2008 Ford F-250 Diesel Drag Race Truck is a True Beast

Don't Call it A Comeback

Fans of diesel drag racing may recognize this reborn, four-wheel-drive 2018 Ford F-250 diesel recently unveiled by one of the industry’s most well-established shops —Rudy’s Diesel Performance in Burlington, NC. The truck is, in fact, a new rendition of the one Aaron “Rudy” Rudolf himself drove in the famed Ultimate Callout Challenge (UCC). While you’ll be able to catch this stud in the pro classes of the Outlaw Diesel Super Series and this year’s edition of the UCC, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how this Rudy’s gem is fully-dialed in for the approaching race calendar.

Photos Courtesy of Truck Trend / KJ Jones

Acceleration in the Name Of

Connoisseurs of the ’08 Ford F-250 will see that this Rudy’s custom has very little left of its namesake. In fact, the only thing that remains from a stock 2018 Ford F-250 is the 6.4-liter Power Stroke Ford diesel engine, cab shell, and a few feet of the factory frame rail. Other than those remnants, the Rudy’s drag racer is fully purpose-built. From a four-link front and rear suspension to its Rossler TH400 automatic transmission with overdrive, this blue angel is ready to barrel down the track at a moment’s notice.

>>Join the conversation about this diesel drag racer right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

The Future is Now

While it’s a throwback in one sense, this Ford F-250 drag racer is also at the forefront of diesel drag racing. Shops like those operated by Aaron “Rudy” Rudolf have made impressive advancements in diesel drag racing technology and performance in recent years. They now have elapsing times and speeds previously considered unbreakable.

>>Join the conversation about this diesel drag racer right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Leading the Way

Many Rudy’s builds are leading this new class of record-breaking diesel drag racers. Their F-250 is a bonafide race truck through and through. It is constructed with a one-off fiberglass and carbon fiber replica body draped over a 25.3 spec chromoly chassis built by Elite Fab & Design. The truck’s need for speed is also thanks to its lightweight composite and aluminum interior components, as well as its bevy of race-specific parts you’ll find from nose to tail.

>>Join the conversation about this diesel drag racer right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Speed Adaptable

The Rudy’s Ford F-250 chassis is constructed with a strut front suspension and a 4-link in the rear with Bilstein coilover shocks. As it sits, the truck comes in at around 3,400 pounds, although class regulations may require the addition of weight, which the Rudy’s team planned for the in the chassis’ design phase.

>>Join the conversation about this diesel drag racer right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Ticket to Ride

The dragster is powered by solid-block 6.4-liter Ford Powerstroke built by River City Diesel. It features a custom billet intake from Maryland Performance Diesel and a triple, compound 76 mm BorgWarner turbocharger setup custom designed by the well-known firm Engineered Diesel. A pair of Rudy’s K16 pumps and 150 percent injectors provide the fuel, and a MoTec ECU manage the engine operations, while Suncoast Performance prepped a Dodge 47RE transmission for this custom drag truck.

>>Join the conversation about this diesel drag racer right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Blue Streak

All in all, the Rudy’s 2008 Ford F-250 Diesel Drag Racer produces an overwhelming 1,987 horsepower and 3,005 lb-ft of torque, making it easily capable of running in the sevens. Part of the reason for the truck’s amazing power output, beyond its physical size, is the degree of chrome and polishing instituted in the truck These are lightweight components that also look fantastic. You can also spot the Rudy’s diesel at drag races across the calendar year thanks to its easily identifiable carbon fiber blue wrap.

>>Join the conversation about this diesel drag racer right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

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