JCB GT Set to Race at US Diesel Truckin’ Nationals

JCB has teamed up with Diggerland USA, to race the JCB GT, the World’s Fastest Backhoe at the 38th annual US Diesel Truckin’ Nationals event.

The Nationals will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 13 at Old Bridge Raceway in Englishtown, New Jersey.

A celebration and display of diesel innovation, the US Truckin’ Nationals hosts a series of diesel race lineups, monster truck thrill shows and an exhibit of more than 2,000 diesel big rigs and machines.

Diggerland, the construction-themed adventure park in West Berlin, New Jersey, in partnership with JCB, will be on location displaying a series of modified construction machines currently in use as rides and attractions at the theme park.

Making its first appearance in the North American racing circuit since 2012, the JCB GT, a 1300-horsepower backhoe, is scheduled to run the quarter-mile during the event. This incredible machine can reach speeds up to 100 mph.

“Between Diggerland, Raceway Park and JCB, this is going to be a show that the crowd won’t soon forget,” said Ilya Girlya, president and CEO of Diggerland USA and Sahara Sam’s Oasis. “We are excited to have partners that share in our ability to showcase unheard-of concepts. The ingenuity in equipment design that makes rides at Diggerland possible is bringing us the JCB GT, the world’s fastest backhoe driven by Neil Smith, JCB’s leading demonstration manager.”

Diggerland USA, opened to the public in June 2014, is the United States’ first-ever construction-themed adventure park to provide families with the opportunity to drive, ride and operate real, life-sized construction equipment. JCB provides the majority of the modified equipment used in Diggerland’s attractions.

“At JCB, innovation is our lifeblood and we do everything a little bigger, a little better and a little faster; that includes building the World’s Fastest Backhoe,” said Thom Peebles, vice president of marketing for JCB North America. “The JCB GT is a showcase of JCB innovation and engineering with its 1,300 horsepower engine and the ability to blast down a quarter-mile drag racing track in as little as 17 seconds.”

Follow this link to check out this video of JCB GT in action.