Equalizer 1

Equalizer 1 was the first Equalizer race truck originally created by David Morris and Gary Cook in 1988, was 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. It would compete as Hot Tamale and Ragin Rebel before it was retired and refurbished.

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 would compete in the TNT Monster Truck Challenge for the entire season. The truck was very competitive when it did not roll over like it did in Richmond, VA and Flint, MI. The truck would win the TNT monster truck racing championship.

1990[]

Morris, who would briefly step away from driving after the birth of his kid. Mike Wine filled in for the third night at Roanoke, VA. Cook drove the truck throughout late Feberuary and March. Rookie driver Greg Holbrook would take over the driving duties for the rest of the year. At Dallas, the truck would debut a new blue paint scheme featuring splotches of white.

1991[]

Holbrook would run the first quarter for USHRA, but would step away from driving the truck. As a result, Jersey Outlaw driver Mike Wine would drive the truck again for a short time. David Morris would eventually return to driving Equalizer.

David Morris Era (1992-2002)[]

1992[]

Cook would sell the truck to Morris.

1993[]

The truck competes in USHRA Monster Wars.

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 (2002-2011)[]

2002[]

In September, Morris would sell the entire operation to Mike Hawkins out of Catlett, Virginia. 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. Hot Tamale debuts as the teammate to Equalizer, with Troy Rose behind the wheel. At the time of its debut, the truck originally campaigned a Chevrolet S-10 body style and ran on the original Equalizer chassis.

2007[]

Hot Tamale received a new PEI chassis and the original chassis is renamed Ragin Rebel with Billy Chapin driving.

2009[]

Both Brandon Budd and Billy Chapin drove the truck jointly.

2011[]

The original chassis runs as Equalizer one more time and was retired after 23 years of competition along with the identity. The chassis was restored back into the first Equalizer for the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame, where it remains to this day.

International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame era (2011 - present)[]

2015[]

Former owner and original driver David Morris was inducted into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame.

2017[]

Original owner Gary Cook was inducted into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame.