DONALD BOWLING’S PULLING TRUCK SUPPORTS THE CAUSE

Donald Bowling, a farmer and trucking business owner from Fostonia, Ohio had a cause he wanted to champion and a venue he knew he could do it in—all he needed was the truck. After talking to friends that turned him toward the pulling motorsport, Bowling knew he had only one place to turn to for an all-out Super Stock pulling truck capable of competing against the best the Pro Pulling League had to offer. Sandridge Customs, a small metal fabrication shop in Bloomdale, Ohio had built the championship contending Trump puller helmed by Bowling’s friend, Shane Kellogg the year before, so he knew Nate and Jake Boes at Sandridge would have the chops to build another.

Bowling’s goal all started when he promised his wife he’d paint one of his trucking semi’s pink and dub it ‘Trucking for the Cure’ if she would take time to get a mammogram. His awareness of this need came from his wife’s grandmother being a 20 year survivor of her bout with breast cancer. His wife was clear, but this honorable tribute was only the first step for Bowling. Sadly, Bowling’s stepmother that raised him died of ovarian cancer, which really pushed him toward his support of cancer research. He has also had numerous friends over the years battle with cancer, and he knew he could put something toward the cause of aiding treatment and research for a cure to the horrible disease of cancer.

So, out of pocket, he began a build for a sled pulling truck and planned to call it ‘Pulling for the Cure’ towed by his semi with a similar name. Bowling set up a non-profit organization to use for the rig so that every bit of merchandise sold and prize money won would go directly to the American Cancer Society. His company, Bowling Transport, along with sponsors like MAC Trailer, Tarp Stop, and Sandridge Customs help support the Pulling for the Cure machine. Most of the sponsorship involves equipment to help keep the truck and crew on the road and dirt at PPL and NTPA events, but any proceeds from his sponsors goes right into the American Cancer Society fund minus the cost of repairs after an event, but only if needed.

Once he had his goal in mind, Bowling knew the first thing to focus on would be the chassis as he had his rig built. No matter how powerful of an engine you build, if the chassis isn’t dialed in to hold you to the dirt, you won’t go very far as a puller. Sandridge customs planned to build another custom truss work chrome moly tube chassis for Bowling’s puller. A Rockwell SQHD rear end and F-106 front axle would bolster the strength and durability as the power was sent into the ground. Penske shocks and springs in the front help stabilize the ride as Bowling uses his hydraulic steering to keep the beast going down the track. Supplying the much needed grip to drag the truck and heavy sled down the clay are 34-18.5/15 Pit Bull Super Pullers that are wrapped around Real Racing wheels.

The body of this truck would be just as important to Bowling as the performance, as he planned to build awareness of the cause near and dear to him and represent the reason the truck existed at all. Bowling chose a molded fiberglass body modelled after a 2010 Ford Super Duty that he turned to Brian Foster in Wayne, Ohio to give the body its bold yet eye-catching finish. Branded with the ‘Pulling for a Cure’ title, Bowling turned to Banshee Graphics for additional details and graphics to set his truck apart from the competition and take its message to the sled pulling nation. The entire assembly tilts up as a one piece body hinged at the rear for easy access to work on and display, while he enters through a functional driver’s side door.

Attention now went to the engine to beat life into the finely tuned chassis. Again following the path of Kellogg and his truck, Bowling opted for a Haisley Machine built Cummins engine, tuned for sheer power on the track. With Haisley’s magic in the block, two Columbus Diesel turbos form a compound setup to boost the Cummins power and torque. A Precision Turbo water-to-air intercooler and Steed Speed exhaust manifold upped the ability of the engine as well. Peterson Fluid Systems keeps the engine lubricated as the Cummins makes its high RPM passes down the clay under heavy load. An SCS Gearbox transmission and driveline with an MRP clutch shielded by a stout Probell transmission housing gets the Haisley power to the axles. Bowling’s Cummins heart has an estimated 2,600 horse-power to motivate the Pulling for the Cure machine down any track.

From the inside of his rig, there’s not much to see beside the million-and-one pedals, levers and toggles required to engage and control the various elements of the pulling truck as Bowling navigates down the dirt runway. At his feet when the body is down, a clear acrylic scatter shield allows him to see into his engine bay while lending some protection against parts failure or fire. He has his personal touches engraved into the polished aluminum to give him a smile before he mashes the throttle. Overall, the interior favors function over form as a true racer.

Bowling set out to make a sled puller to help fund the early detection, treatment efforts, recovery aid and research done by the American Cancer Society, and he succeeded with the earnest help of Sandridge Customs, Haisley Machine, and all of his sponsors and friends. In their very first year, during the 2015 season, Bowling was ecstatic to be able to contribute over $15,000 to the American Cancer Society through his truck’s success. Though the distress that cancer can reap is close to his heart, Bowling feels over-joyed to be able to use what he has at his disposal to aid a worthy cause and spread more and more awareness of the important work the ACS does. Next time you are at the track check out this amazing rig, and maybe even buy a T-Shirt to lend your hand in “Pulling for the Cure.” UDBG

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