Ouch: Cummins Ram Reaches 2,695 HP Before Exploding on the Dyno

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      Every year, the most formidable diesel trucks gather in Indianapolis for the Ultimate Callout Challenge. Even if you're not acquainted with the event, chances are you've come across videos from it, especially if Cummins-powered trucks pop up in your feed occasionally. Unfortunately for the tuners and shops participating, some of those videos depict a truck bursting into a huge fireball on the dyno. That was the scenario this past weekend for JBJ Diesel from Idaho.

      Jake Rodriguez's third-gen Ram was performing exceptionally well on the dyno when the nitrous controller malfunctioned. At the moment of the explosion, the power figures were impressive—2,695 horsepower with more room to grow—but regrettably, the engine succumbed first. You can witness the destruction from multiple angles below:

      When I mention that the truck was on track for a significantly higher score, keep in mind it has previously exceeded the 3,000-hp threshold. This striking red single-cab reached 3,342 hp at last year's Diesels in the Mountains competition. It's hard to say if it could have secured the UCC dyno event title against Poor Boys Diesel, which achieved 3,825 hp.

      Rodriguez and his team replaced it with a spare engine for the remaining UCC events, which included a sled pull the following day. He provided a sneak peek of that backup Cummins in a video about a month ago, and I must admit, it likely costs more than my house. (I suppose that's the perk of residing in a mobile home.)

      You can be assured that JBJ Diesel hasn’t given up on this truck yet. It will undoubtedly be back on a dyno soon, and they have an entire year to prepare for UCC 2027. Based on what I’ve observed from the shop, they will have a genuine competitor ready—and it will also be visually striking.

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