Jerett Brooks debuted his new Pro 2 truck this weekend and quickly showed the rest of the field that there is a new truck to beat, and it's name is El Diablo!
El Diablo is the first truck to be designed and built by Tanner Stephens and Chris Weismann.
It had been a long time in the planning, and with the good graces from the Brook family, we finally got the chance to build this dream truck.
It had been a long time in the planning, and with the good graces from the Brook family, we finally got the chance to build this dream truck.
The first thing that was designed in for El Diablo was the latest version of the B2T, a redesign that was hashed out on a napkin in a restaurant between Tanner and Chris a few years ago.
Before Christmas, Tanner came down to our office with a wheel, a brake rotor, some bearings and a full-scale hand drawn layout of a new rotor / drive hat / hub that. Tanner had a new idea he wanted to incorporate and he needed our unique way of "thinking outside the box" to achieve his goals.
We spent several hours discussing what he wanted, and I got my head around the truck... the truck Tanner called El Diablo.
A few days later I had some new ideas of my own drawn up, and had I incorporated all of Tanner's ideas too. Once I got the thumbs up from Tanner and the Brook's family, we started making parts.
Fortunately covid prolonged the start of the season, and Tanner was able to finish the new truck in time. Unfortunately the team suffered some engine issues and were not able to debut El Diablo at the first two round of the season in Glenn Helen.
Championship wise however, it was no problem as Jerett swept up both wins that weekend with last year's championship winning truck.
We spent several hours discussing what he wanted, and I got my head around the truck... the truck Tanner called El Diablo.
A few days later I had some new ideas of my own drawn up, and had I incorporated all of Tanner's ideas too. Once I got the thumbs up from Tanner and the Brook's family, we started making parts.
Fortunately covid prolonged the start of the season, and Tanner was able to finish the new truck in time. Unfortunately the team suffered some engine issues and were not able to debut El Diablo at the first two round of the season in Glenn Helen.
Championship wise however, it was no problem as Jerett swept up both wins that weekend with last year's championship winning truck.
Jerett was quickest both days and led flag to flag in both of the races at Glenn Helen.
We would have to wait until the 3 race weekend in Wheatland Missouri to show our new colors.
And show them off we did as Jerett was fastest through all practice sessions and on the pole in both sessions of qualifying. El Diablo was flying and looking good for Round 3, the truck's first race.
And show them off we did as Jerett was fastest through all practice sessions and on the pole in both sessions of qualifying. El Diablo was flying and looking good for Round 3, the truck's first race.
But in the race, fate would deal us a bad hand. While leading at the half way point, Jerett got a puncture.
For 4 laps he ran with the flat and fell back to 4th position. Then he got a break with a caution and dove into the pits to change the flat.
Jerett and the rest of the field were shown the white and green flag, meaning they had one lap to go and Jerett, starting the lap in last place, ripped through the field to place 4th by the checkered flag.
Not the way we had planned it, but El Diablo did finish it's first race in the points.
For 4 laps he ran with the flat and fell back to 4th position. Then he got a break with a caution and dove into the pits to change the flat.
Jerett and the rest of the field were shown the white and green flag, meaning they had one lap to go and Jerett, starting the lap in last place, ripped through the field to place 4th by the checkered flag.
Not the way we had planned it, but El Diablo did finish it's first race in the points.
Round 4 and Jerett Brooks was not to be denied. Not much to report here, he lead from flag to flag and crushed the opposition to record the first win for El Diablo!
But it was a huge relief to get that win under our belt, a win that was a long time coming for Tanner and I! And it was a great win too for the Traction Products crew!
But it was a huge relief to get that win under our belt, a win that was a long time coming for Tanner and I! And it was a great win too for the Traction Products crew!
Round 5 and the last race of the weekend, and Jerett was out front, controlling the race, when the battery exploded!
It was a shame that we didn't come away from the weekend with three 1st place trophies, but all the west-coast racers there know... we should have.
Next race is at the legendary Crandon raceway. We look forward to seeing how El Diablo does against the mid-west trucks in the biggest race of the year!
It was a shame that we didn't come away from the weekend with three 1st place trophies, but all the west-coast racers there know... we should have.
Next race is at the legendary Crandon raceway. We look forward to seeing how El Diablo does against the mid-west trucks in the biggest race of the year!
