2007 Top Truck Challenge - Muck, Sweat & Gears

Fink's TJ

What it is and how it works: It's a 143-foot rectangular hole that contains a specially concocted blend and amount of mud that's designed to challenge even the stoutest rigs. It should be called the Wicked Wrecktangle. Clearly, the goal is to travel as far through the mud as possible. There is no time limit because the clock stops when forward movement ceases. Ranking is either by elapsed time or distance traveled.

"That's gooey, really deep, really deep. Our weight hurt us there a little. We had a good time and made a lot of noise."
-Philip McGilton

"Everybody rags on tractor tires for being hillbilly or whatnot, but in the mud, forget it."
-Ron George

"Good mud here. Good mixture. Ya'll got some concrete in there?"
-Justin Langford

"We were going until it almost flipped over, but I don't want to see my buddy in the mud face-first."
-Wesley Wells

Fink's TJ: First competitor. Even with a good head of steam, the rig was quickly swallowed by the rutless mud.

George's Bronco: Horsepower, tractor tires, and light weight paid off big with a blazing run through the goo. Started in too high of a gear, but downshifted quickly and never looked back. Throttle stuck after crossing the finish line.

Hadden's S-10: Tried to hang to the left side of the course but got sucked to the right. Slower start, but actually gained speed as it progressed down the track.

Johnson's K3500: Great launch off the line thanks to the 454ci big-block and 150hp shot of nitrous. The heavy weight of the rig contributed to quickly being swallowed, however.

Langford's Bronco: With two new shocks courtesy of TTC sponsor Tuff Country and a mallet-straightened hydraulic steering ram, they were back in business. Good launch, but ended up being sucked into the deeper mud on the right side of the track.

McGilton's K1500: Even with 54-inch Boggers and plenty of horsepower, the heavy rig got swallowed in short order by the deep mud.

Miller's Sonoma: Completed the course even though the fuel pump wasn't up to snuff. During the run the pump starved the engine and it momentarily died. Miller managed to restart the engine and continue before the rig came to a complete stop.

Rhodes' D-100: Hung to the left side of the course and tried to ride the wall. Driver forgot to turn on the cooling fans and the heat blew a pinhole leak in one of the heater hoses.

Thorson's TJ: Hung to the left side of the track and turned the 502ci V-8 loose.

Wells' M135A: Rode the wall on the left side of the pit. The articulating chassis allowed the cab to tip far to the right. Driver stopped over rollover fears.

George's Bronco