Saturday

Monster Jam in Benton Missouri

It seemed like 20 years ago to be at a new racetrack but that is what was going on Saturday Night in Benton Missouri. For the first time ever Monster Jam was coming to the Benton Raceway Park. It was the best attended event in the facilities 9 years of business.

Monster Jam can sure bring them out. The sold out crowd was not to be disappointed. They were treated to action from start to finish and the best news of the night is that many who had never attended the races at the speedway were now aware of the great entertainment that is available weekly in their own back yard.

Five big trucks came out to compete for wins in the Wheelie contest, Racing, and Freestyle. It was all Grave Digger with veteran Gary Porter aboard.

Digger beat out Monster Mutt and King Krunch earning a one point win in donuts. Porter then dominated racing and finished with another close lead in freestyle.

A part of the event featured Quad Wars with Team Missouri defeating Team Arkansas in all heat races and the main. The local track provided a class of race cars featuring the pro-4s and an exhibition of the racing gators and mules.
Monster Mutt rolled in the wheelie contest forcing him out of racing but retuned to almost kick Grave Digger off the hill owned by the Grave Digger creator.

Race Results:
Round One:
King Krunch bye
Grave Digger beat El Matador
Bad News with another bye when Monster Mutt could not answer the call to the line

Semi Finals:
King Krunch with a close win over El Matador
Grave Digger beat Bad News

Finals
Grave Digger downed King Krunch

Other results:
Truck wheelie freestyle
Bad News 10 17
Monster Mutt 24 rolled 23
El Matador 23 22
King Krunch 17 26
Grave Digger 25* 27*
*Denotes winner

Sunday

Fathers Day was another hot day in Benton Missouri but that did not keep fans away from the Benton Racepark for the second and final event of the weekend. Several thousand fans ventured out to see the big boys run and after a brief Fathers Day ceremony the Monster Jam competitiors were ready to rock and roar.

Darren Basl spoiled Gary Porters hopes for a clean sweep as he drove his El Matador truck to a win in the wheelie competition. Grave Digger then came back to win both racing and Freestyle.

Equipment problems plagued King Krunch as David Smith had to sit out both the wheelie and racing part of the event to replace a broken flywheel. Smith made it up to the fans by giving them a three minute Freestyle. Grave Digger went last in freestyle and did a full four minutes. Judging stopped at 90 seconds for both trucks but as the drivers said, "the rest was for the fans".  Another casuality of the afternoon was Monster Mutt blowing a transmission at the end of his freestyle.  Mutt had to towed off the track before action could continue.

Other events included the Pro-4's with great racing. This was an exhibition of the type of racing action people are seeing each Friday here at Benton Racepark.

Quad Wars saw anothe clean sweep for Team Missouri and Captain Rusty Tanner. Team Arkansas led by Captain Ron Hill was unable to mount any type of challenge to the seasoned athletes from Team Missouri.

Race Results:

Round One

Monster Mutt bye

Bad News won when King Krunch could not answer the call

Grave Digger defeated El Matador

Semi-finals:

El Matador beat Monster Mutt

Grave Digger took out Bad News

Finals:

Grave Digger over El Matador

Other Results:

Truck                                            wheelie                                 Freestyle

El Matador                                    24*                                         22

Bad News                                     14                                           16

King Krunch                                  broke                                      26

Monster Mutt                                21                                          24

Grave Digger                                23                                          27*

* Denotes winner