You might think that being a NASCAR hauler driver seems flashy and exciting, but the truth is that their jobs can be very demanding and they receive little, if any of the public recognition they deserve. The TA Truck Service Challenge celebrates the dedication of these drivers through friendly competition on the Thursday before select NASCAR race weekends.
NASCAR haulers are responsible for much more than driving, they’re jacks of all trades. Driving is a huge part of the job, but their teams also rely on them to get to the track before each race weekend to bring them anything they may need. They’re responsible for transporting and maintaining racing equipment, spare parts, food and more. Once they’re at the track, they cook for the team and serve on the pit crew.
Every item at a race is transported by a truck driver, and TA Truck Service proudly celebrates the valuable role these drivers play in NASCAR racing. The Challenge was designed to recognize these drivers for their loyalty, skill and hard work through a written DOT regulations quiz and a skills test using the official Challenge hauler to complete a series of obstacles courses.
What You Missed Last Season
The 2018 season started and ended with the Joe Gibbs Racing team making a huge splash in the standings. Brendan Greene, hauler driver for Kyle Busch’s #18 car, won not only the first competition of the season in Atlanta, but he also won a second event in Las Vegas, and placed second overall, missing out on the grand champion title by just one point. Challenge veteran Tom McCrimmon was crowned grand champion, and Ken Pitcher took third place overall for the season.
Eric Burgoyne, driver for the Champion Tire & Wheel hauler, won the Texas event, and Michael Hutton, Jeremy Clements Racing #51 hauler driver, won the Charlotte event. A member of the Joe Gibbs Racing team took home the win at each remaining event in the series. Jamie Price, Greene’s co-driver, won the Sonoma Challenge, and Josh Collins, #11 hauler, pulled off a win at the Kentucky Speedway.
2019 Season Schedule
The 2019 Challenge circuit includes the following events:
- Atlanta Motor Speedway
- Texas Motor Speedway
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Kentucky Speedway
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
Visit the official Challenge website to keep up with the overall standings after each event.
Find Us in the Fan Zone
After each Thursday event you can find TA Truck Service representatives inside the Fan Zone, handing out race day goodies and talking more about the Challenge and the heavy duty maintenance repairs and services we offer professional drivers.
If you won’t get a chance to attend one of the 2019 Challenge events, you can still get in on the fun. The official Challenge hauler, which all competitors use to complete the obstacle course at each event, will be visiting 100 TA, Petro and TA Express locations along the Challenge circuit. You can also follow the Challenge on Facebook and Instagram using the handle @TATruckServiceChallenge for more Challenge content and to find out where the official hauler will be throughout the season.