Monster Photos: Monster Nationals – Glendale, AZ 2011

Event: Monster Nationals
Venue: University of Phoenix Stadium
Location: Glendale, Arizona
Date: March 26th, 2011
Photographer: Lauren Z. Bonar

Lineup: 1/2 Pint (Travis Sturges), Black Knight (Dave Rife), Chalkboard Chuck (Jeff Hatten), E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #15 (Rick Long), El Perro Loco (Rod Wood), Lucas Oil Stabilizer (Bobby Holman), Nasty Boy (Ronnie Sturges), Star Marshal (Dave Radzierez), Unnamed & Untamed (Sam Sturges)

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Event Recap: While most of the monster truck world’s attention was on the World Finals in Las Vegas, the E3 Spark Plugs Monster Nationals Presented By Lucas Oil was having their own big stadium event at Glendale, Arizona’s University of Phoenix Stadium. The event featured nine top trucks including tour regulars Bigfoot, Lucas Oil Stabilizer, Star Marshal and Chalkboard Chuck. The regulars would take on some great competition including Unnamed & Untamed, El Perro Loco, Nasty Boy, Black Knight and 1/2 Pint.
Bobby Holman took home the top time in qualifying and marched his way through the brackets in racing, defeating Sam Sturges in Unnamed & Untamed in the semis to make his way to the championship race. Ronnie Sturges in Nasty Boy turned some heads as he ran strong all night, knocking off defending series champion Rick Long in Bigfoot in the semi-finals. Despite a strong effort from Sturges, Holman was too strong in the finals, taking Lucas Oil Stabilizer to the big win.
Freestyle started off with an incredible run from Travis Sturges in 1/2 Pint, setting the bar very high for the competition. After Star Marshal and Chalkboard Chuck filled the clock and a solid effort from Ronnie Sturges, Rod Wood in El Perro Loco kicked it up a notch with some wild wheelies and donuts. Dave Rife put forth an impressive performance for his first time in Black Knight, but then it was time for Unnamed & Untamed. Sam roared out onto the track determined to put on a great show for his hometown friends and family and he would do just that, putting together a run with great momentum that saw big air, and great wheelies throughout. Only the tour regulars Holman and Long were left and Sam’s run would be tough to beat.
Holman brought Lucas Oil Stabilizer out looking to double down, but a rear steering problem would hamper him after a good start. Long brought Bigfoot to the track and while he didn’t come close to matching Sam’s momentum, he did put together a great run that had some very big moves. It was a tough decision and the officials awarded the win to Bigfoot, but there was little doubt that Sam had proven his team can still run with the biggest names in the sport when they compete out west. A big thanks to everyone with Family Events for having us at the event, be watching for TMB TV’s Original Series coverage coming up on April 13th.
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