About this episode
You’ve seen the SmokeStang light up burnouts on YouTube—now hear the backstory straight from Westen Champlin himself. We’re talking about how a $1500 junkyard 12-valve turned into a 1200+ horsepower weapon, what really goes down behind the scenes, and why building fast diesel rigs usually ends with something on fire (or broken). From transmission failures and sketchy last-minute wiring to full-send dyno runs and burnout comps, this episode covers the kind of chaos that comes with chasing big power on tight timelines. Westen shares what it’s like growing a YouTube channel while juggling builds, towing rigs across the country, and trying to keep it all from blowing apart. We get into the crossover between diesel drag racing, truck pulling, and burnout culture—and how U.S. events are finally catching up to the Aussies when it comes to putting on a real show. We’re also talking about the upcoming Horsepower Rodeo going down May 24th in Winfield, Kansas—30+ pro-level builds, blown methanol setups, diesel trucks, and zero lift off the throttle. If you’re into diesel performance, race builds, YouTube truck content, or just want to hear what happens when you stop caring about rules and start chasing horsepower, this one’s worth your time.