Mud Bog 0001Twitty's Mud Bog on May 19, 2018 in Ulmer, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

Before Colby Hensley came into this world, his father raced a 1974 Dodge Power Wagon through pits of mud in a tractor pull, drag race, monster truck mutant style of auto racing. When Colby turned 16, he brought that same truck back to life at the mud bogs.

At the end of the summer I met Colby, now 18, who won his class on an August Saturday night during the “Flag Wars” mud bog at the State Line Complex in Gaffney, SC. “It’s about the adrenaline rush,” says the teenager from Forest City, NC. His accent is thick enough that I have to ask twice where he is from.

state line mud bog 08829State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

I spent the summer traveling to Yemassee, Ulmer, Gaston, Gaffney, SC and Carnesville, GA for a tour of mud bogging in the Southeast.

So what does is take to reign in mud?

Different classes of vehicles, determined by modifications and tire types, make timed runs through straight or U-shaped mud tracks, some with berms and jumps but all featuring a section with a deeper mud pit. Some trucks don’t make it through and officials measure how far drivers get and then they'll pull them out with a cable and some heavy machinery. When the modified trucks speed by, it’s raining mud.

Mud Bog 0002Twitty's Mud Bog on May 19, 2018 in Ulmer, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

Tips for first time spectators:
Purchase track side parking and go with a group.
Bring a tailgating canopy, umbrellas, a stocked cooler, bug spray, and a pair of boots.
Find a mud bog in South Carolina

Photos and words by Sean Rayford

Related Story: Photos: Twitty's Mud Bog Season Opener - 2019

Mud Bog Photos - Summer of Mud Photo EssayNorth Georgia Mud Bog on June 9, 2018 in Carnesville, GA. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0012Twitty's Mud Bog on May 19, 2018 in Ulmer, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 08516State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford blog-angry-whale-sc-nov2017sid nancy Mud Bog 0007North Georgia Mud Bog on June 9, 2018 in Carnesville, GA. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0006Twitty's Mud Bog on May 19, 2018 in Ulmer, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 08838State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0004Yemassee mud bog on July 28, 2018 in Yemassee, SC - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford North Georgia Mudbog June 2018 006372North Georgia Mud Bog on June 9, 2018 in Carnesville, GA. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 09477State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford North Georgia Mud BogNorth Georgia Mud Bog on Saturday, June 9, 2018 - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0016North Georgia Mud Bog on Saturday, June 9, 2018 - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0008North Georgia Mud Bog on Saturday, June 9, 2018 - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0005Neeses Mud Bog June. 23, 2018. Photo by Columbia Sc photojournalist Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0018Yemassee mud bog on June 24, 2018 - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 08378State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford North Georgia Mudbog June 2018 005847North Georgia Mud Bog on Saturday, June 9, 2018 - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0020Yemassee mud bog on Saturday, June 24, 2018 - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0021Neeses Mud Bog June. 23, 2018. Photo by Columbia Sc photojournalist Sean Rayford state line mud bog 09001Sate Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Mud Bog 0015Twitty's Mud Bog on May 19, 2018 in Ulmer, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 08399State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 09611State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford state line mud bog 08519State Line Mud Bog on August 26, 2018 in Gaffney, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford twittys mud bog photos 006618Twitty's Mud Bog on May 19, 2018 in Ulmer, SC. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford