Friday - 7:30PM

      A winter weather advisory plagued the entire Dayton area but that didn't stop thousands of fan from wanting to see there favorite Monster Trucks. These awesome fans were on hand to see for the first time ever at the Nutter Center, eight Monster Trucks instead of six (like normal) and also roundy round racing better known as Chicago style. All of this action took place on a concrete floor at what we like to call Thunder Nationals.

      Wheelies were first and all trucks scored well with the fans seeing each truck do two hits a piece. Bad Habit was first out and set the pace with a solid score of 21. Thrasher was one better with a 22, but Rap Attack was better and took a 24 for the new lead. That score would hold as Full Boar scored a 23, Bad News took a 20 and Monster Mutt wheelied a 21. Devastator looked like he would take the lead away with two great wheelies but also fell short with a 22. Grave Digger was last to go and flew the Black and Green wrecking machine high in the air for the win with a score of 26.

      Racing was next and saw two Thunder National veterans in the finals going head to head and it wasn't Grave Digger. Full Boar and Bad News squared off in the finals and Full Boar came out on top as the winner after the crowd booed him in the semi Finals. Ed Eckert made it to the finals because Rap Attack hit a turning pole in the semi finals for a five second penalty giving the win to Full Boar to advance. Bad news made it to the finals by beating Grave Digger in round one and Monster Mutt in the semi finals. in other races Monster Mutt beat Devastator in round one and Rap Attack defeated Bad Habit.

      Doughnuts were next and we had the best trucks on hand to do them. The floor was still slick at this point in the night which gave some trucks problems. Bad Habit was first to go and scored a 22 and Rap Attack only got a 17. The shocker was Thrasher as he caught an edge on the floor and flipped the truck on its side. The crowd loved it but Pat Summa wasn't to happy and scored an 18 for the effort. Full Boar was next and a pro at Doughnuts had the fans screaming for more and took the lead with a perfect 30. Bad News, also a veteran, scored a 30 which gave us a tie. Devastator tried to copy but wasn't enough as he took a 24 and Monster Mutt fell short with a 27. Grave Digger knew he had to turn it up and when he was done spinning he too scored a 30 for a three way tie. The extra judge on hand scored the event one point higher to Digger giving him the win.

      The fans thought they had seen it all but freestyle was next. Thrasher was out due to damage in the doughnut contest so Bad Habit was first and scored a 19 for the start. Rap Attack and Full Boar tied with 24's as Bad News only mustered up a 20. Monster Mutt also tried to knock off the score of 24 but he too fell short with a 21. This left two trucks to go with plenty of room but not much of anything to hit. Devastator did his best but could only get the judges to score him a 21 leaving Grave Digger with the chance to win. With fast cyclones and good air, Digger was able to claim another win by scoring a 27 for his third win of the night.

      The only thing I would change for the next two shows would be the weather.  

 
Saturday - 2:00PM
      Well, the weather changed for the better as sunny skies rained down out side and the heat built up on the inside. We started the afternoon off with an awesome opening ceremony with a tribute to our heros. This was fitting as we were in the home town of Wright Patterson Air Force base.

      The Advance Auto parts wheelie competition was first and Thrasher opened it up with two great wheelies for a score of 22 Bad Habit was next and fell short with a 20 but the wow of the afternoon was Dave Rappach in the Rap Attack truck. Rap Attack stunednot only the crowd and judges but myself with a wheelie that walke the whole floor of the Nutter Center. When Rap Attack was done the crowd was on there feet for a score of 27. Full Boar was next and scored a 20 and Bad News followed with a 21. Devastator done his best scoring a 22 and Monster Mutt could only sit up for a 23. This left us with Grave Digger to go and he done every thing to knock off Rap Attack but couldn't do it with a score of 24.

      Racing saw the same two trucks make it to the finals but this time Bad News was the victorious one. Bruce Haney was torn up about the win as he had been given the dog tags from a fallen soilder to have with him in truck for a final ride. When Bruce told this to the fans they all cheered for the champion. Full Boar again was fast by beating Devastator in round one and Grave Digger in the semi finals. Digger still hasn't figured out this tricky race course but did get a win in round one over Bad Habit. Rap Attack also saw a victory in round one by defeating Monster Mutt only to brake a rear gear that put him out for the day.

      Doughnuts were next and had a new twist for the first time there was a challenge set by Full Boar and Bad News to take on Grave Digger and Monster Mutt in a team doughnut competition. The fans went crazy and the two teams battled it out. There was enough room on the floor for two trucks to do their doughnuts at the same time and when it was done the Challengers beat the challengies for the win with a score of 28 over 27.

      Freestyle was again fast and furrious as Thrasher took the first score with a 15. Bad Habit stepped it up and took the lead with a score of 19 only to get beat out from Full Boar and Bad News with scores of 21. Devastator tried to take it away but he too scored a 21 for a three way tie. Monster Mutt a crowd favorite spun his way to the lead with some good air and fast doughnuts for a 24. This gave Digger some room and after the sixty seconds was up and then some he came away with the win with a score of 27. The Judges were right on it in every competition and the fans loved the new form of racing along with the eight trucks, so we will see what happens tonight when more Thunder Nationals hit the Nutter Center.

  Saturday - 7:30PM

      WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A sold out crowd and standing room tickets is all that was available for Thunder Nationals here at the Ervin J. Nutter center.

      More surprises were in store as Grave Digger was shut out in racing not winning the finals at all for the weekend. Also the young gun 24 year old Ohio native won his first racing title this year in a battle against Grave Digger, and Full Boar had the first standing ovation that I have seen for his spectacular Cyclone that gave him the win in the doughnut competition.

      Wheelies were first and Digger was able to get a win with a perfect wheelie scoring a 26. From there we had a three way tie for second with scores of 24 from Monster Mutt, Devastator and Rap Attack. Bad Habit was next with a 23 and Full Boar followed with a 22. Bad News and Thrasher rounded out the field with a 21.

      Racing was awesome as the crowd watched eight trucks battle it out in Chicago style racing. Bad Habit was the big winner of the night by beating Full Boar in round one and Monster Mutt in the semi finals and Digger in the finals. Grave Digger made it to the finals with wins over Thrasher in round one and Devastator in the semi's. Other wins came from Monster Mutt defeating Rap Attack in round one as well as Devastator beating Bad News.

      Doughnuts were next and should of been called the Cyclone competition as four trucks spun the wheels off to score very well. Full Boar took the win with a 30 followed Digger with a 29, Bad News with a 28 and Monster Mutt with a 25. Bad Habbit was next with a 24 followed by Devastator and Thrasher with a tie score of 16. Rap Attack had some mechanical problems and finished the contest with a 12.

      Freestyle was awesome and every one was gunning for Digger, but no truck was able to do it. Grave Digger took the weekend sweep in the freestyle competition with a score of 27 one point over a great run by Bad habit a score of 26. Full Boar and Monster Mutt were right behind the with good runs of 25 and Bad News and Rap Attack had scores of 24. This was a tight competition as you can tell from the scores as Devastator was next with a solid 22 followed by Thrasher with a 15 to round out the field.

      This was the most solid field of trucks I have ever seen at a Thunder Nationals event as there was plenty of winners and very few losers. I would pay double to see these same trucks run together again.

      Monster Jam Announcer: Greg Whitacre.