Weekend Race Recap
Friday Night Results
By: Joe Lowe
Fans of Monster Jam came out Friday night to see the big trucks run in the Colonial Center for the first of three big events this weekend. They certainly got what they wanted: fast action, big thrills, and more than a few surprises.
The first surprise was how incredibly close the competition was. Randy Moore drove his War Wizard to wins in both the Wheelie Contest and Racing. It looked as though War Wizard was going to dominate the night but Randy Brown aboard Grave Digger pulled out the win in the Freestyle Competition. Digger won over Steve Sims and his Stone Crusher truck by 3 points 29 to 26.
Highlights of the night included Stone Crushers wild donut, Diggers high jumps over the car/van stack and donuts plus the close racing between El Toro Loco and Stone Crusher.
The night’s action included Quad Wars with Team Florida defeating South Carolina in the main. South Carolina and Florida Teams both vowed to continue the battle on Saturday with even more determination to bring home the win.
The Fearless Flores Family brought their Globe of Death to the Colonial Center for the first time. The world’s youngest motorcycle daredevil, Velorian Flores was first in the globe, thrilling Monster Jam fans with his riding ability in the Globe. Next was Dad, who went over the top in the metal Globe. Finally Dad, Grand dad, and Mom all rode their motorcycles together in the Globe bringing to three the total number of riders in the globe at one time. Fans loved the two wheeled action.
When all was said and done fans vowed to return for more Monster Jam on Saturday and to watch the action on Speed weekly.
Competition Results:
Truck Wheelie Freestyle
Eliminator 12 20
Mopar 19 18
Stone Crusher 16 26
War Wizard 29 24
El Toro Loco 16 18
Grave Digger 22 29
Racing Results:
Round One:
Grave Digger beat Eliminator
War Wizard over Mopar Magic
Stone Crusher defeated El Toro Loco
Semi Finals:
Grave Digger over fast loser El Toro Loco
War Wizard beat Stone Crusher
Finals:
War Wizard took out Grave Digger
Saturday Afternoon
By: Joe Lowe
Monster Jam began its second day at the Colonial Center in Columbia S. C. Saturday morning with the Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits at 11am. The action began at 2pm with Greg Adams rolling his new Eliminator truck on its side at the beginning of the wheelie contest. The side roll was so hard on the truck that is cracked the frame forcing the truck out of competition for the day.
Still others were on hand keep the action moving. Ricky Ownley drove Mopar magic hard earning high scores in both wheelie and freestyle competitions. Randy Moore took his War Wizard to another race win over Grave Digger. Both Steve Sims and Randy Brown kept the pressure up in Stone Crusher and Grave Digger.
Quad Wars saw Team Florida and Team South Carolina battle it out with Florida getting the win in the main. Mini Bikes with riders as young at 5 up to 15 gave fans a preview of the kind of racers that will be competition in the future.
The Fearless Flores Family again brought their Globe of Death act to the South Carolina fans. The highlight of the afternoon was 5 year old Velorian (the worlds youngest motorcycle daredevil) take on the globe with his motorcycle and his mom and dad Richardo and Chella go three inside the Globe. Fans loved the action.
The new silent judge was required to break ties in the wheelie contest and in Freestyle.
Results:
Truck Wheelie Freestyle
Eliminator 15 rolled did not compete
Mopar Magic 27 23
Stone Crusher 30 winner 28
War Wizard 27 26
El Toro Loco 22 24
Grave Digger 30 28 Winner
Race Results:
Round One:
Digger bye due to Eliminator being forced out
War Wizard over Mopar Magic
Stone Crusher beat El Toro Loco
Semi Finals:
Grave Digger over fast loser El Toro Loco
War Wizard beat Stone Crusher
Finals:
War Wizard beat Grave Digger
Fans stood in line over an hour to get autographs from the drivers after the event.
Saturday Night
By: Joe Lowe
"I am a bit tired of being the bridesmaid maybe tonight I'll be the bride", said Randy Brown before climbing aboard Grave Digger to begin the third and final event in the Colonial Center in Columbia South Carolina. Brown had done well in Freestyle and in the Wheelie competitions but the racing crown had eluded him until the end.
Team Grave Digger had their work cut out for them. In the afternoons event after being beaten by Randy Moore and War Wizard the Digger crew helped replace Wizards started so Moore could be in the freestyle competition. "We work together in the pits but when we go to the line it is every man for himself," said Brown in a post event interview. "I just really wanted to get a clean sweep for the fans and to earn my way to the World Finals in Las Vegas".
It was in fact Grave Diggers night. During the Wheelie Contest the first truck again rolled. This time it was Ricky Onely in Mopar Magic. Magic was able to compete for the night and did a great job without the truck body which was destroyed in the early rollover.
The judges were hard and unforgiving. Digger won the wheelie contest with a score of 22. Yes, 22 was the high score for the event. In fact, 28 was enough to give the might Digger the win in freestyle over Stone Crushers 26. No 30's in Columbia on Saturday night.
Quad Wars South Carolina team captain Randy Dinkins rallied the fans with words of fairness and good solid sportsmanship. He called for Team Florida to be better losers and better winners in the future. His plea seemed to fall on deaf ears in the Florday pits but the fans in North Carolina loved what he had to say.
The fearless Flores Family again rocked the house with their Globe of Death act with three adults aboard three motorcycles cheating what appeared to be sure injury when the bikes collided. They never did much to the surprise and relief of the fans.
The fans also were special VIP guests for the swearing in of 16 new U.S. Air Force Airmen before the event began. Lt. Colonel Moore conducted the very public and most moving ceremony.
Results:
Truck Wheelie Freestyle
Mopar Magic 15 rolled 19
Stone Crusher 19 26
War Wizard 18 23
El Toro Loco 13 20
Grave Digger 22 winner 28 Winner
Race Results:
Round One:
War Wizard bye run as the afternoon race winner
El Toro Loco beat Stone Crusher
Grave Digger over Mopar Magic
Round Two Semi Finals:
War Wizard beat round one fast lover Stone Crusher
Grave Digger defeated El Toro Loco
Finals:
Grave Digger beat War Wizard in a very close race.
The night seemed to be magic with fans, drivers and crew all calling the event one of the best they had seen in a long, long time.
