As racing fans gathered to quench their need for speed, they also had the chance to experience the original daredevil Evel Knievel. With the help of a Mack Pinnacle 70-in. (177.8 cm) high-rise sleeper model, Knievel’s 1974 Mack FS786LST model show truck was on display throughout the NASCAR triple header, which ran Nov. 6 to 8 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The fully restored show truck, affectionately known as “Big Red,” was located on the Texas Motor Speedway Midway, giving fans a chance to get up close and personal with the rig.

Big Red gained fame as the support vehicle for some of the wildest and most-watched stunts ever attempted. Big Red began as a standard Mack FS model cabover truck. The FS model combined Mack’s high torque rise Maxidyne diesel engine with Mack durability. A completely customized rig, Big Red was best known for Knievel’s custom-built dressing room and a cab finished in his signature red, white and blue theme.

The truck is the centerpiece of a permanent Evel Knievel exhibit that will be housed at Topeka, Kan.-based Historic Harley-Davison. The exhibit features several pieces of Knievel memorabilia, including motorcycles, leathers, helmets, medical X-rays, casts and other one-of-a-kind items. As part of a partnership between Mack Trucks, Evel Knievel Enterprises and Historic Harley-Davison, Mack provided two Mack Pinnacle models to help transport the truck while its permanent home is awaiting completion.

“The Chase drivers are down to crunch time as they race toward a championship, and nobody knew the pressure of performing under tough circumstances better than Evel Knievel,” said John Walsh, Mack vice president of marketing. “We build our Mack models to perform under pressure as well, which is why we were honored to have our trucks bring Big Red to the races at Texas Motor Speedway.”

Built to handle the challenges of the open road, the Mack Pinnacle includes several features that improve fuel efficiency and boost driver productivity and comfort, according to the company. Pinnacle models come standard with the Mack mDRIVE automated manual transmission. Engineered to be fully integrated with Mack MP series engines, mDRIVE can improve fuel efficiency by up to 1.5 percent when compared to a standard transmission, according to the company.

Pinnacle models also are available with Mack Twin Y Air Suspension. Due to a design that features two Y-shaped high-strength steel blades, Twin Y not only delivers a smoother, more stable ride, it also weighs up to 400 lbs. (181.43 kg) less than other air suspensions, according to the manufacturer.

Mack’s GuardDog Connect telematics solution also comes standard on Pinnacle models. It monitors fault codes that could potentially shut down a truck. This enables a quick diagnosis of issues, proactive scheduling for repairs and confirmation that needed parts are in stock and ready to install, all while the truck is still on the job, according to the company. GuardDog Connect also offers communication of information through Mack ASIST and the Mack OneCall customer support network.

For more information, visit www.macktrucks.com.

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