When you think about Ford vs. Chevy vs. Ram, sometimes it’s easy to tell based on paper which ones are the best for certain applications. But, of course, it’s different when you test it on a dragstrip.

The Fast Lane Truck (TFLtruck) recently took a test to answer the question: Which heavy-duty diesel truck reigns supreme at the dragstrip? They had the latest off-road versions of the Ram Cummins, Chevy Duramax, and Ford High Output Power Stroke against each other in a series of acceleration tests. The results? They were unexpected.

The vehicles used for this race are the following: a 2025 Ram HD Rebel with the updated Cummins engine and new ZF eight-speed transmission, a 2025 Chevy Silverado HD Trail Boss with the proven Duramax/Allison-branded 10-speed combo, and a 2025 Ford Super Duty Tremor armed with the class-leading High Output Power Stroke (500 hp/1200 lb-ft) and Ford’s 10-speed automatic.

Early matchups revealed the Ram struggled to keep pace. In a 2WD drag race against the Chevy, the Ram driver, Kase Van Rees, noted some wheelspin “that extra torque not necessarily helpful off the line.”

Because of this, it resulted in a clear win for the Silverado HD, running a 15.41-second quarter-mile to the Ram’s 16.12. A 30-mph rolling race further highlighted the Ram’s lag, with Kase describing “a business day” between flooring the pedal and the truck responding, allowing the Chevy to pull away easily again.

The main event pitted the Ford against the Chevy. Despite the Ford Power Stroke’s substantial on-paper advantage in horsepower and torque, the drag races proved incredibly close.

While the Ford recorded the absolute quickest 2WD quarter-mile time between the two at 15.25 seconds in one run, head-to-head passes showed near-identical acceleration initially. Andre Smirnov, driving the Ford, expressed surprise mid-race: “Why am I not pulling on him?”

The most telling result came in the crucial 4WD drag race, where traction off the line improved for both. Here, the Chevy Duramax pulled ahead decisively, clocking the day’s fastest overall time at 15.17 seconds, while the Ford managed only a 15.44.

Andre suspected electronic intervention, noting the Ford “jumped a little bit and then slowed down,” feeling like it was “boost limiting per gear” in 4WD. “I’m really surprised at how evenly matched these two trucks are because on paper this Power Stroke should be much quicker,” he concluded.

While the updated Ram Cummins lagged in these acceleration tests, the Ford and Chevy proved remarkably competitive. The Duramax ultimately claimed the fastest time, challenging the notion that the Ford’s higher output guarantees quicker real-world acceleration in all scenarios.

Trying to predict the winner between the high-output Ford and the quick Chevy based only on paper specs felt a bit like predicting next week’s lottery numbers – surprisingly tricky.

So, there you have it, a Ford vs. Chevy vs. Ram race test. What do TFLtruck viewers and truck owners think of this diesel battle? Do you own one of these trucks, and does this comparison match your experience? We don’t want to be biased and we’re happy to hear your thoughts!