Weekend Race Recap
by Fernando Rubio and Scott Douglass
RACING RESULTS
Fast Qualifier - Grave Digger
1st round - Escalade def Grave Digger; Blue Thunder def El Matador; Safe Auto Minimizer def Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle; Maximum Destruction def Superman; Batman def Monster Mutt Dalmatian (Monster Mutt advanced to round two as fast loser)
2nd round - Escalade def Monster Mutt; Safe Auto Minimizer def Blue Thunder; Maximum Destruction def Batman (Monster Mutt advanced to semifinals as fast loser)
Semifinals - Monster Mutt def Escalade; Maximum Destruction def Safe Auto Minimizer
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE - MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION DEFEATED MONSTER MUTT DALMATIAN
FREESTYLE RESULTS
MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION 27
Blue Thunder 26
Monster Mutt Dalmatian 25
Escalade 25
Superman 21
Grave Digger 21
Batman 20
Safe Auto Minimizer 18
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 17
Greetings Monster Jam Fans from El Paso, Texas!!!! Beautiful border city with Mexico that has welcomed Monster Jam for years having now more than ever a bigger Monster Jam fan base. An incredible sold out Sunbowl Stadium of the University of Texas at El Paso.
We had a fantastic weather here with a high temperarture of almost 78 degrees. Hundreds of people were were since early in the afternoon at the Built Ford Tough party at the pits, followed by a great night of competition.
At pre-show we had Street Warriors racing, and Democross racing. Most of our competitors from El Paso, and Las Cruces, NM.
El Pasoans were just ready to see the best of their favorite drivers and trucks, and no need to say that they got just what they expected and more. Starting from the Monster Jam race qualifying where George Balhan in Escalade was penalized with 5 points for hitting a poll. The Best time in qualifying went for Pablo Haffaker in Grave Digger with a 29.37.
In First round of Monster racing Tony Farell's Blue Thunder died after the first jump of obstacles giving an automatic win to Safe Auto Minimizer. John Seasock's Batman got in trouble as well while running against Max D. Batman had a 10 sec penalty after hitting a poll and going of the racing track. Monster Mutt Dalmatian came as a fast loser with a second chance to compete against Escalade. Escapade had a 5 sec penalty and Candice Jolly in Monster Mutt won the semifinal to against Max D in the finals. Tonight it has been a great night for the only lady competing tonight. The tension was at its max, when we heard that Max D was having some mechanical problems before going into racing finals. He was even put in the 1 minute warning to get his engine fired up, and precisely 30 seconds before the time was over Tom Meentz was back on the race track to beat Monster Mutt in a very close race.
The excitement was not over yet, as we still had Monster Jam Freestyle. Candice Jolly in Monster Mutt after being a great finalist in racing and for the first time in a televised show, wanted to get a victory tonight. For tonight, trucks had 40 more feet to maneuver as they were driving on a cyclone track. And also had a chance to run for more time, as we had the 90 second regulation time, plus 30 sec bonus, and another 30 sec super bonus. Great speed and incredible 45 degree jumps over the sand hill have Candice 25 points. A short while after we had Escalade also going crazy in freestyle getting 25 points. Blue Thunder came back for Freestyle with the truck repaired and gave it all out for El Pasoans getting 26 points. Grave Digger gave had a flat tire in the first half of regulation time, but that was no reason for him to stop.Pablo used almost the whole regulation time with a flat tire, and after being done, have El paso, one more minute of great freestyle- with a flat tire!!-, that's what makes of Pablo Haufakker a great competitor always thinking of the fans as the most important part of the show!. And right when we thought it was a tough score to beat, here comes Maximum Destruction. Max D had some steering problems since racing, but tonight, no matters what he was determined to win. Incredible jumps and speedy cyclones made his truck give up on the steering, but that was no reason for him to stop. He started going in reverse in order to to complete his regulation time and extra bonuses. The truck's hood came off, and still no reason to stop. That really impressed the judges for a great score of 27 points. Tom Meentz had just won a Double Down for racing and Freestyle. Bravo for Tom who immediately went to the stands and gave away his helmet to a little kid who was holding a sign saying: Go Max D!!
Well folks in El Paso, it has been a great show here once again. We couldn't ask for more. Full stadium, great applauding crowd, great competitors..... what a show....what a night of competition. Thanks El Paso!!
See you in 2009 for another Monster Jam event!!!!!!!!!!!!!
