Equalizer is a 1998 Chevrolet monster truck owned by Harper Motorsports since 2020. Originally created by David Morris and Gary Cook in 1988, the truck was known for being the first truck to use a tube frame chassis, among other new pieces of equipment, like lighter tires & improved coil over shocks. This made the truck one of the most technologically advanced trucks of its time.
In 2002, Morris sold the entire operation to Mike Hawkins out of Virginia, becoming the longest, and most well-known owner and driver of the truck, competing from 2002-2018, when he sold the truck to the Monster X Tour the following year. The league continued to operate the truck until 2020, when it was eventually sold again to Rod Schmidt sans the Equalizer name.
In 2022, the name was revived by Michael Harper, as part of the TNT Motorsports: Unfinished Business event, and continues competing under his ownership until being put on partial hiatus in 2024.
History[]
Gary Cook era (1988-1990)[]
1988[]
Equalizer was originally created in 1988 by Gary Cook and David Morris. The truck debuted at a TNT event in Indianapolis with Morris as the primary driver of the truck.
1989[]
David Morris and the truck would win the TNT monster truck racing championship.
David Morris era (1990-2002)[]
1990[]
Cook would sell the truck to David Morris, who would briefly step away from driving. Rookie driver Greg Holbrook would take over the driving duties for the rest of the year. Later that year, the truck would debut a new blue paint scheme featuring splotches of white.
1991[]
Holbrook would step away from driving the truck. As a result, Jersey Outlaw driver Mike Wine would drive the truck for a short time. David Morris would eventually return to driving Equalizer.
1994[]
David Morris in Equalizer would win the East division of the USHRA Monster Wars point series.
1995[]
Equalizer would debut a new blue, white, and orange paint scheme on a late-model Chevrolet S-10 body.
1997[]
The truck won its second points championship, this time for USA Motorsports.
1999[]
Morris and the team would sign with Milestone Motorsports.
2001[]
Midway through the year, Morris would debut a new paint scheme for the truck, featuring orange flames separating the blue and white and some H.R. Giger inspired artwork.
Mike Hawkins era (2002-2018)[]
2002[]
In September, Morris would sell the entire operation to Mike Hawkins out of Catlett, Virginia.[1] Along with the truck, Hawkins would also inherit the previous contract with Milestone Motorsports. The team would later be renamed to Rebel Pride Racing, although was still referred to as Equalizer Racing.
2005[]
The truck ran as Stars & Stripes for a Route 66 kids drawing contest.
2006[]
A brand-new Equalizer debuted, featuring a new PEI chassis. The original chassis would be converted into its new teammate, Hot Tamale, and later Ragin’ Rebel the following year.
2008[]
The original Equalizer body would also be run on the Brutus chassis for a show in Nebraska, with Chris Bergeron driving.
2009[]
Equalizer debuted a new blue paint scheme.
In 2008 and 2009, Equalizer won both racing and freestyle competitions at the Back to School Monster Truck Bash.
2010-2013[]
The truck would briefly resume using its original chassis for one show. The original chassis would continue to compete for select shows as Ragin’ Rebel until 2011, when it was restored to its original appearance as part of the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame, where it resides today. The truck would receive its only televised appearance under Hawkins in Indianapolis.
Brandon Budd drove the truck in Syracuse in 2011 or 2012. Troy Rose drove the truck in Charlotte for the Back to School Bash & also in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 2012. Equalizer would also be run on Hurricane Force for a show in 2013.
2014[]
Equalizer would debut a new paint scheme, this time featuring a white, blue, orange, and black gradient.
2015[]
Former owner David Morris was inducted into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame.
2016[]
For the Monsters on the Beach event in Wildwood, New Jersey, Equalizer ran a multitude of spare parts, due to the truck’s original parts sustaining damage from a prior show. The parts used included a hood and two Goodyear tires from the original Storm Damage, a Firestone tire from Team Scream Racing, and a starter from Walking Tall. Hawkins would continue to drive Equalizer until his retirement a few years later.
2017[]
Original owner Gary Cook was inducted into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame.
Monster X Tour era (2019-2020)[]
2019[]
Hawkins retired; Equalizer Racing was acquired by the Monster X Tour[2]. Following the acquisition, Equalizer would debut a new dark blue paint scheme as Brian Harwood took over the driving duties. In September, Mike Harper would trademark the Equalizer racing truck names.
2020[]
The tour’s ownership of the team would be short-lived however, as Equalizer, along with its teammate Red Solo Truck, were put up for sale.
2021[]
Both trucks were purchased by Rod Schmidt, who converted Equalizer into Thrill Billy.
Harper Motorsports era (2022-present)[]
2022[]
Harper would revive Equalizer for the TNT Motorsports: Unfinished Business event on April 16th, 2022, which he would organize. It returned on the Outlaw Racesource chassis with Greg Holbrook driving and would win the racing competition. The "Red Solo Truck" and "Hot Tamale" names would go to 2Xtreme Racing. A backup version was made on the former Texas Stomper truck (originally Sniper), which turned into the truck's new competition chassis, driven by Berto Treviño. Mark Cole drove the truck in Coldwater, Michigan.
2023[]
Preston Collins drives the truck before it is put on hiatus for 2024.
2025[]
Equalizer returns in Levelland, Texas with Adam Wilson driving, filling in for Outlaw.
Drivers[]
- Adam Wilson (Levelland, TX 2025)
Former drivers[]
- David Morris (1988-2002)
- Gary Cook (1989-1990)
- Greg Holbrook (1990-1991, 2022)
- Mike Wine (1990)
- Mike Hawkins (2002-2018)
- Joe Yatsko (2015-2017)
- Brian Harwood (2019-2021)
- Berto Treviño (2022-2023)
- Preston Collins (2023)
Fill-in drivers[]
- Chris Bergeron (Grand Island 2008)
- Brandon Budd (Syracuse 2011 or 2012)
- Troy Rose (Charlotte & Fredericksburg 2012)
- Mark Cole (Coldwater 2022)
USHRA World Finals appearances[]
| Year | Driver | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | David Morris | Qualifying: 3rd (3.92) | Racing: defeated in the semi-finals by Equalizer |
| 1994 | Defeated in the semi-finals by Kodiak | ||
| 1999 | Defeated in round 1 by Bulldozer | ||
| 2003 | N/A | Display only | |
| 2004 | Mike Hawkins | Display/exhibition only | |
| 2011 | N/A | Display only | |
Trivia[]
- At some point, the truck's roof featured a mural depicting a tornado with Tom Meents' severed head whirling around in it.
- Equalizer has had 5 different owners, the most of any truck.
Gallery[]
.jpg "000-0-0-0-0-vlcsnap-2018-10-26-19h28m10s253 (114).jpg (49 KB)")
_(4).jpg "000-0-0-0-0-55459992 120136765819317 4040321339309948928 n (847) (4).jpg (264 KB)")
.jpg "000-0-0-0-0-10653587 10152755556907347 6668203376628777667 n (1438).jpg (143 KB)")
_000-0-0-0-0-.jpg "000-0-0-0-0-unknown (10) 000-0-0-0-0-.jpg (397 KB)")
.jpg "1993 OM-Equalizer (2).jpg (384 KB)")
.jpg "2004-2 31-Equalizer (1).jpg (363 KB)")
.jpg "2005 37-Equalizer (1).jpg (381 KB)")
References[]