Caribou’s first ‘MudBowl’ will showcase monster truck-themed events June 7-9

4 months ago

CARIBOU, Maine – Spud Speedway will hold its first ever MudBowl next weekend with a full slate of races, truck and tractor pulls, ‘mud runs’ and festival rides.

Last year, Spud Speedway co-owners Troy Haney and Jim Gamage brought the SnowBowl and DustBowl, snowmobile and grass drag festivals that launched a new era for the speedway, which is celebrating 60 years in 2024.

From June 7 to 9, the MudBowl will be the first truck-themed event in the “bowl” series, Haney said. 

“We’ve got four festivals, each offering something different,” Haney said. 

On June 7 and 8 at 7 p.m., the Mega Monster Truck Show will include racing, tug of war, a monster truck wheelie contest and Chevy square body truck burnout competition. Those events will take place at Spud Speedway’s stock car race track.

The Maine Truck & Tractor Pullers Association will host their first event of the summer at Spud Speedway’s new 475-foot-long truck and tractor pull track June 8 at noon.

During the Mud Run, slated to begin at 11 a.m. June 9, pickup truck drivers in eight classes will compete for the fastest time, splashing through four feet of mud at the new 200-foot mud run track. 

Haney and Gamage built the new tracks on the west side of Spud Speedway as part of efforts to expand the venue’s slate of yearly races and festivals. For the mud runs, they’ll add water to the track just before the festival begins.

A unique partnership with Smokey’s Greater Shows has allowed the fair ride vendor to return to Caribou.

After being part of the DustBowl in September, Haney arranged for the company to store their rides, games and food trucks at Loring Commerce Center so that they would already be near the speedway for the MudBowl. Smokey’s midway will be open from noon to 10 p.m. June 7, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 8 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 9.

“I made the call [to Loring] after Smokey’s told me they’d have to haul everything south and bring it back north,” Haney said. “The rides are always popular.”

In addition, at least 15 to 20 local food trucks and vendors will be on site all three days. 

On June 7, over 25 veterans organizations will set up and admissions will be free for local veterans from noon to 3 p.m. Otherwise, MudBowl tickets will cost $30 in advance or $35 at the door and include access to all activities.

A full schedule is on Spud Speedway’s website.