Rude wins second straight Bandit race in front of sold-out crowd

‘Diesel Brothers’ reality star Heavy D makes truck racing debut


Blooming Prairie, Aug. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A sold-out crowd got an eyeful at Elko Speedway Saturday night.

Action-packed races, a reality star’s debut and Ricky Rude’s second straight a-main feature win kept everyone on the edge of their seats during the Bandit Big Rig Biodiesel 20.

 

“The action on the track was some of the best we’ve seen,” Bandit General Manager Jason Johnson said.

 

At the end of the night, Rude kept his points lead thanks to another feature win in the #14 truck.

 

“I just shut my eyes half the time,” Rude said, laughing.  “It’s great to be here in Minnesota.  All these great fans here came and packed this place and it was a great event.”

 

Dave Sparks, aka Heavy D from Discovery’s Diesel Brothers, drove the #51 truck and made quite the impression during his Bandit debut.

 

“That was some of the best driving I’ve seen from our rookies,” Johnson said.  “He can sure wheel a truck.”

 

Sparks won three straight rounds during the Foodliner Bandit Shoot Out, only to fall to Jon Lisenbee (#7) during a dynamic duel.

 

“The track was slick and we slid up and got together.  Rubbed hard and put on a good show for the fans,” Lisenbee said.  “(Dave) did a phenomenal job tonight.”

 

Sponsor Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council raved about the event.

 

“I don’t often get hyped about an event we sponsor, but this one knocked it out of the park,” MSR&PC Marketing Director Cathy Riley said.  “This audience loved what they saw.”

 

The Bandits now turn to Anderson Motor Speedway in Williamston, South Carolina, where they will run Saturday, Sept. 15.

 

“It’s going to be a blast,” Johnson said.  “Anderson is the last event before our season finale at Myrtle Beach Speedway Sept. 29.”

 

Tickets for the two remaining Bandit events can be purchased online.

 

About Bandit Big Rig Series

 

The Bandit Big Rig Series returns big rig tractor truck racing to the short track in the United States. The series was designed to be affordable and accessible for anyone wishing to put together a race team.

 

For additional information, please contact Jason Johnson at (507) 676-1987, or email jason@banditseries.com.

 

About Minimizer

 

Leveraging more than 30 years of manufacturing expertise at its state-of-the-art facility in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, Minimizer is not only the leader in poly semi truck fenders - we invented the category. Minimizer poly fenders and integrated bracket kits are nearly indestructible and are guaranteed for life.

Our research and development team constantly “tests and tortures” each of our products to make sure what goes on, in or is used to fix the truck meets the rigors of our tough industry.

We also manufacture industry-leading light kits, mud flaps, tool boxes, work benches and other accessories. Our most recent innovations include the world’s ONLY custom molded floor mats for semi trucks, as well as the revolutionary “whole body health” Minimizer Truck Seat System.

Minimizer has been family owned and operated for three generations. The company manufactures its products in the USA and makes everything tough enough to please tough people in a tough industry.

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Minnesota native and racing legend Mark Noble (#74) attempts to pass Justin Ball (#17) at the Bandit Series event at Elko Speedway Saturday, August 25. A sold-out crowd watches the Bandits line up along the front stretch at Elko Speedway Saturday, August 25.

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