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When you walk through the pits at the 2025 Ultimate Callout Challenge, you’re guaranteed to see some of the most serious diesel-powered builds in the country. For Henry Wadsworth, UCC is more than just an event to watch – it’s a proving ground for his meticulously crafted pulling truck, which is powered by a Haisley Machine Super B Cummins. The truck represents years of dedication, trial and error, and a relentless pursuit of mechanical excellence.
Finding His Way Into Pulling
Like many enthusiasts, Henry’s roots in diesel performance trace back to his high school days. At first, he was more interested in racing, but his friends convinced him to try a local truck pull. That one event was all it took.
“I truck pulled the truck I had at the time and just kind of got the itch for it,” Wadworth recalls. That itch quickly grew into a passion, and eventually into a purpose-built machine designed to be competitive at the highest levels. About five years ago, Henry made the leap to rebuild the truck from the ground up.
“The only thing original now is the two frame rails and the body,” he says. “Everything else is new.” What started as a “home-built deal” evolved into a fully engineered pulling rig, with Henry investing countless hours in bodywork, framework and dialing in the details that make the truck stand out today.
Chassis and Fabrication
While Haisley Machine handled the engine, Henry turned to Walt at Custom Metals LLC for the chassis. Walt set up the frame, built the piping and fabricated the components that tie the truck together. Out back, the build relies on a Kenny’s Pulling Parts rear end, ensuring the truck can handle the immense torque the Cummins delivers.
From the outside, the truck looks as serious as the competition it lines up against. The front weight box is more than a ballast – it’s also functional. The middle section holds water and ice, while the outsides are dedicated to steel weights. Tucked beside it is the hydraulic steering setup, a key component for keeping the truck pointed straight when the sled digs in.
The Super B Cummins
At the center of the build is the Haisley Machine Super B Cummins, a deck-plate design purpose-built for pulling. Henry lights up when talking about the engine, which represents the culmination of some of the best knowledge in the diesel pulling world.
The fuel system starts with a Northeast pump feeding a fresh set of injectors matched to a revised piston design for this season. Wagler Competition Products rods ensure strength under extreme cylinder pressures, while a Weimer turbocharger provides the airflow needed to keep the big Cummins breathing.
Boost is a critical factor in pulling performance, and Henry shares that the setup sees about 40 psi heading down the track, with pressure climbing to 55–60 psi when the sled really digs in toward the end of the pull.
On the fueling side, Henry runs a Waterman fuel pump and he also made the choice to outfit the truck with an external, belt-driven oil pump. The custom oiling arrangement separates lubrication for the engine and the turbocharger.
“If you blow a turbo up, you’re not just running all the metal through your motor,” Wadsworth explains. “It’s just that one system.” It’s a small detail with big implications for reliability.
Cylinder Head and Induction
The head itself remains a factory casting, albeit with extensive modifications. The intake is shaved and the ports are fully worked to maximize flow. The block is also factory-based, but filled for strength. “Nothing too crazy,” Henry says with a grin, though any machinist would recognize that even “nothing crazy” in this class represents hours of skilled porting and preparation.
Cooling the incoming air is a Sandridge four-core intercooler, which handles an incredible thermal load. “Intake temps from the turbos are probably 550–600 degrees, and it’ll cool it down to about 50 degrees going into the motor,” he notes. That kind of efficiency is what makes it possible to push cylinder pressures into the stratosphere while maintaining durability.
Power and Performance
As with most competitors, Henry is tight-lipped about certain hard numbers. Asked about injector size, he simply smiles and shakes his head. But when it comes to horsepower, he’ll at least give a range: the Super B Cummins is estimated to be making somewhere between 1,400 and 1,800 horsepower.
That power is channeled through a Molinari four-disc clutch, a ProFab drop box, and the aforementioned Kenny’s rear end. Together, these components translate brutal engine output into forward motion, a necessity in the hyper-competitive 3.0” smooth bore turbo class.
Life in the 3.0 Class
Henry primarily competes in Indiana, with occasional hooks in Illinois and Kentucky. He runs in the Epic Pulling Series as well as Pro Pulling League (PPL) events, where the level of competition is incredibly tight.
“There’s a lot of trucks in the 3.0 class,” Henry says. “You don’t just go somewhere and think, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to win.’ You’re within five feet of everybody, every night. It comes down to the draw, the track and who’s on your team.”
That parity is part of what makes the class exciting for fans and frustrating for competitors. Every little adjustment – whether in weight placement, tire choice, or fueling – can be the difference between winning the class or landing in the middle of the pack.
Looking Ahead
For 2025, Henry has his sights set on several events in and around Indiana, including those that draw Pro Stock tractors and top diesel trucks alike. And of course, the Ultimate Callout Challenge itself is a highlight. “This event is a big one too,” Henry says. “Just the whole atmosphere here – it’s all about diesel trucks, and that’s what I’m into.”
As he reflects on the build and the support behind it, Henry makes a point to credit all involved. In a sport where collaboration between engine builders, machinists and fabricators is key, Henry’s truck is a testament to what can be achieved when expertise comes together.
From the Haisley Super B Cummins at its heart to the carefully engineered chassis and driveline, the truck embodies what modern diesel pulling has become. And while Henry is quick to downplay certain aspects of his setup, the results on the track speak for themselves.
Diesel of the Week is sponsored by AMSOIL. If you have an engine you’d like to highlight in this series, please email Engine Builder Editor Greg Jones at [email protected].
