Posted by Robyn K photos on Tuesday, April 30, 2019
In only his second Bandit Big Rig Series start, Tim Ashley, the driver of the No. 5 Spider-Man-themed truck, picked up his first career win at Myrtle Beach Speedway on Saturday, April 27.
Ashley started the race in fourth, but as soon as the green flag dropped, he shot between front row starters Austin Hoppe and Scott Treadway to take the lead before the first turn of the race.
Two-time defending Bandit Series champion Ricky “Rude” Proffitt took over second place and small fleet owner Allen Boles grabbed third before the end of the first lap.
Boles didn’t waste any time working to get around Proffitt and by lap four had taken the spot from his long-time friend.
Ashley continued to hold the lead throughout the race with Boles on his back bumper through most of it. Hungarian truck racing rookie Bendegúz Molnár worked his way up to third from his eighth-place starting spot, but he was never able to catch up with Ashley and Boles.
The two leaders battled throughout the race, but Ashley never gave up the lead and claimed the checkered flag. Rounding out the top five were Boles, Molnár, Ricky Proffitt and Darren Proffitt.
“I waited all weekend to do this,” Ashley said after the race. “I had a gameplan coming in to try to save the tires. I took it easy off the bat and finished strong.”
With two races complete for the season, Molnár holds a slight lead in the overall points standings, followed by Ashley and Ricky Proffitt.
The next Bandit Big Rig Series race will be held Friday, May 24, at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin, just south of Madison.
