It's the newest racing series to hit the U.S. and it's bigger than most anything out there. We're talking 10,000-pound semis roaring at 1,200 horsepower and faster than 120 mph.

After debuting a field of four prototype super trucks at the America Le Mans Series' Road America 500 in Elkhart Lake, Wis., this summer, the Super Truck Racing Association of North America (STRANA) is planning to host six full-field races in 2004.

Imagine a dozen or more big rig behemoths mud flap to mud flap at high speed around world-class road racing racetracks and you get an idea of where Super Truck racing is headed.

"I can see why people are excited about this series," said Justin Bell, a championship racer in the Trans-Am Series who was invited to drive a STRANA truck over the summer. He was one of the winners in the Tonka 2003 Super Truck Celebrity Challenge held in August.

"I was pleasantly surprised by how well the truck handled," Bell said. "You wouldn't believe it when you see how big they are. But I can see how the racing will be extremely exciting and extremely tight."

Bell described how he made an aggressive inside-then-outside pass coming out of Road America's turn 14, then drag raced up the main straightaway to edge out three other Super Trucks and win by .012 seconds. " I'm very interested in driving again," Bell said.

He's not the only one. Teams are lining up to sponsor trucks for the STRANA 2004 season, expected to start in June. The truck's spec rolling chassis must be bought from Elan Motorsports Technologies of Braselton, Ga., which is the exclusive builder for Super Trucks. Unlike the highway bound Class 8 trucks, these Super Trucks have more squared-off, stripped down cabs over their rail-and-roll-cage chassis. Naturally, they run without a trailer, on six Continental racing truck tires. On the foundation of the Elan-designed chassis, sponsoring teams can use one of several approved engines and make modifications to give the truck their own edge.

"Our sponsors want more. The drivers want more. The fans want more. And that's exactly what we plan to give them," said Brian Till, STRANA's executive director.

Catch It!

ESPN2 plans to air three Tonka 2003 Super Celebrity Challenge shows on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. EST. Readers should check local listings as air dates and times may change.

Under the Hood

• Engine: Detroit Diesel Series 60, 1,200 hp
• Transmission: ZF Ecomat
• Axles: ArvinMeritor
• Brakes: Haldex water-cooled
• Wheels and Rims: Alcoa
• Tires: Continental
• Safety Equipment: Sparco
• Weight: 10,000-11,000 pounds
• 0 to 60 mph: Less than 5 seconds
• Cost: About $150,000