Classic NASCAR semi-truck has been tracked down in North Carolina where it hauls tobacco
- This semi-truck was quite the NASCAR legend
- It belonged to racer Ricky Rudd
- Now, the Tide-branded truck has a new life
Published on May 05, 2025 at 8:02 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 02, 2025 at 12:12 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An old semi-truck that became legendary on the NASCAR scene has a new life hauling tobacco and wood in North Carolina.
The bright-orange Ford Aeromax, with Tide livery, used to belong to NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd.
It became well-known in NASCAR circles due to its eye-catching paintwork.
And years later, it’s been spotted – complete with its original paintwork – working on a farm.
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The old NASCAR semi-truck has got a new life in North Carolina
Occasionally, a former NASCAR car will pop up years later, like this 1969 Dodge Charger that was used as a pacer back in the day, or this 1971 model that was unearthed in a barn.
Others end up in private collections, museums, or – unfortunately – junkyards.
With the cars being the stars of the show, it makes sense that folks are keen to know what becomes of them once they stop racing.
But what about the other vehicles that keep NASCAR running? Like Ricky Rudd’s Ford semi-truck that he used to haul cars to and from events?
Well, it turns out that sometimes those vehicles get a second life as well.
In the case of Rudd’s Tide-designed truck, it was recently spotted working at a tobacco field in North Carolina.
The truck popped up online a couple of years back when Facebook user Billy Marsh posted a snap of it alongside the caption: “Ricky Rudd’s old hauler transports tobacco in Roxboro, NC now.”
The truck still sports the same Tide livery it did back in the day
It’s not quite clear what happened between the truck’s NASCAR retirement and the time it was seen working on a farm in North Carolina in 2023.
Some folks have said it remained with Rudd for a number of years before it eventually went to its new home.
On the original post shared on Facebook, one person, who claimed to live locally, said the truck had actually been off the road for some time, while another chipped in to say he had helped get it back on the road.
Of course, much of this is merely speculation, but what we do know is that the truck is up and running and is still sporting that head-turning bright orange Tide, which certainly makes it stand out and is sure to get folks talking.
And isn’t kind of cool to know that the legendary truck is still out there and still going?
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
