Weekend Race Recap
One more truck and driver were added to the field of qualified teams in the Monster Jam NGK Sparkplug World Finals in Vegas. Dawn Creten and Scarlet Bandit will return for another shot at the World titles that are again up for grabs. Madusa is the only women to ever win a World title in Vegas, but I don't think it would bother Dawn one bit to be the second. She was presented her Qualifying flag in Tucson, Az. and then went on to show why she is a World finalist. She made the main event of racing, only to come up a half truck length short of winning. In the Wheelie Contest she tied for 3rd and then in Donuts and Freestyle, she was once again a front runner. But the night belonged to Charlie Paukin and GraveDigger. They won it ALL!! Everything. Every event, every race, evey competition. But, as Charlie himself said at shows close. Everyone of the trucks were awesome. The judges did not do a just job of scoring, and credit needs to be given were credit is due. He was refering to the super freeestyle runs put in by all of the trucks but especially the killer job Jimmy Creten and Bounty Hunter did. Jimmy is always one of the top guys and sometimes the legend of GraveDigger keeps the Bounty Hunter out of victory lane. All that really means is the fans are the winners. Jimmy is going to go as hard as possible, no matter what, but add in the "free points" Digger gets for being Digger, and Jimmy seems to elevate his game.
Rod Wood and McGruff had a tough start to the night. He lost a tranny after his last Shywheelie attempt, but made it back for the Donut and Freestyle segments of Monster Jam. With Rod out, it made for a 6 trcuk field in racing. Brackets are as follows:
Round 1
Scarlet Bandit vs. Blue Thunder Bandit wins
Bounty Hunter defeats Donkey Kong
GraveDigger wins against Monster Mutt
Semi Final
Scarlet Bandit vs. Bounty Hunter Scarlet Bandit wins again
Blue Thunder (returns as fast loser) vs. GraveDigger Digger wins
Final
GraveDigger vs. Scarlet Bandit Digger wins
Wheelie Contest Scores:
McGruff 22
Scarlet bandit 26
Donkey Kong 17
Monster Mutt 16
Blue Thunder 27
Bounty Hunter 26
GraveDigger 30
Donut Contest Scores:
McGruff 20
Scarlet Bandit 23
Donkey Kong 19
Blue Thunder 27
Monster Mutt 25
Bounty Hunter 29
GraveDigger 30
Freestyle Scores:
McGruff 20
Scarlet Bandit 20
Donkey Kong 22
Monster Mutt 17
Blue Thunder 23
Bounty Hunter 28
GraveDigger 30
SATURDAY
Bounty Hunter ended GraveDigger reign in Tucson. After Friday night going completely GraveDiggers way and a little to driver Charlie Paukins' dismay. He wants to win fair and square and he let the judges know it. In the end the competitions were off the hook and the real winners were the fans. Everyone of the drivers stepped up their games and laid down an impressive day of Monster Jam. The racing was as close as could be, I'm still waiting and hoping for a Blue Thunder, Bounty Hunter match up. The 2 former teammates have ran each other this year, I just have not seen it. Both Linsey Weenk and Jimmy Creten are 2 of the most competetive guys in Monster Jam and I would love to see that match up come to fruition. I know they would both run their equipment in the ground to beat one another then high five and hug at race end.
A new rule in '08 for Monster jam and the fan judged events. If a competition ends in a tie, the Hot Rod Officials hold a final point, which a is awarded to the truck that the Official deem earned it. Today it was used twice. Once in the Donut Competition, and then once in Freestyle. Both times, I feel the Hot Rod Official made the right call, but the fans, not so much. Monster mutt came out on top of a 3 way tie in the Donut Competion, which is always a thrill to have Mike Wine make an appearance in victory lane and get a super excited interview. the man loves being the Mutt, and he love Monster Jam and he especially loves the FANS!!
Bounty Hunter came out on top over GraveDigger in the final Freestyle Competiton on Saturday night. Both Charlie and Jimmy were doing everything possible in the Tucson Arena. Slap Wheelies, walking Donuts, big air, you name it the either tried it or did it, including a reverse jump from the Bounty Hunter.
Racing Bracket Saturday 2pm:
Round 1
Bounty Hunter vs. Donkey Kong Bounty Hunter wins
Monster Mutt wins over Scarlet Bandit
GarveDigger gets the win on McGruff
Semi Final:
Monster Mutt vs. Bounty Hunter Bounty Hunter wins
graveDigger vs. Scarlet Bandit (returns as fast loser) Digger wins
Final:
Bounty Hunter vs. GraveDigger
In a race that had Digger bicycle on 2 wheels because of too much traction, and Bounty Hunter sliding out due to no traction, both drivers showed their skill in gathering it all back in. In a photo finish Bounty Hunter came out on top.
Racing Bracket Saturday Night:
Round 1
GraveDigger bye run
Donkey Kong vs. Blue Thunder DK wins
Monster Mutt loses to Scarlet Bandit
Bounty Hunter wins over McGruff
Semi Final:
GraveDigger vs. Donkey Kong GraveDigger goes to the final
Scarlet Bandit wins over teammate Bounty Hunter
Final:
GraveDigger wins the main event over Dawn Creten and Scarlet Bandit. Charlie and Digger had to work for it. Dawn was right there in the CSK ride pushing him the whole way.
Saturday 2pm Wheelie Contest Scores:
McGruff DNS
Scarlet Bandit 19
Donkey Kong 21
Monster Mutt 20
Bkue Thunder 26
Bounty Hunter 26
GraveDigger 29 Diggers only win all day Saturday
Saturday Night Wheelie Contest Scores:
McGruff 24
Scarlet Bandit 23
Donkey Kong 22
Monster Mutt 24
Blue Thunder 24
Bounty Hunter 27
GraveDigger 26
Saturday 2pm Donut Contest Scores:
McGruff 18
Scarlet Bandit 23
Donkey Kong 21
Blue Thunder 21
Monster Mutt 27
Bounty Hunter 28
GraveDigger 18
Saturday Night Donut Contest Scores:
McGruff 26
Scarlet Bandit 18
Donkey Kong 26
Blue Thunder 27
Monster Mutt 31 Monster Mutts first win of the weekend
Bounty Hunter 30
GraveDigger 30
Saturday 2pm Freestyle Scores:
McGruff 14
Scarlet Bandit 18
Donkey Kong 12
Monster Mutt 15
Blue Thunder 21
Bounty Hunter 25
GraveDigger 24
Saturday Night Freestyle Scores:
McGruff 3
Scarlet Bandit 22
Donkey kong 25
Monster Mutt 26
Blue Thunder 26
Bounty Hunter 31
GraveDigger 30
SUNDAY
Monster Jam came to a close in Tucson. McGruff had mechanical problems at the start and end of the show, but did well in the middle. GraveDigger had a mechanical that cost him his freestyle run, which the crowd did not like. With that much horsepower and that many moving parts things break. The fans got a great show from everyone. The once gray floor of the arena is not tire black after all of the fun games and activities on the Hot Rod Raceway.
Racing Bracket:
Round 1
Bounty Hunter vs. Blue Thunder Blue Thunder won
Scarlet Bandit vs. Donkey Kong Bandit wins
GraveDigger vs. Monster Mutt Digger wins
Semi Final
Blue Thunder vs. Donkey Kong (returns as fast loser) Thunder wins
Scarley Bandit vs/. GraveDigger Digger wins
Final
GraveDigger vs. Blue Thunder GraveDigger wins hands down
Wheelie Scores:
McGruff 23
Scarlet Bandit 23
Donkey Kong 19
Monster Mutt 24
Blue Thunder 23
Bounty Hunter 28
Digger 30
Donut Scores:
McGruff 22
Scarlet Bandit 20
Donkey Kong 13
Blue Thunder 22
Monster Mutt 28
Bounty Hunter 25
GraveDigger 27
Freestyle Scores:
McGruff 7
Scarlet Bandit 19
Donkey Kong 20
Monster Mutt 22
Blue Thunder 22
Bounty Hunter 27
GraveDigger 23
