Settling in as a fan favorite among ATV enthusiasts, the Highlifter Mud nationals in Jacksonville, Texas, has become a very large event to say the least. Having the pleasure to attend the event this year, I found dedicated utility and mud enthusiasts getting a literal overdose in the sport. Over the years of this event’s growth it was clear that sooner or later the crowds from the East Coast would want something closer to home, and sure enough Highlifter decided to offer ATV racers on the right coast an event and the East Coast Mud Nationals were born.

This year’s event was not the first for Highlifter in Georgia, as 2009 saw record crowds for an event like the Texas original. The location for the Highlifter ECMN would be near a little town called Doles, Georgia. On Friday morning I was ready to get my fill of the mud racing world, and with just a short four-hour drive I was welcomed into the vast acreage known as the Creek Bottom ATV Park. This family-owned off-road paradise has around 1300-plus acres of primarily flat riding and with many miles of trails, creeks and mud bogs that could keep you busy all weekend trying to get to it all. 

The “Mudda Cross” had already begun, and with little time to spare I bolted trackside to get some photos of the action. The competition was great and it was one of the most unusual pits I have ever seen. The figure-eight-style pit was perfect for spectators as the crowd could see almost the entire race with little blocking their view. The racing would go into the dark on Friday night, but with a well-lighted pit no one missed any racing. With ATVs and side by sides competing the action was intense, and with the carnage from blown belts as well as drivelines the part vendors would surely get some business the next day.

Vendor row had many aftermarket part manufacturers on hand as well as dealers from nearby towns. OEM manufactures had also come to support the sport of mud racing and on any corner you could find all brands represented. The Highlifter crew had also set up a large tent with all types of replacement mud parts and accessories. I think there was even a new line of mosquito and gnat protection developed right on site, as the little air-born varmints were eager to get your attention. The numbers of gnats were not as bad as previous years, so I’m told, but it was a bit overwhelming at times to say the least.

With the 2010 “Mudda Cross” in the history books, the attention turned to all the really creative costumes on hand at the event. The creek bottom crew had arranged a costume contest to round out the festivities on Friday night. Age was not a barrier as children and adults all dressed up to take a shot at the top prize. There were really patriotic costumes as well as traditional Halloween costumes, and having local law enforcement on hand meant that they had judges that would not be questioned! Police officers had been chosen to judge the costumes and it came down to a very friendly witch who worked the crowd to her benefit. It was a fun and family friendly night of great events.

Saturday brought a chilly reminder that old man winter is just around the corner, and with our friends the Ladners cooking us breakfast it was time to get the day started. The Ladner family welcomed us in and we thank them for taking the time and space to make us comfortable at this event. We talked at length about their son Adamm, who was leaving that next Monday to ride in Sweden. It seems Adam has a few fans overseas and he is taking his passion for mud racing there to share with the Swedish people. The Swedish racers had met Adam at the Highlifter Mud Nationals this year in Texas and quickly became fans. We wish Adam luck on his journey and we will surely get a report from him when he returns.

After an awesome breakfast I was off to a few more racing events for Saturday starting with the youth bogs and then on to the main event, the straight line mud pits. Watching three or four racers line up at a time the excitement was intense. The types of machines vary, but one thing is the same and that’s the desire to win. Mud racers are a unique brand of our ATV world, and the more I am around this part of ATVing the more I like it. Anyone can race the pits of mud and all budgets are easily capable of winning from weekend to weekend. There are classes for everyone. This mud world is dedicated to the sport they love and you’ll find some of the nicest people in this sport. I’ll be attending more of these events where a down-home feel welcomes you at the gate and family atmosphere fills the campgrounds.

Now go get muddy,
RS

RESULTS:

Maxxis Poker Run:
Low Hand - Randy Carr
High Hand - Alicia Gorman

Bad 2 Da Bone:
1st - Kevin Johnston
2nd - Chad Easterwood
3rd - James Edison

Polaris Mudda Cross Lite:
1st - Jay Laycoch
2nd - Daniel Bramlitt
3rd - Adam Ladner  

Polaris Mudda Cross Bogger:
1st - Brian Haughton
2nd - Jamie Hodges
3rd - Mark Bennett

Polaris Mudda Cross Pro-A:
1st - JW Otwell
2nd - Jay Laycoch
3rd - Andy Evans

Polaris Mudda Cross Pro-B:
1st - Dakota Klein
2nd - Adam Ladner
3rd - John Ferranti

Polaris Mudda Cross RUV:
1st - Marty Williams
2nd - Jay Laycoch
3rd - Jamie Hodges

Polaris Mudda Cross Womens:
1st - Rhonda Wylie
2nd - Jessica Collier
3rd - Hayley Moseley

Polaris Mudda Cross Open:
1st - Clay Wylie
2nd - Wayne Carroll
3rd - Dakota Klein

Polaris Mud Bog Lite:
1st - Andy Evans
2nd - Daniel Bramlitt
3rd - Michael Mayo

Polaris Mud Bog Bogger:
1st - Jamie Hodges
2nd - Anne Ferguson
3rd - JW Otwell

Polaris Mud Bog Pro-A:
1st - Nick Zastrow
2nd - Sean Benton
3rd - Dakota Klein

Polaris Mud Bog Pro-B:
1st - Adam Ladner
2nd - John Ferranti
3rd - Michael Mayo

Polaris Mud Bog RUV:
1st - Jay Laycoch
2nd - Jamie Hodges
3rd - Brian Haughton

Polaris Mud Bog Womens:
1st - Kris Campbell
2nd - Beverly Hawkins
3rd - Alicia Gorman

Polaris Mud Bog Open:
1st - Clay Wylie
2nd - Josh Collier
3rd - Jeremy Loftin

Polaris Mud Bog Pee Wee:
1st - Haley Summerall
2nd - Peyton Collier

Polaris Mud Bog Junior:
1st - Lexi Wylie
2nd - Gannon Popham
3rd - Noah Betsill

Polaris Mud Bog Early Teen:
1st - Sarah Miranda
2nd - Jarrett Summerall
3rd - Gannon Popham

PSR/SMRS Shootout
Lite Class (no PSR members available)
1st - Jay Laycoch (SMRS)
2nd - Andy Evans (SMRS)
3rd - Michael Mayo (SMRS)

Bogger
1st - JW Otwell (PSR)
2nd - Brian Haughton (PSR)
3rd - Josh Monroe (PSR)

Pro-A
1st - Jay Laycoch (SMRS)
2nd - Dakota Klein (PSR)
3rd - JW Otwell (PSR)

Pro-B
1st - Josh Collier (SMRS)
2nd - Jeremy Collier (SMRS)
3rd - Jamie Hodges (SMRS)

Open
1st - JW Otwell (PSR)
2nd - Trey Thornton (PSR)
3rd - Andy Evans (SMRS)

Womens
1st - Kris Campbell (SMRS)
2nd - Jerrie Albritton (PSR)
3rd - Beverly Hawkins (SMRS)

RUV
1st - Jamie Hodges (SMRS)
2nd - Jay Laycoch (SMRS)
3rd - Brian Haughton (PSR)