Setting up a drag car is a constant game of testing and tuning, tweaking, and wrenching. The elusive perfect setup is a goal all racers chase, some do it blindly, taking a shotgun approach, others are methodical and diligent. In this test and tune session we see the unique Hyper Max car put down some passes, proving out their new setup.

This rail features an International DT466 fed by a triple turbo compound induction system. Originally this straight-six, 466 ci diesel produced a maximum of around 300 hp. With an unknown amount of refining and boost, this unique powerplant puts down the power and torque to make passes with the big boys! Two Hypermax turbos located at the back of the engine, feed a third on the right hand side of the block before emptying their air-charge into the intake.

Up on stands, the crew runs the engine to warm the fluids in the powerplant, transmission, and Strange rear-end. The exhaust note bellows a cacophonous growl, staging at the lights, the turbo whistle overpowers the combustion pops and we are left questioning, is this a turbine powered car?

The first pass we see is a 7.06 at 193.77 mph, and the second a 6.99 at 177.42 mph. Based on the speeds and ETs it sounds like the Hypermax is pretty well dialed-in. The relocation of the turbos to lower the center of gravity may have made the car less of a hand full down the track, but there is always room for improvement. We hope to see more diesel rails in the six-second bracket in the future.