Reflecting on his first monster truck and other monster trucks of that era, Gary says, "There were no safety harnesses, no fire extinguishers, no special seats, no drive-shaft loops. I didn't even have a fire suit. We all drove in jeans and a t-shirt. Back then a motor was $2500, now it costs $25,000."

 

Gary has adapted to the changes without missing a beat. In 1991 he won the points championship with his creation, Carolina Crusher and went on to become one of the first monster truck drivers to be recognized by his name, not just the name of his truck.

In 2001, Gary signed on with Dennis Anderson and Team Grave Digger. The list of trucks he has raced include his own Carolina Crusher, Pure Adrenaline, Spiderman, Ragin Steel and Grave Digger.

 

Gary names Dale Earnhardt for inspiring him professionally because of his driving skill and how far he went in NASCAR. "I truly respect his driving ability. He would take a car out and do things that other people wouldn't think of doing. Plus, it must have taken a lot of determination to go from being a high school dropout to accomplishing the racing achievements that he did and to build a multi-million dollar empire."

 

Gary never imagined that being a monster truck driver could turn into a full-time career. His intention was to be a farmer. When he's not racing monster trucks, he can often be found running heavy equipment on his 117-acre farm in North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Penny.