High Lifter Mud Nationals A Big Success At Hillarosa
This past week, Hillarosa ATV park in Blevins hosted the 2021 High Lifter Mud Nationals. The event started Wednesday, April 7th, and ran through Sunday. Off-road enthusiasts from all over the United States and even abroad came by the thousands to attend the largest High Lifter Mud Event in the nation. The event saw a wide variety of races and competitions for ATVs and UTVs, as well as live performances by Thompson Square, Dan Smalley, Adam Doleac, and more.
As can be expected with a draw that big, the competition was fierce and the stakes were high. The hosted contests included Drag Racing for ATVs and UTVs, UTV Short Course races, the Bounty Hole, which dished out $6,000 in prizes, and the Poker Run. It also had the Show ‘n Shine, where competitors showcased their most outrageous, one-of-a-kind builds, both in the field and up-close. There were even helicopter rides and a scavenger hunt!
However, the largest draw for the High Lifter Mud Nationals wasn’t so much the prizes as it was the people. Offroading and competitive mudding are a lifestyle to a large majority of the attendees, and perhaps the most critical aspect of that is community. While the sport is competitive by nature and winning races is certainly a point of pride, there was a universal sense of comradery. Everyone in attendance was there to have fun, and to meet other people who love the same things they do. To quote one of the attendees, Keith Hook, “The people make the sport.”