The Ultimate Callout Challenge 2016: The Birth of Diesel's Greatest Test

In the spring of 2016, diesel history was rewritten in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the first time ever, the Ultimate Callout Challenge (UCC) brought the best diesel trucks and competitors in the country together to battle across three brutal events: drag racing, chassis dyno, and sled pulling. It wasn't just about being the fastest, or the strongest — it was about proving who could survive it all.

The concept was revolutionary. Until then, diesel motorsports had been divided: drag racers raced, pullers pulled, and dyno kings chased horsepower numbers in isolated glory. UCC demanded mastery of all three. It would be the ultimate showdown of speed, power, and durability. And it did not disappoint.

Lavon Miller Sets the Standard

Lavon Miller arrived with something to prove — and he left a legend. With a blistering 8.503-second drag pass at high altitude, Lavon stunned the diesel world. He backed it up with monstrous dyno numbers: over 2,200 horsepower and 3,300 lb-ft of torque. When the dust settled after the sled pull, Miller stood alone atop the leaderboard, having dominated all three events with an effortless grace that set the gold standard for future UCC champions. Lavon didn't just win UCC 2016 — he defined what winning the UCC meant.

The Fighters and the Fan Favorites

Ryan Milliken nearly stole the show with a jaw-dropping 373-foot sled pull, showing that lightweight builds could outmatch heavier trucks with the right setup and execution. His well-rounded, strategic approach secured him second overall and changed the way competitors thought about weight and traction forever.

Meanwhile, Shawn Baca brought pure firepower to the stage. His dyno run — a mind-blowing 2,474.6 horsepower — was so aggressive it threatened to lift the truck off the dyno rollers. Though mechanical struggles hampered his other events, Baca's fearless assault on the dyno earned him the status of a fan favorite and a pioneer of diesel horsepower insanity.

Triumphs, Tragedies, and Turning Points

The event wasn't without its heartaches. Daniel Pierce, full of promise, suffered one of the most violent dyno explosions in diesel motorsports history. His engine failure rocked the dyno stand and sent parts flying, a harsh reminder that surviving UCC was just as important as winning it. His truck's demise became a rallying cry for competitors to overbuild everything moving forward.

Rob Coddens ("Big Rob") showcased spectacular drag strip speed with a 9.49-second pass but struggled to maintain momentum across the dyno and pull. Zach Fuller demonstrated that pure consistency could still put you near the top, hauling in a massive 360-foot sled pull to finish 7th overall.

The Legacy of UCC 2016

When the smoke cleared and the crowds dispersed, UCC 2016 had done more than crown a champion — it had rewritten the rules of diesel competition. It proved that making massive horsepower wasn't enough; trucks needed to be engineered to survive back-to-back torture.

The era of single-purpose builds was over. "UCC-Ready" became the new gold standard. Multi-discipline excellence became the dream.

From Lavon's dominance, Ryan's grit, Baca's explosion of horsepower, to Daniel Pierce's unforgettable dyno disaster — the first Ultimate Callout Challenge carved itself into legend. It ignited an evolution that diesel motorsports still rides today.

Ultimate Callout Challenge 2016 wasn't just an event. It was the birth of a dynasty, the forging of diesel warriors, and the start of a new era.