America’s auto industry may be bogged down in the boardroom, but its engines were roaring July 4 at the 12th annual Otoe Mud Drags.
Over 70 entries featuring models from road-ready pickup trucks to home built super-modifieds descended into the mud before a crowd of 200.
Terry Taylor, a 44-year-old truck driver from Nebraska City, celebrated America’s birthday with timed-wins in both the modified and unlimited classes.
His 1985 Chevrolet S-10 is powered by an engine built by Larry Demars of Carroll, Iowa, and guided by a simple strategy.
“Hold it wide open and go straight,” Taylor said.
He described the 150-foot track as “a little soupy.”
Rex Peterson, owner of Ron’s Bar Bar & Grill, 1219 Central Ave., showed off his super stock pickup in the modified classes.
He said the Otoe mud drags have become a regular part of the summer because they are close to home and a good time.
Jennifer Lehl of Humboldt described driving in the powder puff classes as exhilarating.
“Your adrenaline is pumping. You can feel your heart pump through your chest. There’s not a better feeling,” she said.
Mandi Allgood of Nebraska City, who has been racing in mud drag competitions for about seven years, finished second in the powder puff class with a time of 5.44 seconds driving a 1977 Chevrolet pickup.
She placed third in the class with a 1983 Chevrolet Blazer with a time of 5.86.
Top placers in the mud drag classes were:
Stock – Kelly Bessey of Palmyra, Dylan Lempka of Tecumseh and Jeff Bessey of Sterling.
Factory stock – Lloyd Allison of Auburn, Sam Carman of Palmyra and Becky Jeanneret of Nebraska City.
Super stock – Kevin Bloom of Wilber, Rex Peterson of Nebraska City and Colton Peak of Huron, Kan.
Powder Puff Stock/Super Stock – Nora Pankau of Pickering, Mo, Mandy Allgood of Nebraska City.
Powder Puff modified – Camron Gilbert, Nora Pankau and Jennifer Lehl of Humboldt.
Unlimited – Terry Taylor of Nebraska City, James Bunner of Clarkson, Neb., and John Brown of Lancaster, Kan.
Modified – Terry Taylor, James Bunner and Shane Burt of South Sioux City.
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