A colorful background in sports and entertainment brought Chad Fortune into monster trucks, and when the opportunity to make his own identity behind the wheel of Superman came, he jumped at it.
Chad's past experience with monster trucks came behind the wheel of the WCW Nitro truck for his rookie season, where he caught the eye of the newly-formed Power Forward Racing Team, headed by NBA player Karl Malone. Fortune took Power Forward to World Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, then raced the majority of the 2004 season before the opportunity to drive Superman came. Fortune thinks Superman will be a good fit for him.
"With Power Forward, I was representing a person, Karl Malone. He was a great boss and I enjoyed working for him. We left on good terms. I am proud to be matched with the Superman Monster Truck, because the personality of the truck matches up with my own personality."
Fortune showed some of that strength, speed, and power during the 2005 season's opening week at the truck's debut in Atlanta, Georgia, making the finals in racing and ripping the truck's cape off in a spectacular freestyle move. Many more aggressive racing and freestyle runs followed, and Chad was selected to drive in the World Finals once again, capping a spectacular season by being voted the Most Improved Driver at the 2005 Monster Jam World Finals Awards Banquet.
"Winning the award was great," said Chad. "This is the first year I really drove like myself, and I want to keep getting better and better."
Chad has grown to love the thrill of competition because he has been around it most of his life, in almost everything he's done. He was a standout football star at the University of Louisville at the position of tight end. From there, it was on to Europe as a part of the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World Football League, now NFL Europe. And, from 1990 to 1993 Chad lived out a dream, playing in the National Football League with the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.
Injury forced Chad to stop competing in football, but his drive to continue in professional sports was still burning. Chad began training with the WCW, and then moved over to the WWF, and then back to the WCW over a period of seven years. Chad keeps in peak physical shape, and maintains that by working out with weights, running, and biking. But even for this monster of a man, who is superhero in size and skill, the most appealing thing about being a monster truck driver is "the smile" he gets to see each and every time he signs an autograph or has contact with the kids.
How did you get involved in monster trucks?
I spoke with Dennis Anderson back in 99 and one thing led to another.
What's
the best thing about being a monster truck driver?
The travelling and the communication with our fans.
Career
highlights? First Win?
Every time I go to the World Finals.
What is your most memorable moment so far?
World finals 8 was pretty wild.
Describe
what it is to be a monster truck driver in one sentence.
Superhero
Give
4 separate words that describe you.
Personable - Radical - Competitive - Theatrical
What
is the best part about signing an autograph for a child?
There is something special about the way they look at you.
What
do you do to prepare for a new season?
I repeat last year over in my head an improve on everything I can.
Whats
your favorite stop on the tour?
Going to Atlanta, the Florida shows are cool too.
Are
you working on anything new right now?
I always have ideas in my head, and develop new ways to modify new tricks.
Whats
the best thing about your truck?
The cape
What
gets you pumped to compete?
Seeing the drivers as they pull out for intros, it always puts me in a zone.
Where
are the best fans?
All Monster Jam fans
Best
advice to kids who want to become monster truck drivers?
