The TS Performance Outlaw drags, sled pull, dyno challenge, and show 'n' shine is one of those events that just shouldn't be missed. The past two years have been a little tough for the event, though. Last year, there was an abrupt cancellation after some yahoo put a bunch of donut-shaped tire tracks in the beautiful lawn area of Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and this year Mother Nature decided to dump a tremendous amount of water on the South, and the flooding of the dragstrip was epic.
With just days to go before the event, the TS crew had to make a tough decision. There was no place that could substitute as a full quarter-mile dragstrip with such short notice, so the decision was made to cancel the drags and reschedule them for later in the year. To the credit of TS, the decision was made soon enough that those who were planning to trailer their trucks cross-country were able to avoid a long drive for nothing. Kudos to TS Performance, as the rest of the events went on as scheduled in the city of Franklin.
The sled pull went off like clockwork, with qualifying on Friday and the big-money runs on Saturday. This year the spectators and participants didn't have to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to get everything done. The show 'n' shine was held both days, as was the dyno challenge. A seemingly endless number of trucks went on Dave Dunbar's dyno to see just what kind of horsepower they could actually produce.
Despite the challenges that have beset this event the past two years, it has still been pulled off well and provided a lot of fun for the spectators and plenty of challenges for those who participated. We're hoping next year will bring lots of sunshine and no difficult issues for the gang at TS Performance. If you are anywhere near driving distance to Bowling Green, Kentucky, you owe it to yourself to be there next year.
The big weights that sled...
The big weights that sled pull trucks use for counterbalance offer a great place for sponsor logos.
If you've never been to a...
If you've never been to a sled pull, you should treat yourself. The sled is pulled by trucks down a dirt track.
A heavy weight slides up the...
A heavy weight slides up the sled and puts more and more weight directly on the front of the sled, making the pull progressively harder.
The more open classes see...
The more open classes see a lot of very sophisticated race vehicles.
Outrageous race engines are...
Outrageous race engines are a common sight at a sled pull.
The show 'n' shine was set...
The show 'n' shine was set up right next to the sled pull, so you didn't have to walk far to change your scenery.
Dave Dunbar's dyno ran an...
Dave Dunbar's dyno ran an endless stream of high-horsepower trucks during the two-day show period.
A lot of people spent a good...
A lot of people spent a good deal of time watching the trucks get dyno-tested.
One of the great things about...
One of the great things about a gathering of diesel truck enthusiasts is the camaraderie that exists.
Some of the nicest trucks...
Some of the nicest trucks there were in the pits for the sled pull trucks.
A diesel-powered golf cart?...
A diesel-powered golf cart? You bet!
Similar to a regular drag...
Similar to a regular drag race or circle track, there's tons of homemade stuff at a sled pull—and a lot of it looks great.