There is no other happening quite like the High Lifter Mud Nationals. When you consider that this annual event attracts tens of thousands of mud fans from all over the country and beyond (even Sweden!), it’s definitely a spectacle worth checking out.
This was my second year at the Mud Nationals, or “MudNats” as it’s known by the veteran “mudders.” 2010 saw record attendance, epic racing and a host of new food vendors offering up delicacies that most of the rest of the country would probably thumb a nose at, but it’s all so good! Alligator boudain balls, gumbo, chicken stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon and plenty of crawfish and shrimp could all be found at Mud Nats. Needless to say, you better pack an appetite when attending this event.
Competition was fierce this year as mud slingers charged thick mud bogs, raced down the “Highline” swamp EPI Endurance Challenge and completed multiple motos at my personal favorite event, the Mudda-Cross! Three racers per moto battled for two laps around the waist-deep oval, often banking off each other as mud flung above their snorkel intake systems. The rich smell of nitrous fueled big bore V-twins filled the air as the commanding crowds cheered the racers on.
It’s not all about racing though. Mud Creek Off-Road Park in Jacksonville, Texas, has been the host of the High Lifter Mud National event since its inception. The park offers up thousands of acres of tree lined swamps and challenges for the most adventurous mud fanatics. You’ll definitely want to make sure your ATV is equipped for deep “sippy” holes before diving into the deep end. A snorkeled intake, lift kit and tall mud tires come highly recommended!
Each day was topped off with live Texas bred music from the Red Dirt Hurricane Energy Drink sponsored tour, which included a stop for the weekend of the Mud Nationals. Christen Sawyer, Josh Ward Band, The Chad Hammock Band, Cody Johnson and the Scooter Brown Band all took to the giant stage in the front vendor area as the sun set behind the trees.
There’s something for everyone at the High Lifter Mud Nationals. Be sure to check out our fifty-plus-image photo gallery of the entire event by clicking the image above.
For more information on how you can participate next year or even attend a Mud National event near you, get all the information you need online at
http://www.atvmudnationals.com.