I'll actually give this one the benefit of the doubt. After posting, I read from the OP that a business had been torn down right there just before he did this so its very possible he thought it was an extension of the parking lot. Especially since a lot of truckstops are that way; Paved for the first half, then the back half is just compact ground usually with a layer of gravel on top. But this is why you never put your drive tires on any dirt unless you've seen other trucks do it.