Ram, F-150, and Sierra Walk Onto a Drag Strip – Who Walks Away The Winner?

Trucks were designed to haul heavy stuff, drive off-road, tow, and make the working men and women’s life easier – not drag race. It begs the question, what is it about three trucks going onto a drag strip that makes us happy? If you’re into cars and trucks, you like racing, it’s just science, but something about these behemoths going head-to-head fills us with pure unadulterated joy.

Maybe it’s the lack of aerodynamics, maybe it’s the sheer size, maybe it’s just inexplicable. Either way, when we saw a race between the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and GMC Sierra, it had to be covered.

As we look over the stats, it’s obvious the Ford should win. It has more power and torque, despite weighing slightly more than the Sierra. The other two prove to be tough competitors with more years of experience under the hood, compared to the new technology of the Ford.

Earlier in the year, we took an F-150 Ecoboost to the drag strip to race against our Ram SRT10 as part of the Truck Tech Muscle Trux Build-Off – the difference in this case? The Ram had two extra cylinders and a lot more power, which was evident by the results. Although Ford couldn’t win that race, we feel differently about its chances this time around.

With that said, can a V-6, turbo and all, compete with the power of a V-8? We think so.

2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Specs

Debuting its refreshed-for-2021 PowerBoost Hybrid, the twin-turbo 3.5L gas six-cylinder engine produces 430-hp and 570-pound-feet of torque, proving that even a hybrid truck can offer an electrifying experience.

Some internet chatter reflected the disappointment in Ford for moving from its tried and true V-8. However, it’s hard to deny that they’ve done an exceptional job implementing their new technology into the truck world. With that said, all of the pressure is on the Ford in this most recent head-to-head battle.

2020 GMC Sierra Denali

The Carbon Pro package, as seen in the video, comes with a carbon composite bed that is lightweight and extra durable. It makes the Sierra the lightest truck in the race, but will that help? The Sierra boasts its 6.2L V-8 with 420-horsepower and 460-pound-feet of torque.

2021 Dodge Ram 1500

And finally, the Ram 1500 comes with an engine we’ve all been familiar with over the years. The Ram in the video is no different, and it’s equipped with a 5.7L V-8 that makes 395-horsepower and 410-pound-feet of torque.

In most races, this would be enough power, but the Ram is still considered the underdog due to its power-to-weight ratio.

F-150, Ram, and Sierra Walk Onto a Drag Strip

Race one takes place in two-wheel drive, but the GMC Sierra fails to mention that the driver will forgo traction control for a better start. Three, two, one, GO! The Sierra was first off the line, but even after a delayed reaction, the Ford F-150 came back with a vengeance and wins by a full-truck length. The Sierra came in second, while the Ram finished in third.

After some bruised egos and excuses, race two takes place to ensure the results were accurate. It seems four-wheel drive and sport mode made some difference because the GMC Sierra finished the race in first place this go around, followed by the F-150, and yeah, don’t forget about the Ram.

Best two out of three – the third race is from a 40 roll. This one is for all the marbles and the bragging rights for the year, and it looks like Ford with its revamped F-150 will be the one to brag this year. It jumped off the roll for a staggering lead and won by one-and-a-half car lengths.

The Race Recap

Although the F-150 walks away with bragging rights, which we expected, there are other parts we should mention. The tester goes as far to say that the F-150 “feels like the future.” Although the Ram fell short in all tested areas, you can’t pick up comfort in a race video, and the Sierra, despite losing, offers brute force with its 6.2L V-8.

If you’re looking to purchase any of these trucks, you can’t go wrong. Each offers something unique that draws in buyers, which is evident by their loyal fan base(s). The Ram is quiet and luxurious, the Sierra is power, and the new F-150 is a hybrid of both. With that said, if you’re at a red light and see a new Ford F-150, make sure you have enough under the hood because these things are quick.