The Journey of a NASCAR Hauler: The Tide Ride
While many retired trucks face abandonment, the 1997 Brickyard 400 winning hauler belonging to Ricky Rudd, adorned in its iconic Tide livery, has been preserved. Earl Brooks has cared for this truck for over 20 years, and after a long search, I finally connected with him to hear his stories about this prized vehicle.
Brooks shared, “My story begins with Mr. G.C. Fleig, my mentor in the trucking world and president of Fleig Leasing, Inc. He was a steadfast supporter of NASCAR and had close ties with notable figures like Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon.”
“G.C. introduced me to Buddy Stafford, who owns Piedmont Ford Trucks in Greensboro, North Carolina. Stafford often transported race attendees via his private plane. Knowing these influential businessmen allowed me the opportunity to purchase NASCAR’s transport trucks once the teams traded them in for new models.”
Brooks recalls an amusing encounter while visiting the Piedmont Ford service shop. He met the truck’s former driver, who shared stories of their racing escapades and the truck’s cruise control being set at 120 mph. The driver narrated a humorous tale of getting pulled over by an Arkansas trooper for speeding, though they ended up “paying” with souvenirs instead.
Now residing in Roxboro, North Carolina, the Tide Ride has not only served as a nostalgic tribute to racing but has also been practical for Brooks’s tobacco business. He proudly stated that the race trucks brought a sense of pride to his drivers, improving their morale during long hauls.
The hauler, a 1993 Ford Aeromax, features an N14 Cummins engine, a 13-speed transmission, and has accumulated over 706,000 miles. The vibrant paint, which consists of seven layers by Spevco, remains in excellent condition despite years of exposure to the elements, showcasing its durability.
If you’re intrigued, Brooks is open to selling the Tide Ride—but only to someone who would respect its legacy. He declined another offer from a trucker intending to use it solely for hauling logs. “I couldn’t bear to see that happen,” he lamented, “but for someone wanting to preserve NASCAR history, I would consider an offer.”
