Damon first off congratulations on winning the 2009 Monster Jam NGK Spark Plugs World Finals freestyle championship!

MonsterJamOnline.com: Were you nervous after your run that there were so many big name trucks yet to run?

Damon: You know everyone thought that, but to be honest my nerves were already gone. I put in a really solid run that I was happy with and I filled the clock up. Getting into bonus time was one of my goals coming into the World Finals. I just wanted to fill up the run with as many big hits as possible and what ever happened, happened. I almost felt like, anyone who was going to beat me, was going to really beat me and they would deserve the title. To be honest I never thought that score would hold up. It’s pretty rare that a truck going out 14th or so, holds on to claim the title. I do have to say when there were 2 trucks left to go I was a little nervous (laughing). The whole freestyle champion title didn’t really hit me until the next day or so when I got home.

MonsterJamOnline.com: Damon you looked much more comfortable in the U.S. Air Force Afterburner then you did two years ago in your Las Vegas debut?

Damon: You know I never expected to win this title this year. To pull off the freestyle championship you need a lot of luck and a lot of skill. I have been putting in some really solid runs this year on the Monster Jam tour and I just looked at the World Finals as another stadium event. I had hurt my back a week prior doing some things around the house, and to be honest I was more worried about that holding up then I was about the pressure of freestyling. In a weird way, keeping my mind on my back almost helped me easy the rest of the pressures that come with the weekend in Las Vegas. A lot of people have asked me how I handled the pressure, and I think to myself, well I went up against Grave Digger in the opening round of racing so the pressure doesn’t get much bigger then that! Some people would think that taking down Dennis in racing would be a successful weekend in itself, but I’m never one to be content with small victories. My main goal for freestyle this year was to just put in the most solid run and fill up all the clock.

MonsterJamOnline.com: Did you have that freestyle run planned out, or was it spontaneous?

Damon: I pretty much knew what obstacles I wanted to hit, just not it what order. It’s funny you can only plan so much for the World Finals track, then they start brining out bread trucks and huge brush car piles and it throws off your whole game plan. I never felt as if I had completed everything and I needed to just make the truck go crazy, there was so much stuff to hit, I just wanted to keep going. Some trucks out there favor different tracks and for that day at that time, my truck was set up really well. Big thanks to my crew chief Jessie Barden, the truck was so tight all weekend!

MonsterJamOnline.com: Are you going to have some pretty big shoes to fill next year?

Damon: You know, I don’t think so. The way I have always looked at it since back in my Supercross days is that the next year is the next year and nothing more. Come January next year we start off fresh. Now I know some people will look at next years World Finals as a chance for me to follow up on my freestyle title, but for me it’s just another opportunity to go as big as I can. I want to put on the best show for the best fans in the world. I mean that, it’s all about the fans, if I win or don’t win, I just need to make that U.S. Air Force Afterburner complete the best run possible.

MonsterJamOnline.com: Who would you like to thank?

Damon: I first off would like to thank the United States Air Force for sponsoring the truck and for the amazing opportunity for me to compete in Monster Jam. My win was for them as much as it was for me. I would also like to thank my crew chief, Jessie Barden, who does an AMAZING job working on the truck. It was just in excellent shape all weekend and was a big part in me winning the championship. I also want to thank all of the guys at the shop that work on the truck and the body guys. The U.S. Air Force Afterburner is one of the best looking trucks week in week out and I own a lot to those guys. I would also like to thank Feld Entertainment, the operations department, all of the dirt and track crew guys and girls. Thank you to Ford, Advance Auto Parts, Safe Auto, Jack In the Box and all of the other major Monster Jam sponsors. I also have a few personal sponsors to thank such as Monster Energy, Yamaha, Alpinestars, Ogio, Dragon Fire Racing, Mechanics Wear and DVS Shoes. Big thanks to anyone else I forgot…look forward to seeing everyone next year!