Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/856429
CUSTOM RIGS August 2017 | Overdrive | 59 M ike Morgan claimed his second win of the inaugural Minimizer Bandit Big Rig Series season in early July, while truck racing newcomer Tommy Boileau picked up his fi rst series win two weeks later. In the sixth race of the series on July 1, Morgan's No. 88 Mack ran away with the win in the main event at what amounts to the Wartrace, Tennessee resident's home track, Highland Rim Speedway. At the fi rst quarter-mile oval track the Bandits had run on this year, Mor- gan and fan favorite Chris Kikelhan sat on the front row to start the fi nal race. As Morgan ran behind Kikelhan and Darren Proffi tt for the fi rst few laps, disaster struck for Kikelhan when he was spun around by Proffi tt after just a few laps. After resetting, Morgan pulled to the front and was well ahead of his closest challenger when, with just a few laps left, the caution fl ag came out. That put the points leader in the Bandit Series, Ricky "Rude" Proffi tt, near the front of the fi eld with a dead heat set to take place. Morgan was able to jump out ahead of both Prof- fi tts and then held on for the fi nal two laps under green to take the win. On July 15 in the series' fi rst race outside the Southeast, at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Boileau grabbed his fi rst truck racing win, as well as the fi rst oval track win of his career. Boileau has been racing go-karts, sports cars and Formula 4 cars on road courses before jumping into trucks on oval tracks this year. Morgan had taken the lead from Justin Ball with just over 10 laps to go and had extended that lead as the laps ticked down. But with three laps to go, as Mor- gan was attempting to pass two lapped trucks, his front fender got caught in the rear fender of Trevor Krucke- berg's truck, sending both trucks into the foam-padded outside wall. Ricky Proffi tt, who had been battling for second with Ball, took some damage to his left rear fender in the aftermath of the crash, which caused excess wear to the tire nearby. Proffi tt restarted in the lead, but the tire damage wouldn't allow him to get up to speed. Boileau took advantage, powering his truck to victory lane. Ball fi nished second, and Morgan recov- ered from the crash for third place. The Bandits were expected to return to the Midwest July 28 at Madison (Wisconsin) International Speedway before heading to Lebanon, Missouri, for an Aug. 5 race. Battle for Bandit supremacy Morgan grabs second win, Boileau earns fi rst BY TODD DILLS AND MATT COLE For his Highland Rim win, Morgan received a custom-designed guitar and a $10,000 check. Mike Morgan and Chris Kikelhan line up at the front of the starting pack at Tennessee's Highland Rim Speedway for the July 1 event's final race. Tommy Boileau beat out Justin Ball and Morgan at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to grab his first win of the season. He won $10,000. See an update with Mike Morgan at Highland Rim Speedway, as well as some race action, at the Custom Rigs playlist at youtube.com/OverdriveMag.