Weekend Race Recap
The Rose Garden came to life with 8 of the top trucks and drivers on the world tour. If you look at the line up, anyone of the drivers has the talent to come away with a world championship. They started the night with a taste of freestyle competition with the wheelie contest. All of the trucks slammed the cars and tried their hardest to get the truck vertical and as far up in the air as possible. Charlie Paukin is one of the best ever in an arena setting and he proved it once again in Digger.
Scores:
Tropical Thunder 20
Captain USA 17
Obsession 20
Donkey Kong 24
BullDozer 21
Patriot 21
Max D 28
Digger 29
Racing was a drag race. Straight line, side by side, elimination racing. With an 8 truck field, you had to win it to stay in it. All of the drivers went with the "launch it" attitude. Instead of "tripping" the ramp, chopping the throttle and letting the nose of the truck drop to the finish line, they were all just flat footing it to the finish.
Brackets:
BullDozer defeat Obsession
Max over Tropical Thunder
Captain USA won the race vs. Donkey Kong
The Patriot took out Grave Digger
Semi Final
BullDozer lost to Max D
Captain USA had a mechanical gremlin and could not make the line, Donkey Kong went up against Patriot. Patriot wins
Final
Max D vs. Patriot Max wins in a photo finish
Freestyle, as always, ended the night. The trucks had limited space and obstacles, but that does not keep these guys from hanging it out, just ask Neil Elliot. Using the freestyle motocross landing ramp and all of the vans and cars, as well as blowing donuts and supersonic cyclones it was amazing.
Scores:
Captain USA 20
BullDozer 21
Obsession 21
Tropical Thunder 19
Donkey Kong 24
Max D 30
Digger 29
Saturday
The King of Arenas doubled down in Portland. Charlie Paukin and Grave Digger won the Wheelie contest and Freestyle. once again proving that he is one of the best ever in tight confines. The judges had their hands full with the scoring of the events tonight. All of the trucks and drivers performed like this was the the last time they would ever get the chance. As mentioned earlier, these are some of the best of the best in Monster Jam. The only thing holding them back a lack of room. Thru the wheelie contest to freestyle, they let it all hang out. Freestyle Motocross was also a part of the show, and I have not heard fans scream like that for freestyle in a while. Although, when hometown boy, and freestyle superstar Beau Bamburg is in the house, you know it is going to be off the hook. Hanging out back flips with variations like Kiss of Death, and no hander, knack knack no hander, and more. The crowd was blowing the roof off of the rose Garden. Pro Arena trucks were also a huge excitement tonight. Don Chester and major Rush once again thrilled the crowd as only Donny can.
Wheelie Scores:
Tropical Thunder 17
Captain USA 22
Obsession 20
Donkey Kong 24
BullDozer 22
The Patriot 22
Digger 29
Racing Brackets:
Max D lost a tranny during intros and was out of the wheelie contest and racing. With this, it made a 7 truck field, with Grave Digger getting a bye run and moving into the semi final.
Donkey Kong lost to Obsession
BullDozer beat Patriot
Tropical Thunder won his race vs. Captain USA
Semi Final
Obsession cut a great light and beat Grave Digger
Tropical Thunder powered to the win over BullDozer
Final
Tropical Thunder and Phil Foster came out the winner over Rick Swanson and Obsession
Freestyle Scores:
Captain USA 21
BullDozer 17
Obsession 15
Tropical Thunder 21
The Patriot 15
Donkey Kong 24
Max D 25
Digger 29
Sunday
Neil Elliot got into victory lane on the final day of Monster Jam in Portland. Charlie Paukin finally doubled down, and Beau Bamburg made the crowd scream. Foster and Tropical Thunder beat all comers in drag racing. Everyone he faced is a world championship caliber truck and he took them down one at a time.
Charlie and Grave Digger won all facets of freestyle. From the wheelie contest to the actual 60 second freestyle competition. The skywheelie Charlie put out was classic and vintage Charlie Paukin. Making the truck go completely vertical, 8 to 10 feet off the ground and stuffing the tailgate into the last crush car, is spectacular to watch, and Charlie and do it consistently. Beau Bamburg is one of the best freestyle riders to ever be a part of Monster Jam. The crowd loved the kid from Oregon, and he gave them a thrill that will no soon be forgotten. He did more variations of the back flip than you see at the X Games!!
Wheelie contest scores:
Tropical Thunder 21
Captain USA 19
Obsession 17
Donkey Kong 21
BullDozer 24
Patriot 20
Max D 27
Digger 30
Racing Brackets:
Max D vs. Tropical Thunder Max wins
Obsession beat Donkey Kong
Patriot won over BullDozer
Captain USA knocked out Digger
Semi Final
Max vs. Obsession Max wins
Captain USA lost to Patriot
Final
Max vs. Patriot Neil Elliot and Max D win main event
Freestyle Scores
Captain USA 16
BullDozer18
Tropical Thunder 17
Patriot 20
Max D 23
Digger 28
