Truck driving is more than just a hobby for the stars of Dirty Mudder Truckers, it’s a whole way of life. In May 2019, fans of truck racing got their first look at Discovery’s latest offering, a high-octane, adrenaline- pumping mixture of high-speed truck racing and reality show. The series follows the Dirty 7, a racing crew from Central Florida, as they challenge competitors from up and down the country to take them on in a challenge to find the biggest, baddest crew in the land. Find out more about the exciting new series with these 10 quick facts. Quotes via Charles Runnells.
1. It all started in 2005
In 2005, Chuck Davis, Christopher Ledford and Matt Steele founded ‘Trucks Gone Wild’. The company started out small, hosting minor bogging and truck pull down events in Central Florida. Since its inauspicious beginnings, the company has become host to some of the biggest events in the States, pulling in huge crowds of fans hungry to watch competitors from around the country test themselves (and their trucks) to the limit.
2. Each competition has 7 races
As Cinemaholic reports, each event consists of 7 challenging races designed to test the mettle of any competitor willing to take on the Dirty 7. The races take place in The Pit, a 750 stretch of turf with a 10-foot jump. The event is definitely not for the fainthearted, as only the toughest, fiercest crews are likely to survive the many pitfalls of the course, make it to the finishing line, bag the prize pot and claim bragging rights to being the best of the best.
3. Their trucks all have nicknames
The Dirty 7 are all clearly enamored with their trucks… something evidenced by the nicknames they’ve chosen to bestow on them. Chris Libak has given his 392 Chevy the affectionate moniker of “Animalistic”, Pete’s 1993 Toyota mega truck has earned itself the title of “Chasin’ Paper”, Keith Spiker’s 1983 Chevy 1500 is known as “Hammerhead”, while Randy Priest has given his 2003 Dodge Dakota the nickname of “Mudstick”. Jimmy, meanwhile, likes his black Chevy to be known as “Riddle”, while Nick’s mega truck goes by “Grass Money”.
4. Racing is in the family
One of the stars of the show, Christopher Libak, has racing in his blood, with his dad, uncle and grandfather all having raced cars at one time or another. “There was always some kind of racing going on,” he’s revealed, “We were always doing something.”
5. The Dirty 7 compete up and down the country
Chris Libak started racing cars and trucks at the age of 12, before moving on to motocross four- wheeler and mega trucks. The 27 year has been competing with the Dirty 7 in mega truck races up and down the country for the past 6 years or so, taking in events at Lazy Springs Recreation Park, Charlotte County’s Florida Tracks and Redneck Mud Park, and, of course, his home base of Astatula’s Florida Motor Sports Track (or The Pit, as its affectionately known).
6. The team have been together for 6 years ago
The Dirty 7 started competing as a unit around 6 years ago, when Libak was just 20 years old. “We were the young ones,” Libak has shared. “We weren’t supposed to be winning, but if you come out with enough drive and a want to be the best, you can do it. And that’s what we did. … We kept working and working and we worked our way to the top.” The team now compete in around 30 events per year, regularly pulling in the accolades (and cash prizes) as one of the top mega truck racers in the country.
7. The first season premiered on May 27, 2019
The first episode of Season 1 of Dirty Mudder Truckers premiered on May 27, 2019 to the delight of trucking fans the world over. The show, which is produced by Magilla Entertainment, features some big hitters on the production team, such as Laura Palumbo Johnson, Jason Fox, Matthew Ostrom, Kevin Allgood, Pete DeLasho and Josh Abrahamson.
8. The crew aren’t afraid of a challenge
While they might compete in events up and down the US, the team’s home base is the inauspiciously named “The Pit” in Central Florida. But they aren’t territorial… any brave crew who think they can take on the mighty Dirty 7 are welcome to come down and give it a go. “We accept challenges from anyone who wants to race,” says Libak. “We’ll try to defend our home turf.. show ‘em why we’re the best.”
9. Not all of the cast were eager to sign on
Despite being one of the show’s central stars, Libak was at first trepidatious of appearing on TV. Libak, who works at his father’s garage, H&H Kustom Auto Body, was worried the busy film schedule would conflict with his day job. However, he’s now more than happy he changed his mind…. “This is a major production,” he’s shared. “I’m super excited about it. … The goosebumps. You feel electrified – wow, it’s going to be on TV! It was awesome. We got to see the behind-the-scenes about how TV is made and how nice everyone was. There was a whole lot more to it than I thought.”
10. They don’t just drive trucks, they pimp them out
Truck racing isn’t just about the race itself; half the fun is getting the truck pimped up and primed to go. Being better than the competitors isn’t enough… you have to look the part to truly make it in the business. Take Libak’s truck of choice, the Animalistic. What started out as a standard jeep is now a fully tailored “mudder truck” with a massive motor, a powerful two speed transmission, giant tractor tires, and an attention-grabbing paint-job that combines the American flag with a combination of skulls, eyeballs and the faces of Libak’s co- workers at the H&H Kustom Auto Body. “Every piece of the vehicle is custom, even down to the tires. … Everything is custom-made for doing what we do,” Libak says.
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