Weekend Race Recap
Friday Night
Roberts Municipal Stadium was the place to be tonight in Evansville as an awesome crowd was rocking for the Subway, 1-800 SAFE AUTO Thunder Nationals brought to you by series sponsor Advance Auto Parts. "Action Packed", was the theme of the show tonight as the Thunder Nationals brought in not only wheelie contests, racing and freestyle, but wowed the crowd with a donut contest as well.
Quadzilla kicked off our Subway Wheelie contest with a score of 17 by our Army Strong judges. Freedom Force was up next but encountered some technical difficulties at the line and wasn't able to make his run. He headed to the pits to get it fixed and ready for racing. A score of 18 edged out Quadzilla for the lead as Martial Law stormed across the stacks for some big air. Devastator cruised onto the floor with authority and stuck his front tires up on the crush cars to size them up as he readied for his approach. With a quick bop of the throttle he poured on just enough Torco to sail up, stick the rear bumper in the cars and walk it out across the stack. Roberts Stadium went crazy! Our first shot of massive air! He earned a 29 to put himself way out front. With the bullseye on his back, he watched Rolling Thunder in hopes that his 29 would be good enough. Rolling Thunder caught a quick whiff of air but couldn't keep it up on the stacks to walk it out. He scored a 16 and Devastator walked away the clear winner.
Thunder National Racing proved interesting with only a five truck field and the Diamond Equipment first round was full of hot action. Rolling Thunder was in our number one spot tonight with the bye, but the officials didn't let him slide. He made a spectacular run getting the crowd psyched and on their feet for the match up between Martial Law and Quadzilla. Martial Law edged out a win and quickly headed to the pits to check out our last match up of the round pairing Freedom Force against Devastator. Devastator took the win on a hole shot so to speak as his lightening reflexes shot him off the line. Quadzilla came back to race against Rolling Thunder in the Subway semi-finals and Rolling Thunder gave it all he had to get the win. Devastator was riding high after the win in the Subway Wheelie contest but Martial Law was prepared. Both drivers gunned it as soon as the light hit green, but Martial Law made it over the NGK Spark Plugs World Finals finish line. That set up a great final against Rolling Thunder. Roberts was rocking and the fans had the wave goin'. This was for the championship of the night in the 1 800 SAFE AUTO finals. Both trucks skyed off the light, but Martial Law prevailed! He was so pumped up that instead of shooting the shirt from the t-shirt cannon, he went in the stands!!!
60 seconds was all you had in the US Army donut contest to show us what you got. Quadzilla rolled out to a 17 early and Freedom Force was not a match for him posting an 11. Martial Law's adrenaline was still pumping after the win in racing finals as he took the lead with a 20. The Army Strong judges were really making them work! Rolling Thunder came out of the tunnel as if he had something to prove and prove it he did. He circled up slowly with wide turns and kept getting faster and faster and as he gained speed, his spiral got smaller and smaller. It wasn't long before he was in a whirling tight donut with one front tire off the ground and the others diggin', clawin', scratchin' at the concrete in an amazing whirl of excitement. It didn't take our Army Strong judges to decide and it was a perfect 30. Devastator had some tough score to beat. His donuts were good, just not good enough to match that crazy run by Rolling Thunder.
Up next, what we had all been waiting for.........the Deckers Wreckers Freestyle showdown. Three different winners tonight from our other three contests, so we had to wait to see who wanted it bad enough. Quadzilla woke up the crowd with two hits on the cars for air matched with a donut in the middle and two more hits to earn a 16. Freedom Force decided against the donut and went for all crush cars to earn an 11. Martial Law wanted more accolades for the night and was strong on the floor to post a 24. Rolling Thunder zipped around the floor in some impressive half eights for his four hits on the crush cars and then flew into an amazing donut and in the middle of his donut, he threw his hands out the windows of the truck! That was one bad run. Rolling Thunder wowed the judges and fans alike for another perfect score! 30!!! Devastator was prepared to throw some air at that thirty and used five hits on the cars paired with quick turns and monster air to earn a 26. It was Rolling Thunder for the win, and as I always say, "Nothin' sweeter, than a repeater."
I can't wait to see what these Monsters have in store for me tomorrow night! It was crazy!
Saturday Night
With an near full house in attendance, Roberts Municipal Stadium let our Thunder National drivers know that they were ready to get the show kicked off with a bang.
The Subway wheelie competition was first on the list on our numerous events to take place. Freedom Force blew to the line and after a good test, started off the night with a cool 16. Evansville's own Quadzilla was pumped up by the home crowd and skyed up on the cars as our Army Strong judged handed him out a 20 for some kickin' air. Martial Law marched to the Advance Auto Parts starting line. He sized up the stack and launched the truck to a 17. Rolling Thunder and Devastator were waiting in the pits, sizing up the competition. Still trying to knock off Quadzilla, Rolling Thunder bopped some Torco into the motor to sky up early, but came down on the stack near the NGK Monster Jam World Finals finish line. Scores were up and a total of 19 was close but no cigar. Devastator dominated the Subway Wheelie contest last night, but his work was cut out for him. The front tires rolled up on the stack as he sized up the crush cars. With the green light from the tech officials he launched the truck and it was a while before he came back down. Army Strong judges held the cards high for a 26! Devastators sky high wheelie took the win!!!!
Straight line racing was next and the crowd was psyched. Our lucky draw of the night with a number 1 was Martial Law, and again our technical officials didn't let him slide. He had to make the run just like everyone else, even though there was no truck in the other lane. He could have just eased his truck across the crush cars, but he made the fans go wild as he caught air and landed with the rear tires on the cars at the NGK Monster Jam World Finals finish line. Quadzilla paired up with Devastator on the Advance Auto Parts starting line and he was looking to keep Devastator from moving on since he was riding high after the tremendous air from winning the Subway wheelie competition. Both trucks were flying, but Devastator edged out Quadzilla. Rounding out our Diamond Equipment opening round was the pairing of Freedom Force and Rolling Thunder. The light went green and Rolling Thunder mashed the throttle and took out Freedom Force. Quadzilla came back as the fast loser to race a tough Martial Law but proved no match. Martial law took the victory in the first match of our Subway semifinals. Devastator was feeding off the crowd as he lined up against Rolling Thunder. When the light broke green, the throttles were mashed and a close finish ensued. Devastator edged him out to advance to the 1 800 Safe Auto Racing Finals. The crowd was on their feet with an awesome wave! They staged, they fired, the light went green. Both trucks went bid, but Martial Law came out on top! He repeated as the racing champion this weekend.
Our Thunder National drivers scoped out the cement last night and got a real feel for the surface and what it was going to take to spark the crowd in the US Army donut contest. Freedom Force, with brand new tires, spiraled around the donut area for an 11. Devastator looked as if he worked out some kinks from last night and donuted his way to a 19. Quadzilla took a lap around the stadium to size up the area and work out his game plan. His spiral started slow and wide, but as he excelerated, that spiral became tighter and he almost had the cyclone goin'. The crowd was impressed as were the Army Strong judges who awarded him a 25. Rolling Thunder waited in the Subway tunnel knowing that the bar was set high and he had to bring his "A" game. He slowly whirled, then the tires finally grabbed and it wasn't long before he was in a full out cyclone complete with his hands out the window in a dizzying blur. No one was in their seats as the judged showed the score. 10, 10, 10! Another perfect 30 for Rolling Thunder.
The excitement was far from over. We still have the Deckers Wreckers freestyle competition to go! Freedom Force, first out of the shoot, came on and fired the crowd for an 11. Quadzilla mixed it up with some hits on the crush cars paired with a donut to earn a 17. Martial Law wanted to taste victory again tonight, and showed his competitive style with air over the crush cars on five dramatic hits. The Army Strong judges gave him a respectable 20. It was going to take either some big air or a crazy cyclone to wow this crowd. Devastator hit the crush cars for five powerful hits really mashing the first car and catching the sky! It was crazy! He earned a 24 with Rolling Thunder waiting in the Subway Tunnel. Fired up from the US Army donut competition, he knew he had to aim for the rafters to beat Devastator and his 24 run. He decided to leave the donut in the pits and went all out on the stacks, sailing as if he had wings. By the time the light went red, everyone was on their feet as "Thunderstruck" rang out through the building. Before he even knew the score Rolling Thunder was out of the truck and saw the score. He immediately pumped his fist as he saw the 26 materialize. He had done it again. Rolling Thunder reigned in the Deckers Wreckers Freestyle.
By announcers Leslie Mears and Larry Naston
