Mud bogging

File:DSCN3530.JPG

Mud bogging, also known as mud racing, mud running, mud drags, or simply muddin'; is a form of off-road motorsport popular in Canada and the United States in which the goal is to drive a vehicle through a pit of mud of a set length. Winners are determined by the distance traveled through the pit or, if several vehicles are able to travel the entire length, the time taken to traverse the pit. Typically, vehicles competing in mud bogs are four-wheel drives.

Vehicles

A modern top level Class V or VI mud racer is a dragster-style "rail" design, with a supercharged engine and/or nitrous oxide injection. Engines may be in the front or the rear. Vehicles are required to have four wheel drive. The sole difference between Classes V and VI is the tire type. Class V racers have D.O.T. street legal tires which are modified by cutting off chunks of rubber to achieve an optimum shape for traction. Class VI vehicles have paddle tires, similar to sand rails.

Early mud boggers were pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles modified with lifted suspensions and larger tires, and classes exist for such vehicles today. Engine upgrades were also common. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, large tractor tires became popular, and the drive lines required to run such tires led to some of the first purpose-built mud bogging machines. By the late 1980s, many sanctioning bodies began giving precedence to vehicles with modified, and lower, dragster-type "rail designs", as they had increased in popularity. At the same time, superchargers first became widely used, leading to the modern top-level racer.

There are many types of mud bogs. From Hill and Hole, Flat or Progressive Track, and Open Bog. They come in many shapes and sizes from 150 feet (46 m) to over 300 feet (91 m). Hill and Hole is just as it sounds, usually is 60 feet (18 m) wide 200 feet (61 m) long and is a series of hills and holes, and make challenging to each truck. All NMRO tracks are Flat or Progressive tracks, more like a drag strip, or sand drag. Open bogs come from Florida and mostly natural. These tracks have little organization.

Hill and Hole classes range from 4&6 Cylinder, Street Stock, Hot Street, Renegade, Super Street, Small Tire Modified 36" and below, Big Tire Modified 37" and bigger tire, Unlimited, X Class, and More. There are many class usually set but the tire size, and engine.

Most Unlimited and X classes are run what you want with in the safety rules. These trucks have big power engines, built just for that class and are not limited to what can be added to the truck. The truck must pass all safety rules and be safe to put on a show and not hurt the crowd.

Current American National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO) recognized classes are listed below.

Current NMRO Recognized Classes

Class	Vehicle	Engine	Tire
IA and IB	Stock	Stock, but allowed to have mild mods such as headers	D.O.T. legal
II	Modified Stock	Mild modifications, but nothing severe	D.O.T. legal
III	Pro Stock	Factory production automotive type engine, mods permitted	D.O.T. legal, no cut tires
IV	Pro Modified	Factory production automotive type engine, naturally aspirated only, no turbo or supercharger, nitrous oxide allowed	D.O.T. legal, cut tires permitted
V	Unlimited/Cut Tires	Any automotive type engine, mods permitted, turbocharged and supercharged permitted, nitrous oxide allowed	D.O.T., any cut design
VI	Unlimited/Paddle Tires	Any automotive type engine, mods permitted, turbocharged and supercharged permitted, nitrous oxide allowed	Paddle or Scoop

There are many more classes for mudbogging.

In 2008 a new mud racing sanctioning body was formed to crown a national champion. In 2009, The Mud Racers Association (MRA) held a national points series with races across the country in the following states: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The points classes were as follows Pro-Stock DOT Tires, Modified Cut Tires, and Open Paddle Tires. Mike Lane (Attitude) of Botkins, Ohio was the Open Class National Champion and also set the new MRA National and World Record (MRA, NMRO, & PROBADD) for 200' with a time of 2.110 seconds at the Kansas Badlands on Saturday August 22, 2009. Randy Roberts (Unpredictable) of Richton, Mississippi was the Modified Class National Champion and he set the new MRA National and World Record (MRA, NMRO) for 200' with a time of 2.484 seconds at the Kansas Badlands on Saturday August 22, 2009. Chad Wren (Dirty Sanchez) of Christmas, Florida was the Pro Stock Class National Champion. The MRA maintains national records for all of its classes from street stock to open in both mud bog and fast track races.

History

Mud bogging is a common off-road activity which led to being an organized competition. In the 1970s, organized mud bogs first became popular, as four wheel drive vehicles in general became more popular. Most mud bogs took place at county fairs alongside tractor pulls. By the 1980s, promoters like the USHRA and USA Motorsports began building mud pits in arenas and stadiums, increasing the exposure of the sport. TNT Motorsports also had mud racing for a while, but it was withdrawn.

The National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO) was formed in 1988 by Dayton, Ohio Native Gary Baker to create a standard rule set and form a national championship. This championship is the top honor in mud racing. From 1988-1996, the USHRA and USA Motorsports also held mud racing championships for Class V vehicles, with the USHRA championship usually garnering more exposure (during NMRO races shown on Trucks and Tractor Power on TNN, Army Armstrong would refer to the USHRA champion as the "Indoor series champion"). The NMRO All-Star Nationals were often shown on the ESPN show "Challenge of Power", hosted by USA Motorsports announcer Dave Bennett. Today the NMRO is the only national championship for mud racing. NMRO is also now owned and organized under Family/Special Events, who is the company behind the 4 Wheel Jamboree National event series.

Due to many mud bogs being held in conjunction with monster truck events, several former mud boggers became well known monster truck drivers, including Tony Farrell, Paul Shafer, and Tom Meents. Dennis Anderson's first Grave Digger was also a mud bogger. Mud racers have also moved into the IHRA ranks. Mike Comella, former driver of Bonkers, now runs an IHRA funny car, and Steve Bareman, former driver of Chemical Reaction, now drives for Jim Oddy's Pro Mod team. Dave Ray, former driver of the Midnight Magic vehicle, used to drive an NHRA Alcohol Funny Car.

In March 2007 Mud Truck Television was created in Arkansas. The show is broadcast nationwide on the Untamed Sports TV Network and on several cable systems in the U.S. Mud Truck Television features mud races and events from all over the United States.

Currently, Checkered Flag Productions, owned by former motorcycle daredevil stuntman Ed Beckley, is the largest promotor of indoor mud bog racing. His shows consist mainly of Street Stock, Mod and Pro Mod competitors. Depending on turn out and location, he is known to run class 5/6 type mud dragsters and tractor tired classes.

In 2009 FlyingMUD.com was formed to cover the sport of mud racing. The site offers online media from mud racing events all over the USA