Sub zero temps is how the day began here in Albany, NY. Then the USHRA Thunder Nationals fired up the Pepsi Arena!

There was some expected results and some not so expected. It all began with the wheelie contest and the expectations were high with everyone trying to knock off the defending champ Michael Vaters and the Black Stallion. Everyone gave it there best shot but the 3x World finals qualifier could not be beat as he was the only one to turn in a perfect 30.

Wheelie Results:

Iron Warrior 19
Samson 21
Thrasher 26
Virginia Giant 19
Black Stallion 30

The doughnut contest would bring us an unexpected 3 way tie. Trey Meyers and the Iron Warrior would have trouble in the contest only gathering up a 14 point run. Pat Suma and Thrasher would jump all over the lead with a nice 26 point run. Then the 30’s rained down in the Pepsi Arena. It all began with the Black Stallion who was followed by Dan Patrick and Samson the the Man who would eclips them all with an awesome cyclone in the middle of the arena, Diehl Wilson and the Virginia Giant. The crowd decided by applause that Virginia Giant would be the winner.

Doughnut Results:

Iron Warrior 14
Thrasher 26
Black Stallion 30
Samson 30
Virginia Giant 30

The freestyle would be all and more than the fans expected. The judges would toughen up in the freestyle and barely eclipse the mid 20’s. That was until Vaters and the Black stallion pulled his pattonded reverse over the cars. The judges rewarded him with a perfect 30. That was his third of the night and put him in the #1 qualifying position heading into racing!

Freestyle Results:

Iron Warrior 22
Thrasher 22
Samson 19
Virginia Giant 19
Black Stallion 30

Black Stallion was ready for a bye in round one until he got the news that the Virginia Giant would have to pull out of racing with a broken rear steer. That put the Black Stallion in round one against Thrasher and to my surprise Pat Suma would advance into the racing finals. That left the Iron Warrior and Samson to duke it out for the last spot and once again to my surprise the Iron Warrior toppled the favorite in racing. In the Finals Thrasher would not make past the first car as the transmission would break on the truck catapulting Iron Warrior to the Saturday night racing championship!

With this field of drivers, things are sure to be on the edge tomorrow night here at the Pepsi Arena!

Sunday: 

Well Monster fans Sunday proved to be another great show! But it started a little earlier than expected when at about 1am Pat Suma the driver of Thrasher had to make a trip to the local hospital. He was putting the finishing touches on the new transmission in the truck when for some odd reason the transmission fell and crushed his hand. The accident would put Pat out of commission for driving the truck Sunday afternoon. But that wouldn’t keep Thrasher from running. A rookie driver from the Thrasher crew Chuck Weist would fill in for the injured Suma.

In the Wheelie contest the judges seemed to be a little tighter on points today when it only took 26 points to win. They all gave it 100 percent but it would be the Virginia Giant who would knock off the Saturday night winner Black Stallion.

Wheelie Results:

Iron Warrior 20
Samson 23
Thrasher 20
Virginia Giant 26
Black Stallion 25

The Doughnut contest proved to be the fan favorite again. Thrasher would sit this one out and watch the veterans from the sidelines. Virginia Giant would again be one up on the competition with his second perfect score of the day, 30!

Doughnut Results:

Iron Warrior 20
Black Stallion 23
Samson 28
Virginia Giant 30

In the Freestyle it would come down to the two major fan favorites and veterans of the sport, Diehl Wilson and Virginia Giant and Michael Vaters and Black Stallion. They both lived up to the hype when they both put together 30 point runs. The fans would have the last say and Black Stallion would not leave Sunday afternoon empty handed as he figured victorious by the crowd’s applause.

Iron Warrior 18
Thrasher 17
Samson 23
Virginia Giant 30
Black Stallion 30

In the Racing Iron Warrior would be the one to sit this one out as he lost his front right tire in the freestyle. That left us with Thrasher going head to head with Virginia Giant and Samson to meet Black Stallion in the round one Semi finals. The finals were set when the rookie in Thrasher passed Virginia Giant and Black Stallion made short work of Samson. So it was the rookie and the veteran in the finals. Get this, Thrasher would topple the vet Black Stallion and become the Sunday afternoon champion.

Another great show in Albany, NY. Cant wait for next year.

Until next time,

Greg Simas/USHRA Announcer