Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/904267
72 | Overdrive | November 2017 Custom Rigs T wo Minimizer Bandit Big Rig Series wins last month allowed Ricky "Rude" Proffitt to extend his points lead going into the season's last race at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Georgia, on Oct. 28. Proffitt overcame a mid- season slump to pick up victories at Florence Motor Speedway on Oct. 7 and Hickory Motor Speedway on Oct. 14, his first wins since May. He took a com- manding 123-point lead into the final race of the series' inaugural season. At Florence Motor Speedway in Timmons- ville, South Carolina, Proffitt had to hold off both Allen Boles and "88 Mike" Morgan for his fourth win of the year. Boles and Morgan both were return- ing to the track after their crash at the previous race, Sept. 23 at Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, Tennessee. Boles led for about 10 laps in the 25-lap race and ended up finishing third. Morgan raced side by side with Proffitt for the final three laps before spinning out coming out of turn four on the final lap. Mor- gan still was able to control the truck enough to cross the finish line in second place. "I started in 12th and got up and into something, and the gas pedal fell back- wards," Proffitt said after the race. "I thought I didn't have a gas pedal and the race was over for me, but I got that straightened up. I battled. I earned this one." At Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, North Carolina, Proffitt had to outduel his brother, Darren Proffitt, to pick up his fifth victory of the season. With two laps remaining, Ricky caught Darren and got side by side with him. As the racers were crossing the start/finish line with one lap to go, Ricky dove underneath Darren and took the lead for good with the help of lapped traffic. "I got off to a good start," Ricky Proffitt said following the race. "Craig [Kruckeberg] and the oth- er guys are really getting their trucks dialed in. My brother hasn't won yet, but he's good with second. I'm not sure if I could have caught him without lapped traffic." Ricky Proffitt all but clinches Bandit title BY MATT COLE Ricky "Rude" Proffitt picked up his fourth and fifth wins of the season in South Carolina and North Carolina. "88 Mike" Morgan ended up on the wrong side of the outside retaining wall after a crash with Allen Boles Sept. 23 at Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, Tennessee. Allen Boles had to replace the engine and front end on his No. 3 Peterbilt to get it back in racing condition following his crash with Morgan at Highland Rim Speedway.