UNLEASHED
The new UNLEASHED debuted in 2008 with a completely new look and a totally new driver. The Rodgers Team converted their ancient Mack Cruiseliner cabover into an all-new Mack conventional modified semi. And Rob's daughter, Kendra, a recent high school graduate took over the job as primary driver. The combination proved to be a very interesting mix for the fans. UNLEASHED was built and campaigned by the brother team of Rob and Chad Rogers from Philo, Ohio. With their background in the over-the-road truck repair business in Muskingum County, the pair has managed to get great power out of the small cubic inch six-cylinder Mack engine in UNLEASHED.
In 2008, the new truck had some major problems that caused a number of 'out-of-bounds' runs down the track. However one of the high points of the season came at the Lawrence County Fair in New Castle, Pennsylvania when Kendra drove UNLEASHED to a fantastic second place finish. A second place finish at the Great Geauga County Fair in Burton was another accomplishment last year for the Rodgers Team.
UNLEASHED had a tremendous season pulling on a limited basis with the Big Rigs Pulling Series in 2006 as the truck took three second place finishes. The truck started the season in May with an outstanding second place finish at the All-American Spring Nationals at Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania. At the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio in early September UNLEASHED took another second place finish against some of the best modified semis in America. And then the small cubed Mack surprised everyone again with another second place finish at the Big Rigs Series FINALS at the Bloomsburg Fair in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania in late September.
This Pro Stock Semi also competes with the Ohio State Tractor Pullers Association (OSTPA). The Rogers Team and UNLEASHED were voted as the "Pro Stock Semi of the Year" in 2006 by the Ohio Association.
Rumor from South Zanesville, Ohio is that the Rodgers' Team is working on a second companion truck for the 2009 Big Rigs campaign. So there may be two modified semis running with the Rodgers' Team next season.