Friday
Monster trucks can always be counted on to deliver excitement and tonight was no different! Most people who've seen a monster show have most likely seen it on dirt only. If you haven't seen a show in a non-dirt format, then you're really missing out on something! A non-dirt show format is much different than a dirt show. It'll provide various forms of competition that will more than please the average enthusiast. The categories for tonight's racing were as follows.
First you see a Wheelie competition. That's followed by a Doughnut spin and then some Quad Wars racing. Then you get treated to a little Monster competition via Freestyle. The evening is then closed down with an all out session of Monster Truck racing. So if you weren't here tonight, then let me give you a brief synopsis of what you missed.
Quad wars as always is exactly what it's billed to be. On hand tonight were Team Laredo and Team Hidalgo. After both teams split the two heats with a win each the main awaited. Things looked good early on for Hidalgo, but it wasn't to be. A stack up with two laps to go brought out a red flag and the registered count of the laps showed Laredo was out front and awarded the win.
In the Monster Wheelie competition Maximum Destruction took the win followed by El Toro Loco in second with Team Suzuki taking third.
As for the Doughnut contest, it was almost too close to call. Thank goodness for judges. After a tremendous display the win went to Maximum Destruction for the second time tonight. Team Suzuki was awarded second and Monster Mutt capturing third.
Monster Freestyle is always the barn burner! A tie in points split the win between Team Suzuki and Maximum Destruction. A yell off with the fans deciding the tie and Maximum was awarded the win! Third went toEl Toro Loco.
In the racing portion of the program it's always the fastest with the win. Tonights fastest was El Toro Loco! A by run in the qualifiers allowed Team Suzuki a shot in the final, but El Toro was on the gas first and that's the way she went.
Saturday 2PM
Saturday afternoon and another show is under our belt. Not just the show, but the Ford Trucks “Built Ford Tough” Pit Party also. Have you ever been to a Pit Party? If you have then you’re usually the first in line at the door to get up close and personal with your favorite driver. Just some of the fun is standing next to truck and getting your picture taken with a driver. What’s even more fun is the fact that you get to be in an elite group of people that get the drivers and all the other celebrity’s on hand all to yourself for an hour or so. So, make plans to get to a Pit party at your next show you attend. You’ll be glad you did!
So let’s talk a little about this afternoons show. I’ll share with you a who’s who in the zoo and who did what. No it’s not an Abbott and Costello gimmick, it’s what happened today! As usual we start off with a Wheelie contest. As always the goal is aim it high and stomp on it! With everybody shooting for the same stars it’s hard to decide who did the best job so we let the fans do it for us! Today’s Wheelie contest was decided with a perfect score of 30! The closest in the points was Summit with 28 and Maximum Destruction taking third with a 27. That’s a great display of driving talent and awesome fan support!
As the Doughnut contest goes, there is nothing and I mean nothing in my eyes more thrilling at the show than the Doughnuts! When these drivers set out to put a truck into a spin, there is nothing but motor and horsepower everywhere! Just to get into the setup is a tough job. Sometimes the truck grabs an edge and bicycles. Getting it back on the ground and into the motion again is something the driver is given only seconds to get under control! Somehow they all seem to do it and even make it look easy. Trust me it’s not easy and it’s exciting to watch! So who did what you might ask? Maximum Destruction pulled out a 30 point score as did Team Suzuki. The only way to decide the tie breaker is to involve the fans. In this effort they choose Team Suzuki over Maximum Destruction with Monster Mutt taking third with 28 points.
Freestyle is a chance for a driver to crush cars, stand up in a wheelie or charge and jump the cars. Doughnuts are part of the freestyle too. When it was all said and done, Maximum Destruction grabbed the win with another 30 point score. Summit brought in a total of 28 points for second followed by Monster Mutt in third with 27 points.
Then we finished off the show with Monster Truck racing. With qualifying set to go, Team Suzuki lined up against El Toro Loco and El Toro transferred towards the main. Clydesdale then squared off with Maximum Destruction and Max moved forward. Summit and Monster Mutt then took to the line with the Mutt taking the win. Semis were set and El Toro Loco lined up next to Monster Mutt and El Toro Loco took the win. Unfortunately there would be no Loco in the final after a breakdown pushed him out and Monster Mutt made the show. The other semi had Maximum Destruction up against Summit. Max took the win and the final was set. Two trucks, two lanes and a fired up crowd all lit together and the end result was Maximum Destruction the winner and that was all she wrote!
Saturday Night
Saturday night has got to be considered the apex of the weekend. There's the build up on Friday night and everybody gets the bugs out getting acclimated to the facility. Saturday afternoon is a prelim to the night portion of the weekend. When we finally reach the evening show on Saturday night everybody is pumped and totally jacked up. So let's get right to it and the action and the results.
In the "Wheelie Contest" it's always a shot in the dark. If the truck gets the jump it needs and the driver gets the right feel for the lane, then you will have a good run. If you win that means you had a great run! And a great run was had by El Toro Loco with a 30 point total to take the win. Second went to Maximum Destruction and a tie was had for third between Clydesdale and Summit with 25 points each.
The "Doughnut Contest" is in my opinion the most awesome part of the show. Team Suzuki clearly took the win with a perfect 30 point score. Splitting the points for second and third with 27 points each was Clydesdale and Monster Mutt.
The "Monster Freestyle" competition gives the drivers an opportunity to do what ever their heart desires. When it all came down to a conclusion Team Suzuki had done it again pounding out a solid perfect 30 point score. Once again a tie was had between two trucks El Toro Loco and Maximum Destruction splitting hairs at 29 points each.
Quad Wars never seems to change. Not that I mean that in a dull way, but to the contrary! Quad Wars could not be a more fitting title! Team Laredo and Team Hidalgo never got friendly and the racing showed their discontent for each other all weekend long. At the end of this night, Team Laredo took home the laurels leaving Hidalgo to lick their wound from the evening.
Sunday
Sunday is the final show of the weekend. After all the competition over the entire weekend you wonder who still has the drive, ambition and determination to go for the gusto. Driving a Monster Truck is no easy chore! It takes every ounce of energy you have to keep things under control! Come Sunday afternoon you have some very challenged drivers physically and mentally. Somehow they never let the fans down. Each and every driver digs down deep and pulls out their bag of tricks and does the chore! So let's talk about Sunday's program!
As usual on a non-dirt show we started off with the "Wheelie Contest" The proper lineup and the best approach is the key to the best wheelie. This afternoon it was El Toro Loco with the hot line and the best sky shot! Maximum Destruction gave his all but came up a few points shy of a win for second. Third place was filled by Monster Mutt and his flapping ears.
The "Doughnut Contest" was no let down and will never, ever leave the fans displeased. If you can't be moved and entertained by the "Doughnut Contest" then your heart has stopped beating! Sunday provided another show of awesome, butt kicking, world turning, fly-by the seat of your pants action! A three-way tie between Maximum Destruction, Team Suzuki and Monster Mutt needed to be decided. We call out to the fans and ask them to give us their best yelling ability to decide who takes what position. Maximum Destruction was the fan favorite and the tie was then broken. Team Suzuki and Monster Mutt would share the second and third positions.
Again we entered the "Monster Freestyle" portion of the show. As always there is no lack of action for display. Tie's seemed to be the normal today and yet another tie breaker was to be decided by the fans. This time we had to do a double shout off to decide our winner. Team Suzuki carried the fans weight and was awarded the win. El Toro Loco settled for second and Summit and Maximum Destruction also split the points for third.
Quad Wars was a bit unusual this afternoon to say the least! A special "Captain to Captain" challenge was requested by the riders and a two lap in the arena-one lap outside then two laps in and a final last lap outside would determine the outcome. After the second time outside, Team Laredo came into view first and headed for the checkered flag. Apparently, Laredo ran out of fuel 100 yards from the finish line and left his quad stranded. The Laredo rider dashed to the finish line on foot, but it was not to be! Team Hidalgo came into the arena at full speed and passed the Laredo foot runner for an exciting finish and the win! It was all settled for the weekend! Hidalgo capped it off with the win on Sunday.
