Mud racing has gained popularity in the United States and Canada. Also known as mudding, mud bogging, and mud drags, this activity has turned into an art form that enjoy partaking in its activities. For those that are avid in the racing circuit it is about more than taking your truck out after a good storm. To them this is a competition and like any competition their goal is to be the best. What goes into the races, and what determines who and what is best? This article takes a look at the sport to determine what makes it so entertaining to those that love it.
The goal of mud racing is to drive a vehicle through a pit of mud of a set length. Winners are then determined by the distance traveled through the pit. The sport also has governing bodies that oversee that the rules and regulations are carried out accordingly. The American Mud Racing Association and the National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO) are two of the governing bodies presiding over this sport.
The vehicles involved in the races can vary but they are all requited to have four wheel drive. From there the different classifications are broken down by items such as tires. When the sport first started many used pickup trucks or SUVs. These cars would then just be put on bigger tires. The next phase used tractor tires. The different type of mud bogs are: Hill and Hole, Flat or Progressive Track, and Open Bog. Florida is the only place for Open Bogs. These tracks are very natural and have very little organization that looks over them.
Currently, the American National Mud Racing Organization recognizes six different classes. These classes are: stock, modified stock, pro stock, pro modified, unlimited/cut tires, and unlimited/paddle tires. Each class signifies what changes are allowed to be made on a car and are almost self explanatory based on the title. Stock allows for no changes where as the unlimited class lets almost anything fly, even nitrous oxide.
If mud racing is something that interests you but you are not near a track so that you can catch a race in person, do not fear. There was a station created in 2007 completely dedicated to the sport. Mud Truck Television provides viewers with any and all coverage that there might be in the media involving mud racing. The show also highlights races from all across the country. There is even a hall of fame. Currently there are members such as Tom Marsh, Chad Miller, Rick Running and Ennis Thomas. All of them have participated in the sport for years and decades.
Mud Bogging is a sport that allows both men and women to participate and is still continuing to grow its popularity throughout the United States and Canada. If you are interested in the sport, there are races all across the country that you can catch. This is one sport that is best left up to the professionals though. It can be extremely dangerous and is more than something you do on a boring Friday night.
