Powershift Performance

Mackvaders new engine gives the #88 a "heart of gold" and now there's a gold dog on the hood too!

In the time trials Ricky Rude in #14, Mark Noble in #74, and Mike Morgan in #88 were the fastest trucks. It looks like Mackvader is back!

The three Heat Races were without incident, but with two substitute drivers: Robert Brown in the #7 and Trevor Kruckeburg in the #51. Mackvader ran in the 3rd Heat Race slipping from second to forth place in a highly contested race. Morgan refrained from racing in the Bandit Shoot Out because of an overheating issue that was being checked.

The first Challenge Race began with #88 in the front row and a threat of rain. Mackvader moved quickly to the front and stayed there, taking a commanding lead with no serious threats. In lap 10 of 15 laps truck #7 ran into the styrofoam protected wall, rolling out the caution flag. On the restart #88 again moved to the lead and held it. On lap 12 Brian Cash in #46 hit the outside wall and went over it! He was okay, but the truck was on its side. As clean up was getting underway, both the live stream video feed and the races were abruptly ended and everyone sent to shelter. Two tornados were spotted only ten miles west of the track. All racing was ended for the night. Fortunately, the track was not hit and everyone was safe.

As Wendy Morgan commented in a Facebook post:

The Bandits have been known to create an uproar..they create lots of excitement..but a tornado?? Well that was a first!! Now do you see why everyone needs to go to a Bandit Big Rig Race. You just never know what will happen. Lots of fun and everyone is safe. Now for the long trip home.

race trucks

The Makeup Race was held on Sunday, July 29th, after the Bandits raced the night before in LaCrosse, WI. They traveled between the two tracks as a convoy.

In the Makeup Challenge Race 1 Morgan started in 2nd and finished in 3rd with #27, Darren Proffitt, taking 1st and #7, Jon Lisenbee, taking 2nd. Challenge Race 2 was won by #14, Ricky Rude.

The A-Main Race got off to a good start with Mackvader in 7th after a 12-place inversion. The #88 had moved into 6th by lap 9 when disaster struck. Fire shot from the stacks as the turbo blew... and Mackvader was done.

flame out

In lap 17 the #16 (Mike Ward) went into the styrofoam protected wall after a nudge from #55. Before a complete lap in the restart #55 spun smacking #74, catching #27 and flipping him on his side, and then crashing into #54. As the light rain turned heavy the race was called. There appeared to be no serious injuries to the drivers, but the truck carnage would take time to clear.

START/FINISH ORDER OF RACES

Heat 1 Start: 4 - 51 - 16 - 46 - 13 - 7
Finish: 16 - 4 - 27 - 13 - 51 - 46

Heat 2 Start: 54 - 41 - 3 - 7 - 55
Finish: 55 - 54 - 41 - 3 - 7

Heat 3 Start: 74 - 88 - 14 - 63 - 17
Finish: 14 - 74 - 17 - 88 - 63

Challenge 1 Start: 27 - 88 - 63 - 51 - 7 - 3 - 46 - 7
Restart Lap 10: 88 - 63 - 27 - 13 - 46 - 7 - 3
Lap 13: 88 - 63 - 27 - race called

Challenge 1 Makeup, Start: 27 - 88 - 3 - 13 -46 - 7 - 63 - 51
Finish: 27 - 7 - 88 - 63 - 13 - 3 - 46 - 51

Challenge 2 Start: 14 - 55 - 74 - 54 - 4 - 17 - 41 - 16
Finish: 14 - 17 - 54 - 55 - 74 - 16 - 41 - 4

A-Main Race

Start: 63 - 16 - 3 - 74 - 7 - 55 - 88 - 54 - 13 - 17 - 27 - 14 - 41 - 46 - 4 - 51

Lap 9: 63 - 16 - 7 - 74 - 54 - 88 - 14... #88 fire

Lap 17 restart: 17 - 7 - 63 - 14 - 74 - 55 - 54 - 27 - 3 - 13 - 46 - 41 - 4 - 51

Finish: 17 - 7 - 63 - 14 - 74 - 55 - 54 - 27 - 3 - 13 - 46 - 41 - 4 - 51; 16 & 88 DNF

POINTS STANDING

Morgan earned 85 points for placing 4th in Qualifying and 172 points as he dropped from 2nd to 4th in his Heat Race. During his Challenge Race #88 had advanced from 2nd to 1st before the race was called due to weather.

In the makeup races Morgan moved from 2nd to 3rd in his Challenge Race for 180.5 points. In the Main Race Mackvader started in 7th but did not finish due to the blown turbo (16th), earning 77.5 points. This results in a total of 515 points for racing at Hawkeye Downs.

spin... crash1