Weekend Race Recap
Friday
Bad News driven by Bruce Haney was the only truck that could keep up with Gary Porter and Grave Digger in Pensacola Friday night. "I won three out of four but ole Bruce was tough to beat all night." Said Porter in a post event interview.
The night was not a good one for hometown boy Jim Jack and his Reptoid truck. He broke in the donut contest and could not come back the rest of the night. As of this time (approx 10:30pm) the motor is torn down and Jim and the Reptoid crew are investigating the damage. He vowed to return for Saturdays event.
Rambo had problems in the first round of racing when an imput shaft broke on the transmission. Mike Nitzke said the truck would be repaired for the Saturday event.
The night was a good one for Brandon Harrington in Vette King. He tied Grave Digger in the Wheelie contest loosing only to a crowd cheeroff. Vette King came in second in Freestyle and scored a respectable 26 in the donut contest.
The bridesmaid of the night was Bad News who came up a few inches short in the race final against Grave Digger.
The night also featured FMX with Tyler Kyle, Jason Rowe, and Michael Gravette thrilling the fans with their ramp to ramp freestyle demo and competition. Michael Gravette was declared the winner in the second half competition. His McMetz/no handed landing brought fans to their feet. He also did a no hand superman seat grab and a Heart Attack that seemed to go on forever.
Results:
Truck Wheelie Donut Freestyle
Rambo 21 13 17
Bad News 23 30* 22
Vette King 27 26 26
Reptoid 20 12 broke Broke
Grave Digger 27* 29 30*
Race Results:
Round One:
Grave Digger defeated Rambo (Rambo broke)
Bad News over Vette King
Finals:
Grave Digger over Bad News
After the race final both Bad News and Grave Digger did a freestyle for the fans. Donuts, high jumps, wheelies and car crushes with two trucks on the track at the same time led to some extreme excitement to end the show.
Saturday
The last event before Las Vegas was as wild as the first event of the year in Pensacola. If you didn't already know the trucks for the World Finals had been named you would have thought they were all going for a shot at the big one. Whatever it was, the excitement was unbelievable. With Grave Digger, Vette King and Bad News all scoring wins in the Thunder National event.
As good as it was for some it was heartbreaking for Jim Jack and his Reptoid truck. "We destroyed the motor Friday night and worked last night and most of today to get it ready for tonight," said Jim right before the event. "When we fired the motor we bent a rod and we are done for the night." A sad story for the guy who had worked so hard to improve this season. Pensacola is also Reptoid's home town.
Freestyle Moto was impressive with Tyler Kyle, Jason Rowe and Michael Gravette all putting on a great show for the adoring fans. In the first half the guys came out and did a great exhibition. It was the second half that showed their real talent. Tyler Kyle set the fast pace early bustin with some big air. Jason Rowe gave the fans long hang time and awesome combinations but it was Michael Gravette that brought the house down with a rock solid, heart attack and no handed landing.
Contest results:
Truck Wheelie Donut Freestyle
Rambo 21 26 22
Bad News 24 29* 24
Vette King 29* 27 29
Grave Digger 29 27 30*
Brandon Harrington was the man of the hour in the first half when he drove Vette King to a tie with Grave Digger in the Wheelie contest and then won the crowd cheeroff.
Racing went this way:
Round One:
Bad News beat Rambo
Grave Digger over Vette King
In the round for third and fourth:
Vette King over Rambo
Race Final:
Grave Digger downed Bad News
The monster drivers signed autographs for the fans after the show. It was another great night for the monsters of the United States Hot Rod Association and the Thunder Nationals.
