Clutch and Yukon Gear & Axle.
Welch is sponsored by Power Driven Diesel. He is also supported by Diesel Performance Converters, Farrell Diesel Service, Hamilton Cams and Nyes Automotive.
All top three overall finishers turned in dyno-horsepower numbers over 2,000 (Rose at 2503 hp, Baca at 2195 hp and Welch at 2136 hp.
Wet weather conditions created havoc with scheduling as the promoters worked around the rain. It made for some real late days to work through the qualifiers. However, the weather got better as the event progressed.
The Ultimate Callout Challenge is sponsored by Alligator Performance.
Overall
1) Derek Rose, DNR Customs, Dodge, Casco, MI.
2) Shawn Baca, Industrial Injection, Dodge, Salt Lake City, UT
3) Todd Welch, Dodge, Power Driven Diesel, Cedar City, UT
Drag Standings
1) Aaron Rudolf
2) Wade Minter
3) Kodi Koch
Sled Pull
1) Todd Welch
2) Tony Burkhard
3) Shawn Baca
Dyno Results
1) Derek Rose
2) Justin Andres
3) Shawn Baca