Bandit Race Mobile Intenational Speedway

Located near the Gulf Coast on Rt 90 in Irvington, Alabama, Mobile International Speedway is a 1/2-mile paved oval track. The Bandit Big Rigs opened the 2019 race season on Saturday, March 23rd. Local racer Jonathan Langham drove the Kruckeberg Motorsports #69.

Morgan placed 5th in Qualifying with a lap speed of 24.895 seconds in #88. The fastest qualifier was Tim Ashley in the #5 with 24.398. These are fast trucks!

Heat Race 1 was won by Darren Proffitt in #27, still minus most of his hood and front fenders after multiple rollovers last season. Heat Race 2 had the first caution of the night when Luke Whitmire in #51ran off the track. Jon Lisenbee in #7 won this heat. The third heat race with the five fastest trucks was even more competitive with #16 determined to pass the #88 and Morgan just as determined not to let him pass. Morgan's #88 was hit at least twice destroying his left rear rim and knocking the tire off the rim. Morgan held and did NOT go off the track. The damage inflicted did drop him to the last position, however. Ricky Rude in #14 won the heat.

In the Shoot Out Craig Kruckeberg in #55 knocked off a series of contenders, including #88, but lost to Ricky Rude in #14.

The Challenge Races saw a lot of tight racing with #88 finishing 5th in the first challenge that was won by Tim Ashley in #5. The second challenge was won by Ricky Rude in #14.

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Mackvader has arrived.
Time for some practice laps.
#88 is lookin good!
The #88 is fifth in qualifying times.
Heat 3 - the fastest trucks
Mike Morgan and Mark Noble are ready for the green flag.
Oops! Ricky Rude slipped past.
And the #14 wins the heat race.
Lining up for Challenge Race 1.
Morgan started in 4th, but didn't push it.
The crowd was a sell-out.
Morgan chases and passes the #66.
Pace trucks for the A-Main Race: one of the tow trucks and the Fan Favorite from the Truck Show.
Parade laps and three-wide salute to the fans.
Morgan is set to pass Langham in #69.
Lined up for the restart.
And lining up for another restart.
And they're off!
The end of another race day. No wins, but the truck is in one piece... mostly. Five trucks did not finish the night and another two finished without hoods. Three trucks left the track, one doing a cartwheel! This was a very rough start for the season.

The A-Main was packed with action--lots of bumping, two trucks over the side, spins, and LOTS of restarts! The pace truck was the Fan Favorite from the truck show accompanied by one of the tow trucks. The Bandits moved into their traditional 3-wide salute to the fans, then moved back into their assigned positions for the race start.

Four laps in #55 hit something or someone, coming to a stop on the top side of turn 2; during the caution that followed #55 headed to pit row where his hood was removed before returning to the track. On the restart Scott Treadway in the #4 with the beautiful flag graphic got loose in turn 1, did a half spin, skidded sideways up the entire track, and then went over the side. The truck performed a full cartwheel landing in three pieces, but the driver is okay.

On the second restart #13 got sideways in turn 1 and collided with #66 which nearly flipped; both trucks went off track into the infield and #66 lost his hood. The #27 goes to the pits. Restart 3 works, and by lap 8 Morgan is in 8th place behind #5. By lap 9 Morgan is behind #66 in 9th place. Morgan in #88 avoids a collision, but another truck rides up his rear breaking his right rear spring. Barely able to control the truck Morgan heads to the high line and limps along for the rest of the race.

In lap 17 #5 hit the rear of #74 putting him into a spin and over the side of turn 3 backwards. The #74 landed on his right side, but driver Mark Noble was okay. On restart 4 the #3 and #69 make contact sending #69 into a spin and putting his rear end off the outside of the track. The #69 recovers, returning to the track for restart 5. Trucks bump and rub, but most finish the race. Morgan in #88 finishes in 12th place ahead of four trucks that did not finish the race and one that did not start! Two trucks that did finish were minus hoods. It was a tough night for many trucks.