Hot Tamale is a Dodge monster truck owned by 2Xtreme Racing. It was formerly owned by Mike Hawkins of Equalizer Racing out of Virginia. It has been driven by several drivers throughout its career, including Troy Rose, Isaiah Morales, Brandon Budd, Joe & Richie Yatsko, and Billy Chapin. It is currently driven by Michael Brister. The truck originally served as the primary teammate to Equalizer until 2013, when it was initially retired and replaced by Red Solo Truck. However, the name returned in 2016 and served as the alter-ego to Red Solo Truck for the remainder of its career. It was brought back in 2021 on the Iron Outlaw chassis.
History[]
Hot Tamale originally debuted in 2006 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.
In 2007, Hot Tamale received a new PEI chassis, as the original one was converted into Ragin' Rebel. The truck would also receive an updated design, featuring a new Chevrolet Silverado body style. Beginning in 2009, Isaiah Morales began driving the truck, sharing the driving duties with Rose.
In 2010, Hot Tamale received an updated paint scheme, which would be used for the remainder of the truck's career. Morales would later win the 2010 Toughest Monster Truck Tour Championship and would continue to drive the truck until his retirement by the end of the 2011 season. The following year, Brandon Budd and Joe Yatsko joined the team, sharing the driving duties throughout the 2012 season. Tim Mente also drove the truck in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Hot Tamale was initially retired in 2013, after being replaced by Red Solo Truck. However, the name would eventually return to competition in 2016, serving as the alter-ego for Red Solo Truck for the remainder of its career, with Joe Yatsko sharing the driving duties with his son, Richie.
In 2019, Equalizer Racing was acquired by the Monster X Tour. Following the acquisition, Hot Tamale was shelved as the chassis would be used to run Red Solo Truck for the remainder of the season until it, along with its teammate Equalizer, were put up for sale the following year. In 2021, both trucks were purchased by Rod Schmidt, with Hot Tamale being converted into Redneck Rampage. The names of the Equalizer Racing trucks would eventually be acquired by Mike Harper. The "Hot Tamale"and "Red Solo Truck" names would eventually go to 2Xtreme Racing. They would start running Hot Tamale on the Iron Outlaw chassis. The truck would be ran as Red Baron in September 2023
Gallery[]
.jpg "Monster Machines Hot Tamale (1).jpg (142 KB)")