By: Joe Lowe USHRA announcer

The 2006 Monster Jam tour began Friday night with the Motor Spectacular at the BJCC arena in Birmingham, Alabama. From early Friday morning fans had been stopping by to purchase tickets and see their favorite trucks arrive in the pit area.

Local television stations were on hand most of the day covering the activities. The track crew brought in truckloads of dirt and cars to crush. By 1pm things were race ready.

At 7pm the doors opened to the public with many stopping on the way to their seats to purchase the 2006 Monster Jam Yearbook. At 8pm it was show time and the new year was officially underway.

If the action Friday was any indication, this season is going to be a wild one. Six big trucks roared to life, crushing cars, doing wheelies and racing before a near sold out house.

The night began with Grave Digger winning the Wheelie Contest but after that it was not going to be Grave Diggers night. The black and green wreckin’ machine struggled in racing and fell just a bit short in the freestyle competition.

Quad Wars saw Team Alabama and Team Mississippi square off with each team winning a heat. The main was won by Team Mississippi but the Alabama team was not happy with the results. The two captains battled it out in a grudge match won by Brandon Helms of Team Alabama.

The night also featured record holder Billy Cole jumping his quad ramp to ramp over three monster trucks.

 “I wanted four but we had to make sure the shut down area would let me go that fast and far,” said Cole in a post event interview. “If possible we will go with a four truck jump tomorrow.”

Race Results:

Round One:

Grave Digger defeated Team Suzuki

Ninja Turtle over Reptoid

Monster Mutt defeated Godzilla

Semi final:

Grave Digger over round one fast loser Reptoid

Monster Mutt defeated the Teenage Turtle

Final:
Monster Mutt over Grave Digger

Freestyle Results

Godzilla 20

Reptoid 20

Suzuki 27* won by cheer off

Monster Mutt 25

Turtle 21

Grave Digger 27

The event ended with a crowd cheer off giving the win to Kathy Winston and Team Suzuki and a promise from Randy Brown in Grave Digger to be ready to rumble at the 2pm show on Saturday.

Saturday 2PM -

By: Joe Lowe

The second event at the BJCC in Birmingham began Saturday with a pit party from 11:30 to 12:30 with hundreds of fans flocking in to meet their favorite monster truck drivers.

The event began with a U.S. Army color guard salute to our men and women in the Armed Services. Then the Motor Spectacular began with wild action.

Grave Digger again was the winner of the wheelie competition but racing and the Freestyle Competition was still up for grabs. Could Grave Digger win all three competitions after last nights problems?

Quad Wars saw Team Mississippi and Team Alabama again give each other a run for the checkered. Team Alabama won the first two heats with Mississippi winning the main and a captain’s challenge after the winner was declared.

Billy Cole again brought the fans to their feet with his ramp to ramp jump over three monster trucks. He vowed to do it again in the 8pm event.

Mini Quads were part of the event also with great young riders from the Birmingham area racing before the thousands of fans. For many it was their first public appearance and the fans loved it cheering the little ones on during the entire 6 lap race.

Race Results:

Round One:
Reptoid defeated Team Suzuki (photo finish)
Mutant Turtle over Monster Mutt
Grave Digger defeated Godzilla

Semi Final:
Reptoid defeated Team Suzuki as Suzuki returned as the fast loser from round one
Grave Digger with a close win over Teenage Turtle

Race Final:
Grave Digger beat Reptoid

Freestyle Results: 
Godzilla 21
Reptoid 22
Team Suzuki 28
Monster Mutt 25
Teenage Turtle 24
Grave Digger 29* winner

One of the highlights of the afternoon was Billy Coles ramp to ramp quad jump over not three but four monster trucks.

The drivers signed autographs for over an hour after the event.

Saturday 8PM -

By: Joe Lowe

The fans began lining up at 5pm for the 6:30 door opening of the Monster Spectacular Saturday night in Birmingham. Fans stood in line trading stories about shows they had been to and drivers they had met. Many were excited about the new 2006 USHRA yearbook and most had digital cameras.

From the very beginning of the night you could tell things were going to be exciting. The drivers were jazzed from the reception they experienced during the autograph session. The quads were determined to find out once and for all who the better team was and things were electric.

The night began with Mini Quads (young people racing 50-90cc quads on the quad wars track), a Harley Davidson Parade from the Heart of Dixie Hogs, and the presentation of the colors by the United States Army Color Guard.

Before you knew it, it was showtime and the Monster Wheelie Contest was first on the agenda. Grave Digger dominated the wheelie contest with his high jump and pogo landing on the cars. He earned a perfect 30.

Next was Quad Wars with Team Mississippi and Team Alabama going at it tooth and nail. There was a bit of a controversy in the main with Team Mississippi earning a win after a rider was sent off the track by officials. The rider returned after missing the first two laps but was declared the winner. It was only after a challenge by the Alabama Team that the Mississippi Team came out for a one on one grudge. The match was won by Team Alabama.

The surprise of the night came when Kathy Winston drove Team Suzuki to a win in freestyle. Her high flying jumps, wheelies and donuts made her hard to beat.

Monster Racing Results:

Round One:
Ninja Turtle over Reptoid
Monster Mutt beat Team Suzuki
Grave Digger over Godzilla

Semi finals:
Team Suzuki (fast loser) beat Ninja Turtle
Grave Digger over Monster Mutt

Final:
Grave Digger over Team Suzuki

Freestyle Results:
Godzilla 23
Reptoid 26
Team Suzuki 28* winner
Monster Mutt 24
Turtle 22
Grave Digger 26