There is an old perception in the diesel world that the 7.3L Powerstroke is reliable, but just too slow to compete on the drag strip.

If you walked through the staging lanes at the Ultimate Callout Challenge at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park this past weekend, you might have caught a glimpse of 19-year-old Ethan Hurtt behind the wheel of his mismatched 2001 F350.

At CNC Fabrication, we live and breathe Powerstroke performance, especially when it comes to the 7.3L platform. So, It's important to continue that same pride and enthusiasm for the next generation, which CNC Fab owner, Corey Hurtt, has now passed down to his very own son, Ethan Hurtt. 

We caught up with Ethan in the middle of the staging lanes to talk about his truck, his passion, and what it’s like growing up in the world of diesel performance. 

The $3,000 Marketplace Find

Great builds don't just happen instantly. For Ethan, this journey started around four years ago when he was only 15. In Ohio, the winters are pretty brutal and his dad, Corey, gave him some solid advice: you need a reliable four wheel drive truck. Given the family business, CNC Fabrication, and our extensive knowledge of the 7.3L platform, the search was on for a Powerstroke for Ethan. Ethan scoured the internet and eventually found a stock, base model 2001 Ford F350 single cab… on none other than Facebook Marketplace. 

"It had a lot of things wrong with it to where it wouldn't run," Ethan said. "So I fixed the things I needed to, got it to where it would run on the road, and then... I wanted more power."

Like any true diesel enthusiast, once Ethan got a taste of some power, there was no turning back. What started as minor upgrades escalated quickly…

He started out with dirt drag racing on a mild stock setup, but the want for more speed (and more power) grew. Soon, he shifted his focus from the dirt to the asphalt, transforming his truck for the drag strip. 

A True Sleeper

If you look at Ethan’s F350, it doesn't look like a polished show truck, and that is actually on purpose. When asked what his absolute favorite part of the truck is, Ethan didn't hesitate to tell us… It's a sleeper.

"It’s a little bit... it’s not really a mess of a truck, but it just seems like a truck that was kind of half way put together," Ethan laughs. "But it is very well put together. It just doesn't look pretty!”

Underneath the mismatched body panels is a highly capable, well thought out build. It’s designed to catch people off guard when the light turns green.

Fueling the Passion

Behind every build is a purpose and Ethan’s goal is clear. He isn't out here just to have fun, he’s out here to change minds.

"The passion really is to prove that 7.3Ls can be fast, and they’re not slow. Some goals I would like to have is to have the quickest 7.3L Powerstroke."

Achieving a goal that big takes time, patience, and a lot of trial and error. At just 19 years old, Ethan knows he has a long road ahead of him, but he’s taking it one race at a time. "I am slowly but surely getting there," he says. "Right now, it’s just cool to win some races with it, be competitive, and step it up every now and then."

Keeping it in the Family

Growing up with his dad, Corey, who owns CNC Fabrication means Ethan has spent his life around diesel performance. But working alongside his father on this build brings its own unique dynamic.

"It’s really different because being father and son, we kind of argue a lot on stuff," Ethan says with a smile. "But he has experience with a lot of things, so I do take his advice a lot, as well as advice from other people that I get help from in the diesel community. It’s just interesting to work with my dad. It’s not just some stranger that I know, it’s someone I grew up with my whole life."

Beyond the obvious benefit of sourcing the right parts for his build, Ethan greatly values the relationship with his dad. "I get to do it with him. We both like the same things, diesels and going fast. It’s pretty cool to share that with him."

What’s Next?

Ethan’s 7.3L is proof that the platform still has plenty of fight left in it. We are incredibly proud to support Ethan as he continues to perfect his F350 build, step up his competitive edge, and chase down his dream of owning one of the quickest 7.3Ls around.

Next time you see a F350 with mismatched body panels rolling up to the lanes, don't underestimate it. It just might be Ethan, proving once again that 7.3Ls can indeed be fast, very fast actually.