It was a near sell-out crowd as fans came to Speedway 95 for the annual Monster Jam. Fans who watch the TNN Monster Jam TV show were ready to see the big boys take on a very tough track and even tougher competition. Many in the crowd came to see local hero Sky Hartley who drives Little Tiger. Sky grew up in Nobleboro Maine and loves the chance to see family and friends on this yearly trip up north.
Pairings for monster racing:
Round One:
Gravedigger bye run fastest qualifier
Wolverine defeated Little Tiger
Pure Adrenaline beat Firemouth
Firemouth (fastest loser)
Semi-Final:
Firemouth defeats Gravedigger
Wolverine over Pure Adrenaline
Race Final:
Firemouth beats Wolverine and takes the win
Street Warrior action was wild with the trucks taking on a track that featured jumps, turns, dirt, asphalt and LOTS Of MUDD. The fastest time of the evening and the win went to Matt Randal of Glenburn Maine.
Monster Freestyle Competition Results:
Little Tiger 21
Pure Adrenaline 24
Firemouth 19
Wolverine 30 winner
Gravedigger 28
Wolverine thrilled the crowd with not one but two fantastic slap wheelies that took him as far as he could go down the track. High jumps and a modified donut sealed the win for Brian Barthel and the Wolverine truck.
Saturday
One thing you can always be assured of is that nothing stays the same in a Monster Jam competition. With the sun out and the temperatures much warmer than Friday night the Monsters of the USHRA took to a dryer and less forgiving track for the Saturday event.
Also featured was Quad Wars with Team New Jersey traveling up to take on Team Maine. The first two rounds of action in Quad Wars was split with Jersey winning the first and Maine the second. In the final, Team New Jersey won after cutting the track on the last lap. Officials did not see the infraction but the fans refused to let New Jersey get away with the win. After a challenge by Maine a three lap one on one race determined the winner. Without team mates to help, the New Jersey rider was no match for Maine's team captain Dan Vossler who got the checkered flag.
Monster Race Results:
Round One:
Digger fastest Qualifier BYE RUN
Wolverine beat Little Tiger
Little Tiger (fastest loser)
Firemouth over Pure Adrenaline
Semi-Final:
Gravedigger over Little Tiger
Firemouth beat Wolverine
Race Final:
Firemouth defeated Gravedigger
Street Warriors saw the Extreme Tonka driver by Matt Randall get his second win of the weekend. Randall held off Larry Laney driving the Pudlon Five for the victory.
Monster Freestyle Results:
Little Tiger 25
Pure Adrenaline 23
Firemouth 24
Wolverine 29
Gravedigger 29 winner by crowd vote
With the judging tied at 29 the fans decided the winner. It was very close as both trucks had an incredible run but in the end Gravedigger got the most cheers and took the win. Gravedigger's Charlie Pauken said they would have to do some work to the Digger truck before the evening event because he had to run so hard to beat Wolverine. The competition for the Saturday night event promises more high-flying action.
Saturday Night
The win Saturday night gave Matt Randall of Glenburn Maine a clear sweep in the Street Warrior division for the weekend. Randall held off 19 other trucks to get the win in the 8pm race. He went to the finals against his friend and long time competition, Barry Babcock. Babcock's time of 26.51 was not enough to unseat Randall who had a time of 24.96. Three wins in a weekend is enough to make anyone smile but when you consider the weather changes and changing track conditions for all three races it's hard to believe that anyone could have won all three.
Monster Truck Race Results:
Round One:
Firemouth fast qualifier bye run
Little Tiger beat Wolverine
Wolverine (fastest loser)
Gravedigger over Pure Adrenaline
Semi-Final:
Wolverine beat Firemouth
Little Tiger over Gravedigger
Final:
Little Tiger over Wolverine
"I have been working all weekend to get the truck ready for this win," said hometown boy Sky Hartley. "Tonight everything was right and we took first, I love it. To win at home is something special. No place is better that here", he told the fans who gave him a standing ovation.
Monster Freestyle Competition Results:
Little Tiger 22
Pure Adrenaline 23
Firemouth 26
Gravedigger 29
Wolverine 30
Brian Barthel drove Wolverine to the win in freestyle demonstrating his ability to take the truck straight up in a slap wheelie ride of some 300 feet. Wolverine also won the crowd's approval with his donuts and high-flying jumps over the cars.
In Quad Wars, Team Maine ended the weekend with a decisive victory over Team New Jersey. New Jersey team captain, Mike Facchini vowed to come back next year and bring the checker flag back to his state. Maine captain, Dan Vossler, told the fans that his team was ready anyplace, anytime.
