Powershift Performance

The eighth Bandit race of the season was held at Madison International Raceway in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, July 28th. A high-banked track with log straightaways, this track is known as "Wisconsin's fastest half mile".

Morgan's heat 2 win

Morgan's team picked up a new sponsor, Kriete Truck Center, a Volvo/Mack dealer. In addition general manager Ken Spostato was able to celebrate his birthday with a ride around the track and time in the pits. Welcome aboard Kriete Truck Center!

In a departure from Bandit practice the autograph session was held first and without the trucks. Drivers sat at a long table signing autographs on fan cards or anything else presented.

The first heat race started with trucks in the following order: 26 > 63 > 16 > 55 > 3 > 14 > 4 > 00. Boles #3 moved quickly to the front followed by #14, #55 and #16. Boles took the win.

The second heat race began with trucks lined up: 29 > 54 > 01 > 88 > 17 > 27 > 7. Morgan's #88 quickly moved to the front trailed by Ball's #17. As the race ended it became evident that #01 was having engine issues. He was towed off the track with what turned out to be a blown camshaft. Morgan finished 1st and celebrated with a few donuts in front of the stands.

Challenge race 1 started with trucks in order: 3 > 14 > 27 > 4 > 54 > 29 > 63. Rude's #14 challenged the #3, but it was Boles #3 that took the win.

Challenge race 2 started with Morgan on the pole: 88 > 17 > 16 > 55 > 7 > 26 > 00. [Terry Greenwood, a substitute driver, drove the 00 in the first heat race, but was replaced by Chris Kikelhan whose 01 truck was disabled.] Morgan held his position, while #16 passed #17. Morgan's #88 took the win and again celebrated with donuts in front of the stands.

The featured A-Main Race began with the big-rigs going three wide in a salute to the fans, then repositioning into the starting lineup: 4 > 63 > 54 > 55 > 16 > 27 > 17 > 14 > 88 > 3 > 7 > 29 > 26 > 00. The top ten positions were inverted, so Morgan began the race in the 5th row in 9th place. #16 and #14 moved to the front as the leaders fell back. Morgan worked his way up to 6th, then 4th, and then 3rd place behind #16 and #14. While the leaders were lapping the slower rigs #88 and #14 tangled in a horrific crash. #88's oil filters were knocked off cutting brake lines and leaving a trail of oil as Morgan dove to the infield to minimize the mess. #54 encountered the oil trail and went into the wall destroying his hood. Neither #88 nor #14 could finish the race; both suffered severe damage in the fiery wreck When the race continued, #16 took the win, followed by #3, #17, and #55.

Finish Order

Heat 1: 3 > 14 > 16 > 55 > 4 > 63 > 26 > 00

Heat 2: 88 > 17 > 27 > 54 > 29 > 7 > 01 DNF (engine)

Challenge 1: 3 > 14 > 27 > 63 > 54 > 4 > 29 > 01 DNS

Challenge 2: 88 > 16 > 17 > 55 > 26 > 7 > 00

A-Main Race: 16 > 3 > 17 > 55 > 63 > 27 > 26 > 7 > 54 > 00 > 4 > 29 > 14 DNF > 88 DNF > 01 DNS

Points Standing

Morgan holds his second place position in the points race.

Truck #	Driver	Points This Race	Cumulative Points
14	Ricky Rude	298.5	2812.0
88	Mike Morgan	300.5	2733.5
16	Tommy Boileau	388.0	2707.5
17	Justin Ball	382.5	2688.0
3	Allen Boles	437.0	2417.5
01	Chris Kikelhan	246.5	2367.5