Aaron’s All-American Dream Machine Sets World Speed Record At zMAX Dragway

March 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

(Concord, North Carolina – zMAX Dragway PR) – Today at zMAX Dragway, Randy Moore made the fastest quarter-mile pass ever in a monster truck at 96.80 mph.

Moore made several passes during the NOS Energy Test-N-Tune at zMAX Dragway, reaching speeds of nearly 90 mph, before turning in a run at 95.65 mph, then at 96.80 mph. The previous unofficial record was 93 mph, set at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee.

“We’re real excited,” said Moore. “That truck’s running great. We put the motor on kill and obviously it was on kill because we just threw the rods out of it and had a small fire, but that’s part of what it takes to set these records. But today was a big success, we basically ran 97 miles per hour and that bettered our mark from 93. We’re extremely happy.”

Randy Moore & Kirk Dabney's Aaron's All-American Dream Machine at zMAX Dragway.

On the final run of the day, while pushing the truck’s limits in an effort to reach 100 mph, the engine blew, ending the attempt.

“It’s amazing how quick you can get a 10,000 lb monster truck stopped when you’re on fire,” said Moore. “But it’s all good and we’ll come back from it. I really appreciate zMAX Dragway being behind us. We’ll come back here and we’ll get this goal set. We’re too close to it now. There will be another day and it will be real soon.”

The NOS Energy Test-N-Tune continues Saturday, March 24, at zMAX Dragway. Car and driver registration is only $20, spectators are only $5 and kids 13 and under are in free. Gates open at 9 a.m. and racing begins at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Buy three tickets and get one free, any day, at the greatest spectacle in drag racing, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 13-15, at zMAX Dragway. Tickets are available by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.zmaxdragway.com.

Connect with zMAX Dragway and stay up to speed on all the action at the Bellagio of drag strips on Facebook at www.facebook.com/zmaxdragway and by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zMAXDragway.

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BIGFOOT Teams Up with Robby Gordon & Speed Energy

March 15, 2012 by 6 Comments

(Charlotte, NC – SPEED Energy PR) – What is another form of racing that Robby Gordon can mark off his impressive list of racing series? If you guessed monster trucks, you guessed correctly. Robby Gordon Motorsports and SPEED Energy have formed a partnership with BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc., owner of the most well -known monster truck in the United States.

NASCAR and Off-Road racer, Robby Gordon, and BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc. have entered into a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2012 season. The addition of the monster truck, built at Gordon’s race shop in Charlotte, NC, will be the nineteenth chassis in the line-up of BIGFOOT trucks.

Artist rendering of the new SPEED Energy Bigfoot #19.

Gordon’s energy drink company, SPEED Energy, will be the co-primary sponsor of the monster truck. “This partnership with BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc. is a big step for our company. It opens the door to market SPEED Energy to a new demographic.” Being featured as a sponsor on the truck is just one element to the relationship, we will also be selling SPEED Energy/BIGFOOT #19 diecasts, t-shirts, hats and other merchandise,” says Gordon. During the first year of the agreement the monster truck will be used primarily for display purposes. From there the truck will participate in events, with the possibility of Gordon being behind the wheel. “I’m excited about the opportunity to drive the SPEED Energy/BIGFOOT #19 monster truck. We built the truck a few years ago and we’ve played around with it, but actually competing in events would be a lot of fun,” Gordon remarks.

“We are really looking forward to teaming up with Robby and Speed Energy! Robby and Bob Chandler go back to the early days when both teams were Ford sponsored. Robby’s dynamic outlook and his racer’s mentality fit right in with the BIGFOOT way of life! Be on the lookout for a whole line of Robby Gordon’s Speed Energy/BIGFOOT #19 merchandise,” says Bob Trent, Vice President of Sponsorships & Business Development at BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc.

About SPEED Energy

SPEED Energy is available in four flavors: Ethanol, Unleaded, Fuel and Octane, which provide the human machine with the fuel it needs to keep up with the SPEED of life. Each drink contains a potent blend of B-vitamins, caffeine, taurine and ginseng. SPEED, packaged in 16 ounce cans, is available in singles, 4 packs, and cases. SPEED Energy is available at major retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, bars and nightclubs. For a retailer near you, please visit www.speedenergy.com.

About BIGFOOT 4×4 Inc.

Since its inception in 1975, BIGFOOT, The Original Monster Truck®, has gone on to achieve worldwide notoriety, and spawned an entire family of BIGFOOT® monster trucks that have pioneered the growth of the monster truck industry. Created by St. Louis-area contractor Bob Chandler and his wife Marilyn in 1975 as a promotional tool for their Midwest Four Wheel Drive business, the BIGFOOT fleet has captured 30 National Championships, set numerous world records, and travelled to over 26 countries. In 2009, BIGFOOT was named one of the “Top 5 Marketing Vehicles of All Time”. Since 1975 over 20 BIGFOOT vehicles have been constructed, and today the team campaigns eight (soon to be nine) BIGFOOT monster trucks full-time in North America, in addition to one BIGFOOT truck based full-time in England. The team expects to average over 900 appearance days starting in 2012, and will achieve in excess of 30 million impressions each year. Visit the team online at www.bigfoot4x4.com.

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Randy Moore Will Attempt to Break Record at zMAX Dragway’s NOS Energy Test-N-Tune This Saturday

March 15, 2012 by 2 Comments

(Concord, North Carolina – zMAX Dragway PR) – This Saturday, professional monster truck driver Randy Moore and his Aaron’s Rent to Own monster truck will attempt to be the first monster truck to break the 100 mph barrier at zMAX Dragway during the second round of NOS Energy Test-N-Tune.

Moore, the owner of War Wizard Racing in Bristol, Tenn., has more than 30 years experience in drag racing, competing in NHRA and IHRA events nationally. Fans can watch as Moore and his monster truck make three attempts to surpass the 100 mph mark on Saturday at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Randy Moore will attempt to break the 100MPH barrier this Saturday at zMAX Dragway.

The Aaron’s Rent to Own machine, the sister truck to Monster Jam icon War Wizard, currently holds the world speed record for a monster truck with a speed of 93 mph, which was set a Bristol Dragway in October of 2011. The truck is 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide and tips the scale at 8500 pounds.

zMAX Dragway’s NOS Energy Test-N-Tune is a “run what you brung” event where participants can dial-in their personal rides from dragsters, souped-up street bikes, classic cars, luxury cars and soccer-mom vans.

Gates and registration open Saturday at 9 a.m. for the NOS Energy Test-N-Tune, with racing action from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for spectators is just $5 for adults and free for kids 13 and under.

For more information visit www.zmaxdragway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS.

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Monster X Tour & MotorcycleSuperstore.com Announce NameThisTruck.com Sweepstakes!

March 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

(Eagle Point, Oregon – Monster Truck Entertainment PR)– Monster Truck Entertainment and Monster X Tour series sponsor MotorcycleSuperstore.com are proud to announce a very unique and exciting fan contest that gives YOU a chance to name a monster truck! Additionally, the GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a Red Carpet VIP Weekend at the Monster X Tour event in Chico, California this April!

Monster X Tour and MotorcycleSuperstore.com are giving you the FANS a chance to name a monster truck and win a trip to the big event in Chico, California!

 

MotorcycleSuperstore.com will be the primary sponsor of a new truck fielded by the Straight Up Racing team and driven by Ed Miller. Monster X Tour has partnered with these great organizations to create an incredible opportunity for one lucky fan. See below for details and take advantage of this great opportunity!

The Contest

The 2012 Monster X Tour Championship has been great this year! To show our appreciation to our fans we are having a contest and letting you, our fans, name a truck! MotorcycleSuperstore.com and Monster X Tour are bringing you a new truck to the Monster X Tour that is for the FANS! This one is all for you guys so we thought we better let you name it! We will be holding a contest exclusively on Facebook. This will be a 2 round contest. First you will post your “Name This Truck” Entry on our Facebook page from February 24th thru the March 2nd. We will anounce the 3 finalist on Friday March 2nd. At this point we will take the top 3 names and pick the winner and announce the new name! Grand Prize winner will be announced on Facebook on Saturday March 3rd. Rules and prizes below.

The Rules

– LIKE us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/monsterxtour
If you are not a facebook fan you cannot enter the contest.
– POST you submission.
Once you are our FRIEND on Facebook, all you have to do is POST you submission.
– First Round Submissions will be taken starting Friday, February 24th and ending Friday March 2nd
– Only 1 entry per person
If a duplicate suggestion is made, the first person to submit the name will be entered into the contest, so make sure you look thru all the entries and come up with something Original!
– Keep checking back! LIKE any names you think are good!
– Come to our Facebook Page Friday, March 2nd to see if your entry is in our top 3!
– On March 3rd we will be announcing the winning entry and the Grand Prize Winner!

The Prizes

Fan Truck Finalist:
2 fans who are selected as “Fan Truck” finalist will win 4 vip passes to the next event near you and a Monster X Tour t-shirt.

Grand Prize:
1 fan will win the Grand Prize! A Red Carpet VIP Weekend in Chico , CA, April 13th -14th -15th
You and a guest will be flown to California and go to our HUGE outdoor show. VIP Passes and Monster X Tour shirts for you and your guest… And not to mention a ride in the co-pilot seat of Rock Star from the Monster Truck Mafia!

The Debut

We will be debuting the new FAN truck at the Monster X Tour in Chico California on April 13th! Dont Miss It!!!!

Don’t wait fans, head on over to the Monster X Tour Facebook page, hit the LIKE button and submit your name for the MotorcycleSuperstore.com monster truck now!

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TMB TV Presented by E3 Spark Plugs Announces 2012 Schedule

January 10, 2012 by 2 Comments

(Saint Robert, Missouri – TMB PR)– TMB TV Presented by E3 Spark Plugs is proud to announce our 2012 January-April Programming Schedule. All three of our major series are returning as the Original Series celebrates its 5th season, while MT Unlimited and ActionTracks enter their 3rd season. We are also proud to welcome back E3 Spark Plugs for another season as the presenting sponsor of TMB TV on TheMonsterBlog.com.

TMB TV is once again presented by E3 Spark Plugs for the 2012 season.

 

Tune in every Wednesday night for another new episode as we feature action from all the major independent touring series. The schedule is so jam packed that all through the month of February, TMB TV will air new episodes every Thursday night as well! See below for a full programming schedule:

January 11th: Original Series 5.1
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida
January 18th: MT Unlimited 3.1
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from Stockton Arena in Stockton, California
January 25th: Original Series 5.2
– Featuring Toughest Monster Truck Tour action from the Desoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi
February 1st: ActionTracks 3.1
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from City Bank Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas
February 2nd: Original Series 5.3
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California
February 8th: MT Unlimited 3.2
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi
February 9th: Original Series 5.4
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from Compton Arena in Medford, Oregon
February 15th: MT Unlimited 3.3
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Hooker Creek Events Center in Redmond, Oregon
February 16th: Original Series 5.5
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Ike-Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe, Louisiana
February 22nd: MT Unlimited 3.4
– Featuring Monster Truck Winter Nationals action from the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
February 23rd: ActionTracks 3.2
– Featuring Toughest Monster Truck Tour action from the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio
February 29th: ActionTracks 3.3
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville, Kentucky
March 7th: Original Series 5.6
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama
March 14th: ActionTracks 3.4
– Featuring Monster Nationals action from The Arena in Corbin, Kentucky
March 21st: MT Unlimited 3.5
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the WNC Agricultural Center in Asheville, North Carolina
March 28th: Original Series 5.7
– Featuring Monster Truck Thunder Slam action from the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas
April 4th: MT Unlimited 3.6
– Featuring Monster Nationals action from the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, Illinois
April 11th: MT Unlimited 3.7
– Featuring Monster Truck Thunder Slam action from ISU Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Indiana
April 18th: Original Series 5.8
– Featuring Monster X Tour action from the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California
April 25th: ActionTracks 3.5
– Featuring Toughest Monster Truck Tour action from the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, West Virginia

For more information on TMB TV Presented by E3 Spark Plugs, check us out online at www.TheMonsterBlog.com.

About E3 Spark Plugs

TMB TV in 2012 is presented by the fine folks with E3 Spark Plugs. Developed by researchers from leading engineering universities, E3′s patented Edge-to-Edge electrode design delivers maximum performance with increased efficiency. E3 Spark Plugs feature New DiamondFIRE technology resulting in:
– More Power & Performance
– Improved Fuel Economy
– Reduced Emissions
– Longer Engine Life
For more information, visit them online at www.E3SparkPlugs.com.

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Monster Truck Entertainment Announces 2012 Monster X Tour Championship

January 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

(Eagle Point, Oregon – MTE PR) – Monster Truck Entertainment is very excited to announce that its premiere monster truck touring series, the Monster X Tour, will conduct a season long points series to determine its 2012 series champion.

The 2012 Monster X Tour Championship will be one of the most grueling points chases ever contested, with events beginning the first weekend of January and ending in November, using venues from the smallest indoor arenas to the largest outdoor fairgrounds & speedways, and spanning locations from Florida to Oregon, with stops everywhere in between.

The 2012 Monster X Tour Championship will be a grueling year-long battle, starting in January and running all the way through the season finale in November.

Drivers will compete for points at each and every event on the tour, all season long. Towards the end of the season, drivers scoring the most points during the year will be invited to participate in the Monster X Tour Championship, which will be held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Drivers accepting the invite to compete for the championship will battle it out in a thrilling, two-night title bout to determine the 2012 Monster X Tour Champion.

The Regular Season Points System

Monster X Tour events include three monster truck competitions at each event where points will be awarded. The wheelie competition, where the object is to make the truck stand straight up and down, the drag racing competition, where trucks are placed in a bracket and race side by side, and the monster truck freestyle competition, where each driver has three minutes to lay down the best run using all the obstacles and performing the best tricks.

Wheelie Contest
1st – 25 points

Racing Competition
1st – 50 points
2nd – 25 points

Freestyle Competition
1st – 50 points

The monster truck wheelie and freestyle competitions are judged by crowd applause, with the winner being the driver/truck that receives the loudest response from the fans. In terms of points, these will be winner take all events with wheelie contest winners receiving 25 points and freestyle competition winners receiving 50 points.

The monster truck drag racing competition will award points to the two driver/trucks to make it to the final round in the bracket. The overall winner will receive 50 points while the runner-up will be awarded 25 points.

An important component of the Monster X Tour points series is the new practice that drivers will draw for the order in which they compete in wheelie & freestyle competitions prior to each event. Before the start of each individual event, the event director will go from driver to driver, having them randomly draw for their spot in the wheelie and freestyle order. This will ensure that favoritism or popularity does not determine the order in which trucks compete.

Each individual event will have a maximum available point total of 125 points if a driver was to sweep all three competitions.

The Championship Event Points System

The two-night Monster X Tour Championship event at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon will utilize a special points scale to determine the champion. Drivers accepting the invite to compete in the championship weekend will have their points reset in advance of the event.

The driver scoring the most points during the 2012 season will enter the championship event with their total reset to 150 points. The driver scoring the second most points of those accepting the invite will have 100 points and the driver with the third most points scored will have 50 points.

The championship event will be held Friday and Saturday, with each night’s event consisting of wheelie, racing and freestyle competitions. Points will be awarded as follows for each competition:

Wheelie Contest
1st – 50 points
2nd – 25 points
3rd – 10 points

Racing Competition
1st – 100 points
2nd – 50 points
3rd – 25 points

Freestyle Competition
1st – 100 points
2nd – 50 points
3rd – 25 points

The driver with the most total points at the end of the Monster X Tour Championship Weekend will be crowned the 2012 Monster X Tour Champion and will have prevailed in one of the most intense and demanding points chases in the history of monster trucks.

Monster X Tour January-February 2012 Schedule

The series kicks off this coming weekend, January 6th-7th, with events at Daytona Beach, Florida’s Ocean Center and Stockton, California’s Stockton Arena. See below for the complete Monster X Tour January-February 2012 Schedule:

January 6th-7th
– Ocean Center – Daytona Beach, Florida
– Stockton Arena – Stockton, California

January 13th-14th
– City Bank Coliseum – Lubbock, Texas
– Nacogdoches County Expo Center – Nacogdoches, Texas

January 20th-21st
– Rabobank Arena – Bakersfield, California
– Mississippi Coliseum – Jackson, Mississippi

January 27th-28th
– Compton Arena – Medford, Oregon
– Lamar Dixon Expo Center – Gonzales, Louisiana

February 3rd-4th
– Hooker Creek Event Center – Redmond, Oregon
– Forest County Multi-Purpose Center – Hattiesburg, Mississippi

February 10th-11th
– Germain Arena – Ft. Meyers, Florida
– East Kentucky Expo – Pikeville, Kentucky
– Ike Hamilton Expo Center – West Monroe, Louisiana

February 17th-18th
– Garrett Coliseum – Montgomery, Alabama

February 24th-25th
– WNC Agricultural Center – Asheville, North Carolina

Fans, don’t miss out on your chance to see the Monster X Tour in 2012 as drivers compete for one of the biggest championships in all of monster trucks. Every competition at every event counts!

More event information and tickets are available now at www.MonsterXTour.com!

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Crushstation Wins Monster Truck Mafia Fan Vote, Razin Kane & Titan Also Added

January 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

(Undisclosed Location, USA – Monster Truck Mafia PR) – The Monster Truck Mafia would like to thank all of the great fans who participated in the fan vote to decide our newest member. We had a great crop of candidates and after 1,743 votes were cast, we are proud to welcome Greg Winchenbach and the Crushstation “Monstah Lobstah” into the Monster Truck Mafia.

Greg Winchenbach and Crushstation won the Monster Truck Mafia's Fan Vote with 28% of the votes.

Greg and the Bottom Feeder Motorsports team had a great online campaign, receiving strong support from within the monster truck community and from local Maine fans after being featured in newspaper articles promoting the vote. See below for the full results:

1) Crushstation – Greg Winchenbach – 28%
2) Razin Kane – JR McNeal – 24%
3) Stinger – Zane Rettew – 23%
4) Titan – Donald Epidendio – 17%
5) Heavy Hitter – Derick Anson – 8%

During the Fan Vote process, we received an incredible amount of feedback that suggested we add more than one new member while we had the books open. We listen to the voice of the fans and so a plan was devised to expand the Mafia crew to a total of eight.

Picking from the 4 runner-ups in the Fan Vote, it was decided that the current Mafia members would vote to choose one new member and The Godfather would choose the final new entrant.

The 5 current, pre-fan vote members of the Monster Truck Mafia were polled and the results saw JR McNeal with Razin Kane receiving 2 votes while Donald Epidendio with Titan received 3 votes. Based on those results, the Mafia is very proud to welcome Donald Epidendio and Titan as part of the crew!

For the final new member, The Godfather reviewed the results of the Fan Vote and the Mafia Member Vote, as well as the performance level of the three remaining trucks. The Godfather ruled that the runner-up in both the fan and Mafia member votes, JR McNeal with Razin Kane, would be the final driver to be “made” prior to the 2012 season.

The Monster Truck Mafia is adding Crushstation, Razin Kane and Titan to its roster for 2012.

The Monster Truck Mafia would like to sincerely thank Zane Rettew with Stinger and Derick Anson with Heavy Hitter for being candidates and wish them the best of luck in 2012. We already know who is at the top of the list for the next time the Mafia opens its books!

The Mafia is a group of the most talented, most extreme and most daring monster truck drivers in the world. Only a handful of drivers have what it takes to be a part of the Mafia. Being invited to join means that you are one of the best in the sport and that you are wiling to put it all on the line in order to win. Mafia members don’t worry about crashing, broken parts, money or anything else – they only care about finding victory lane and making sure the fans go home satisfied.

The new additions to the crew effectively create a Mafia East consisting of Bad Habit, Crushstation, Ghost Ryder and Razin Kane, as well as a Mafia West consisting of Barbarian, California Kid, Rock Star and Titan. This gives fans all over the country a great chance to see a Mafia member in action and should also create a great rivalry between the two groups to see who can best put a hurting on the competition.

The Monster Truck Mafia is ready to take our “Elite 8” and show the competition how’s its done in 2012. For more information on the Monster Truck Mafia, visit us online at www.MonsterTruckMafia.com. To keep up to date with all the latest Mafia news and updates, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mtmafia.

 

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Monster Truck Radio Announces 2012 1st Quarter Guest Schedule

January 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

(Saint Robert, Missouri – Monster Truck Radio PR) – Monster Truck Radio Presented by E3 Spark Plugs & Amerigas is very proud and excited to announce our guest lineup for first quarter 2012. Host Ross Z. Bonar and co-host Chris Parrish will keep you up to date with all the latest monster truck industry news, and bring you insight from some of the biggest names in the industry through in-depth interviews you just can’t find anywhere else.

Monster Truck Radio Presented By E3 Spark Plugs & Amerigas has put together an incredible guest lineup for first quarter 2012.

For first quarter, Monster Truck Radio Presented by E3 Spark Plugs & Amerigas will feature a different theme each Monday night and 1-2 guests scheduled to coincide with that theme. Using this practice, Monster Truck Radio will be able to cover the news, stories and goings-on with all of the major monster truck series running during first quarter 2012. See below for the complete first quarter guest schedule:

January 2nd: Monster Jam 2012 Preview Show
– Featuring legendary monster truck annnouncer and The Voice of Monster Jam on SPEED TV, Scott Douglass
January 9th: 2012 Week One Recap Show
– Featuring third year driver and early World Finals favorite, Ryan Anderson, driver of Son Uva Digger
January 16th: Monster Nation/Toughest Monster Truck Tour Night
– Featuring veteran Dan Runte, driver of the brand new Summit Bigfoot #18 and defending series champ Doug Noelke, driver of Tail Gator
January 23rd: Monster X Tour Night
– Featuring one of the wildest freestylers in the sport, Bill Payne, driver of Rock Star and Dave Rife, driver of the awesome new Sweet Tooth “I Scream” truck
January 30th: E3 Spark Plugs Monster Nationals Presented by Lucas Oil Night
– Featuring defending series champions Rick Long, driver of E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #15 and Bobby Holman, driver of Lucas Oil Stabilizer
February 6th: Monster Truck Winter Nationals Night
– Featuring 2-time series champ Larry Swim, driver of Bigfoot Bad Boy #16 and backflip superstar Larry Quick, driver of the all new Ghost Ryder
February 13th: Monster Jam “Road to the World Finals” Update Show
Featuring second year pilot Bari Musawwir, driver of Spiderman and veteran Scott Hartsock, driver of Gun Slinger
February 20th: Monster Truck Mafia’s Monster Jam Invasion Night
Featuring 2011 MTWN Champion Devin Jones, driver of Barbarian and the “Monstah Lobstah” himself Greg Winchenbach, driver of Crushstation
February 27th: Monster Jam Rookie of the Year Candidates Show
Featuring impressive Monster Jam newcomers JR McNeal, driver of Razin Kane and Donald Epidendio, driver of Titan
March 5th: Monster Jam “Road to the World Finals” Update Show #2
Featuring the Monster Truck Mafia’s Joe Sylvester, driver of Bad Habit and West Coast superstar Rick Swanson, driver of Obsession
March 12th: Monster Jam “Road to the World Finals” Update Show #3
Featuring longtime veteran Mike Vaters, driver of Black Stallion and young superstar Jeremy Slifko, driver of Backdraft
March 19th: World Finals Preview Show
Featuring former World Finals Freestyle Champ Jimmy Creten, driver of Bounty Hunter and defending World Finals Freestyle Champ Jim Koehler, driver of Avenger
March 26th: World Finals Recap Show
Featuring former World Finals Freestyle Champ Pablo Huffaker, driver of Grave Digger and 2-time World Finalist Jon Zimmer, driver of Amsoil Shock Therapy
* Schedule is tentative and subject to change

For all of our “Lugnutz” out there, be sure to tune in LIVE each Monday at 9PM Eastern and participate in the user chat where you can submit your questions for the hosts to ask on air. Simply go to www.BlogTalkRadio.com and sign in with your Facebook, Twitter or Google account or register for a listener’s account. Then go to our show page and click on the upcoming show. At the bottom of the page will be the live chat application where you can jump right in with your comments and questions!

Anytime you’re not able to tune in live, don’t forget an archived version of the show is posted shortly after the live version is completed. You can find the archived shows on TheMonsterBlog.com and they are also available on iTunes. To find us on iTunes, simply do a search for “Monster Truck Radio”, click on our show page and then hit the “Follow” button to never miss an episode!

Monster Truck Radio is very proud to be presented by the fine folks with E3 Spark Plugs & Amerigas for 2012. E3 Spark Plugs and Amerigas have been strong supporters of TheMonsterBlog.com and after taking over Monster Truck Radio in late 2011, we are very excited to be able to feature these great companies on the show. Be sure to check them out at www.E3SparkPlugs.com and www.Amerigas.com and thank them for their support of monster trucks!

For more information on Monster Truck Radio Presented By E3 Spark Plugs & Amerigas, visit us online at www.MonsterTruckRadio.com.

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Former Champ Eric Tack Returns as Hired Gun For BIGFOOT In 2012

December 23, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Hazelwood, MO – BIGFOOT PR) – When the signal goes out for a veteran wheelman on short notice, Eric Tack seems to be the BIGFOOT® team’s veritable monster truck “batman.” In 2010, he returned from his seven-year absence to retake the wheel of BIGFOOT #11 for the team’s triumphant return to the Pontiac Silverdome. In 2011, he pinch-hit in January and February in BIGFOOT #14 for the injured Larry Swim, and proceeded to carve a mile-wide path through the competition. And now, in 2012, Tack is set to retake the reigns of a BIGFOOT truck, not just as a driver, but as a tutor of sorts.

With the BIGFOOT team’s roster looking more like a musical chairs demonstration heading into the December off-season, the decision was made to bring the veteran Tack in to fill a dual-role purpose: win races and train on-deck driver JR Adams in the process.

The new Odyssey Batteries BIGFOOT body debuted at the SEMA show.

“Heading into the first quarter of 2012, we’ve got a driver heading into his sophomore season of racing [Darron Schnell] and a driver heading into his rookie season of racing [Kyle Doyle], and we want to make sure those guys get the attention and help they need to become the top-shelf racers we expect them to be,” explained BIGFOOT VP of Research, Technology, & Driver Development Jim Kramer. “We like to have a veteran guy help our newer guys out whenever we can, and with Rick Long and myself working with Darron and Kyle, the next logical move was to bring Eric in to help introduce JR into our racing program.”

Eric Tack has been driving (off and on) for Team BIGFOOT since the mid 90’s!

“JR has done a fantastic job for us running the Firestone BIGFOOT #8 display truck in 2011, so the next move up for him is going to be a race truck. But with him not having much time at all in our race trucks, and us needing an experienced driver on the roster for the first part of 2012, it just made sense to bring Eric in,” said BIGFOOT VP of Sponsorships and Business Development Bob Trent. He added that “Eric is extremely popular with fans, competitors, and promoters alike. Not to mention the fact that he brings an enormous wealth of experience to the table, and his ability to share that with newer drivers in our team is a huge plus!”

Legendary BIGFOOT driver Eric Tack is returning to the seat once again in 2012.

From a driving standpoint, Tack’s record behind the wheel of Team BIGFOOT’s trucks is excellent. Tack began his full-on racing career in the mid-1990’s behind the wheel of trucks like BIGFOOT #11, eventually graduating to BIGFOOT #15 by the end of the decade. In 2000, Tack captured his first championship, the inaugural ProMT title, and in 2002 and 2003 Tack would capture the Monster Nationals championships, in addition to helping the team as a whole claim the CFP Grand National crown in 2003. After his retirement from driving in 2003, Tack would not see action in a BIGFOOT truck again until his 2010 appearance in BIGFOOT #11 at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Trent and Kramer agree that Eric showed, in 2010, that he could easily step back into a BIGFOOT truck and instantly be competitive. And, added Trent, “In 2011, Eric showed us that he was not only competitive, but consistent. And that is not an easy thing when you only jump into that seat once in a while!”
Erick Tack spent the first quarter of 2011 filling in for an injured Larry Swim in BIGFOOT “Bad Boy” #14.

Now, in 2012, we can all look to Eric to take all of his experience and build upon it both as a racer and as a teacher. So, what does the man himself have to say about all of this? Well, even through his cool demeanor and level-headed personality, his excitement about driving again in 2012 shines through.

“I’m pumped. Even though my days of doing this stuff full-time are long gone, it is such a treat to be able to come back and work with the team for awhile each year,” said Tack. “The trucks improve so much each year, so it is really exciting to see what Bryan, John, Chris, and the rest of the guys in the shop have come up with in between my driving stints. On top of all that, I’ve heard good things about JR and I’m excited to see if I can’t help get him ready to take the reigns of a BIGFOOT race truck.”

As the team’s starting lineup for the 2012 indoor season shapes up, all signs point towards Tack once again campaigning BIGFOOT #14 for at least January and February with JR Adams as his protégé. Should plans hold true for the team after February, rookie driver Doyle will move up into BIGFOOT #14 while Adams will trade in his pit crew gear for a driving suit and take the reigns of BIGFOOT #10. “We’re really excited about the first part of 2012, and really the year as a whole,” said Trent. “I think our fans are too. They’re getting an awesome mix of veteran drivers like Dan [Runte], Larry [Swim], Rick [Long], and of course Eric, plus they’re getting a glimpse of the future by way of Darron, Kyle, and eventually JR as well. These are exciting times.”

For more information on Team BIGFOOT, visit them online at www.Bigfoot4x4.com!

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Monster Energy Latest Addition to Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam

December 22, 2011 by 6 Comments

(Aurora, Illinois – Feld Motorsports PR) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today the newest touring monster truck – Monster Energy – which will debut January 7th at Houston’s Reliant Stadium for the upcoming Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® season.

With a rumbling that could only be created by a supercharged, methanol fed 540 cubic inch, 1500 horse power massive engine, the 10,000-pound beast of a monster truck that is Monster Energy has broken through its cage and been unleashed. Complete with a four link suspension and four feet of ground clearance, the ravenous mechanical beast that will crush anything getting in its way will be guided by driver Damon Bradshaw, a Monster Jam World Finals℠ champion and former championship-winning supercross racer. There are monster trucks and then there IS Monster Energy!

Damon Bradshaw's awesome new Monster Energy ride for 2012.

“Monster Energy has always had a passion for competing in the dirt,” said Bruce Stjernstrom, Vice President of Sports Marketing. “Our partnerships with Feld Motor Sports including Monster Energy Supercross, and most recently the highly popular Monster Energy Cup, have allowed us to grow even closer to the fans who make us who and what we are. Holding true to our roots, Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is an all-new and natural extension for Monster Energy and fans to enjoy are shared enthusiasm for horsepower, methanol and dirt.”

“We are very excited to expand our thriving partnership with Monster Energy to Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam and we certainly expect big things for years to come,” said President of Feld Motor Sports, Charlie Mancuso.

Monster Energy will Compete at the Following Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® Events:

Jan 7 – Houston – Reliant Stadium
Jan 14,15 – San Antonio – Alamodome
Jan 20,21 – Milwaukee, Wis. – Bradley Center
Jan 28 – Anaheim, Calif. – Angel Stadium
Feb 4 – St. Louis – Edward Jones Dome
Feb 11,12 – Denver – Pepsi Center
Feb 18 – Los Angeles – Dodgers Stadium
Feb 25 – Arlington, Texas – Cowboy Stadium
March 3,4 – El Paso, Texas – UTEP Sun Bowl
March 9,10 – Fresno, Calif. – Save Mart Center
*Schedule is subject to change

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is the largest touring monster truck property in the world, entertaining over 4,000,000 fans at 350 performances in 10 countries. Monster Jam events can be seen on SPEED and CBS Sports. For more information, log on to www.MonsterJam.com for the complete schedule and to purchase tickets for the select cities your favorite super heroes will be in. Also be sure to check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mjonline for all the latest news and photos of your favorite monster trucks.

Tickets for the 2012 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam tour are available today at www.MonsterJam.com. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements at www.facebook.com/mjonline, and www.twitter.com/monsterjam.

About Monster Energy

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it FMX, MX, snocross, road racing, supermoto, off-road, ski, skate, MTB, off-road, surf, snowboard, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockinʼ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “M- 80” and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. For more information visit www.monsterenergy.com.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

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Monster Jam® Season Preview Show to Air This Saturday on CBS

December 20, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Aurora, Illinois – Feld Motor Sports PR) – Feld Motor Sports announced today that CBS Sports will broadcast a one-hour Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam preview show, previewing the upcoming 2012 season, this Saturday, December 24th. Fans should check local listings for the broadcast time in their respective market, or reference the broadcast times listed below.

The 2012 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam preview show will set the stage for the highly anticipated season, including the year-long Grave Digger 30th Anniversary celebration, and provide a look back at the 2011 season with the crowning of 2011 Monster Jam World Finals champions Maximum Destruction®and Avenger.

The one hour preview show will feature the up-and-coming stars of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam as well as the unveiling of five new monster trucks which include Captain America, Wolverine, Team Hot Wheels, Metal Mulisha and Northern Nightmare.

“As the Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam brand continues to grow on a global level entertaining over four-million fans worldwide at over 350 performances, the 2012 season is shaping up to be the best ever with six new monster trucks making their debut,” said Charlie Mancuso, president, Feld Motor Sports. “We will also have a special year-long tribute to a true legend in the sport as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Grave Digger.”

The 2011 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam season was a banner year for the sport performing in 10 countries at the top stadiums and arenas in addition to a record number of network and cable television hours. Paired with a strong and growing retail licensing program and increased corporate involvement from outside sponsors, Monster Jam is poised for a strong year in 2012 both domestically and internationally.

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® Preview Show Air Times

Atlanta 5:00 p.m. local
Boston (Manchester) 5:00 p.m. local
Cleveland-Akron 5:00 p.m. local
Charlotte 3:00 p.m. local
Chicago 2:00 p.m. local
Dallas-Ft. Worth 4:00 p.m. local
Denver 3:00 p.m. local
Detroit 3:00 p.m. local
Hartford & New Haven 5:00 p.m. local
Houston 4:00 p.m. local
Indianapolis 5:00 p.m. local
Los Angeles 12:00 p.m. local
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale 5:00 p.m. local
Minneapolis-St. Paul 2:00 p.m. local
Nashville 4:00 p.m. local
New York 5:00 p.m. local
Orlando-Daytona Beach 5:00 p.m. local
Philadelphia 5:00 p.m. local
Phoenix (Prescott) 1:00 p.m. local
Pittsburgh 3:00 p.m. local
Portland 2:00 p.m. local
Raleigh-Durham 5:00 p.m. local
Sacramento 2:00 p.m. local
San Francisco-Oak San Jose 3:00 p.m. local
San Diego 12:00 p.m. local
Seattle-Tacoma 2:00 p.m. local
St. Louis 2:00 p.m. local
Tampa-St. Pete (Sarasota) 3:00 p.m. local
Washington D.C. 5:00 p.m. local

For more information on Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam, please log on to www.monsterjam.com.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

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Hot Wheels & Monster Jam Roar Into 2012 Season With New Hot Wheels Monster Truck

December 20, 2011 by 4 Comments

(El Segundo, California – Hot Wheels PR) – Hot Wheels and Monster Jam are teaming up in an even bigger way to bring fans the ultimate in thrilling vehicle experiences.  For the first time, a Monster Jam monster truck will be driven by a Team Hot Wheels driver (Dan Evans has been announced as the driver for 2012) and will perform live – electrifying fans in a full line up of Monster Jam scheduled events in the 2012 and 2013 seasons.  To celebrate the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary, Hot Wheels will roll out new Monster Jam inspired toys ready to crunch, race and play.

Fan Voting:

In addition to seeing the newly designed Team Hot Wheels monster truck at Monster Jam events throughout North America, fans also will have a chance to help name the five-ton motorized mammoth.

Beginning today through March 9, 2012, fans can visit www.teamhotwheels.com to vote on one of five names for the truck:

·         Team Hot Wheels™ Firestorm®

·         Team Hot Wheels™ Motor Mauler®

·         Team Hot Wheels™ Jaw Crusher®

·         Team Hot Wheels™ Wrecker Breaker™

·         Team Hot Wheels™ Gasket Case™

The selected name will be announced at the Monster Jam World Finals℠ in Las Vegas, NV, on March 24, 2012.

“Monster Jam embodies what Hot Wheels is all about – over-the-top action, awesome power, showmanship and giving fans the ultimate in fantastical vehicle experiences,” said Simon Waldron, vice president of marketing for Hot Wheels. “We’re ready to take on Monster Jam in a big way with Team Hot Wheels and give fans the opportunity to name our truck.”

A Mattel promotional shot of the new Hot Wheels ride.

Team Hot Wheels Monster Truck:

The Team Hot Wheels Monster Jam monster truck is the first of its kind constructed with state-of-the-art laminate technology. Made of carbon fiber, Kevlar and E-glass (which is used to make some of the parts found on the International Space Station), the body weighs half that of a normal fiberglass body. The monster truck is 17 feet long, 11 feet high, weighs 10,000 lbs. and sports a 1,500 horsepower engine, making it a true monster truck behemoth.

To see how the Team Hot Wheels monster truck was created, fans can check out Hot Wheels YouTube channel for the “making of” footage for this monster truck.

“The newly built Team Hot Wheels monster truck has an extremely unique body style and look which will make it stand out from the other monster trucks in a way that is consistent with the Team Hot Wheels brand,” said Charlie Mancuso, president of Feld Motor Sports®.  “Keep an eye out for some exclusive videos that will be released in a couple months featuring Monster Jam and the Team Hot Wheels monster truck.”

Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Products

Hot Wheels is joining in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Grave Digger, one of the most famous monster trucks of all time with cool new toys, including:

  • Hot Wheels RC Monster Jam Grave Digger 30th Anniversary – Grave Digger in RC toy monster truck form with oversized swamper tires, boosted lift and a fully functional remote control, allowing it to run over rough terrain. (ARP $29.99, available January)
  • Hot Wheels Monster Jam Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Boneyard Bash™ Play Set – The ultimate training stadium for Grave Digger. The play set includes tough obstacles, a breakaway haunted house and adjustable ramps for tons of crashing, smashing action. (ARP $22.99, available January)
  • Hot Wheels Monster Jam Grave Digger die-cast toys in three scales (1:64, 1:43, 1:24)

For decades, Monster Jam has been one of the largest and most successful touring family shows in the world. Over four million passionate fans fill the country’s largest premier stadiums and arenas across the globe to see the spectacle at more than 135 tour stops and 350 live performances each year.

2012 Team Hot Wheels Schedule at Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®

Engagement

Date

City/State

Venue

1

Jan 6-7

Des Moines, Iowa

Wells Fargo Arena

2

Jan 13-15

Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma Dome

3

Jan 21

Houston, Texas

Reliant Stadium

4

Jan 28

New Orleans, Louisiana

Mercedes-Benz Dome

5

Feb 3-4

Peoria, Illinois

Peoria Civic Center

6

Feb 11

Anaheim, California

Angel Stadium

7

Feb 18

Los Angeles, California

Dodger Stadium

8

Feb 25-26

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Chesapeake Energy Arena

9

Mar 3

Detroit, Michigan

Ford Field

10

Mar 9-11

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Van Andel Arena

*Additional dates to be announced, schedule subject to change.

About the Hot Wheels Brand

Since 1968, Hot Wheels has been passionate about creating thrilling vehicle experiences through innovative product and content. With a fan base of more than 41 million people, Hot Wheels is the No. 1 vehicle property in the United States producing the coolest cars imaginable. The Hot Wheels brand began as a line of 16 1:64-scale die-cast vehicles; today, it has evolved into a true, global lifestyle brand for boys of all ages with segments that range from aftermarket parts to licensed apparel to branded digital content from Team Hot Wheels, a real-life race crew of professional drivers performing over-the-top stunts.  For consumers to learn more, visit www.HotWheels.com and www.Facebook.com/HotWheels.

 About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

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Monster Truck Mafia Holding Fan Vote to Pick New Member for 2012

December 16, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Undisclosed Location, USA – Monster Truck Mafia PR) – The Monster Truck Mafia is opening its membership rolls to one lucky driver in advance of the 2012 season!

We’ve been looking for the perfect driver to join our ranks and we combed the entire monster truck industry searching for someone talented enough, extreme enough and daring enough to be a part of the Monster Truck Mafia. We’ve come up with five drivers that we like, but it’s up to you, our FANS, to pick our newest member!

Who will be the newest member of the Monster Truck Mafia for 2012?

The finalists for the Monster Truck Mafia fan vote are:

Crushstation – Greg Winchenbach
Heavy Hitter – Derick Anson
Razin Kane – JR McNeal
Stinger – Zane Rettew
Titan – Donald Epidendio

Voting begins today, December 16th, and runs through New Year’s Eve. At the stroke of midnight, voting will close and we will tabulate the results and announce our new member on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2012. Every fan will have the opportunity to vote once. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and tell us who you voted for!

Click here to cast your vote for the newest Monster Truck Mafia member!

For more information on the Monster Truck Mafia and the 2012 Fan Vote, visit www.MonsterTruckMafia.com.

About The Monster Truck Mafia

The Monster Truck Mafia is a group of the most talented, most extreme and most daring monster truck drivers in the world. Only a handful of drivers have what it takes to be a part of the Mafia. Being invited to join means that you are one of the best in the sport and that you are wiling to put it all on the line in order to win. Mafia members don’t worry about crashing, broken parts, money or anything else – they only care about finding victory lane and making sure the fans go home satisfied.

The Monster Truck Mafia currently consists of:

Bad Habit – Joe Sylvester
Barbarian – Devin Jones
California Kid – BJ Johnson
Ghost Ryder – Larry Quick
Rock Star – Bill Payne

When you see a member of the Monster Truck Mafia at an event, you know you’re in for one helluva show!

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Team BIGFOOT’s Rick Long Not Calling It Quits Just Yet

December 15, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Hazelwood, MO – BIGFOOT PR) – When rumors began to spread around the monster truck fan community a few months ago that long-time BIGFOOT® driver Rick Long was hanging up his driving gloves for good, many fans and competitors alike were quick to express their disappointment, often lamenting that Rick should come back for “one more season” in an effort to clinch yet another Monster Nationals racing title. So is Rick really leaving for good?

Word on the street is, not just yet.

With a pair of back-to-back Monster Nationals indoor racing championships behind the wheel of the E-3 Spark Plugs BIGFOOT #15 to his credit, the prospect of capturing a third title in as many years appeals to Long on various levels, not the least of which would be the fact that for the first time in the history of the tour, he will be joined by a team truck for the duration of the season.

Rick Long captured the 2011 Monster Nationals Racing Championship in his E3 Spark Plugs BIGFOOT #15.

So, will having a bit of extra firepower in his corner compel him to return to the seat for one last hurrah?

“I think [for Rick] the addition of Darron [Schnell] and the Vi-COR/Celmanax BIGFOOT #11 to the 2012 Monster Nationals tour roster is a pretty compelling reason to run one more season,” said BIGFOOT VP of Sponsorships & Business Development Bob Trent. “Any chance you get to run with one of your teammates is a bonus, especially for an entire season. Extra help in the pits and the chance to put two BIGFOOT trucks in the finals each time is definitely a good thing. Plus, Rick has always been vocal about wanting to help tutor the next class of drivers working their way up the ranks!”

Since beginning his driving career at BIGFOOT early in the 2000’s after having been a shop mechanic for some time, Long has matured into one of the most consistent and fearless drivers on the team’s roster. However, more than eight years of full-time travel on the road for the 50-year old Grafton, IL resident has taken its toll, as it does for most touring professionals. As Long himself explained “Even though my kids are almost grown up, I still miss spending time with them and the rest of my family, especially my grandson.” Long then added, with a chuckle, “Plus, I have a little bit of boating and motorcycle riding to catch up on!”

Rick Long is a three time champion and will return in 2011 to defend his back to back Monster Nationals Racing Championships.

For the BIGFOOT team, replacing Long behind the wheel of BIGFOOT #15 will not be the easiest of tasks, whenever the time may does actually come. Trent offered some insight as to how the process might take place: “At the moment, we seem to have an abundance of equipment; it’s just a matter of finding the right people to put in the seats. We’ll see how things progress; I think a lot of people look at the truck numbers and think ‘Oh, #15 must be better than #14’. Maybe that was the case at one point, but it definitely isn’t now. For us, the challenge is finding the right personality to represent our team and our sponsors, and the right driving style to keep our fans happy, because across the board I think our fleet is pretty even, regardless of the chassis number!”

BIGFOOT VP of Research, Technology, & Driver Development Jim Kramer shared his thoughts on the issue as well: “Truthfully, I look for Rick to continue driving through the bulk of the first quarter of 2012. I know he wants to try for one more championship before he retires from driving, and I know it means a lot to him to help out Darron in his first run through a full points series.” Kramer went on to explain that “Our driver pool at BIGFOOT is growing deeper every year, especially as we bring our newer guys up through the ranks alongside veterans like Rick, Larry [Swim], andDan [Runte]. But heading into 2012 I think it will be great to have both a veteran driver in Rick and a sophomore driver in Darron running alongside each other. It’s going to be a great cross-section of our driving program for the fans.”

“Even as tough as the road life is, it’s not an easy decision to walk away from putting on a good show for the fans,” said Long. “Making the fans happy is one of my favorite parts of the job. It makes for a late night after a show, but it’s a cool feeling when you know every last fan in that arena got their souvenir autographed or their question answered. Going for it one more time for the fans is definitely at the front of my mind right now.”

So with all that being said, is it safe to assume Rick will be back for a 2012 “farewell tour”? Perhaps the best answer to that question came from Long himself.

“We’ll see how things go between now and January, but I’m definitely not peeling my name off the truck yet!”

For more information on Team BIGFOOT, visit them online at www.BIGFOOT4x4.com.

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2012 Marks the 30th Anniversary of Monster Jam Icon Grave Digger

December 13, 2011 by 5 Comments

(Aurora, Illinois – Feld Motorsports PR) – Feld Motor Sports® is honoring the 30th anniversary of Grave Digger® in 2012 with a year-long celebration that Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® fans will not want to miss. The entire Grave Digger race team, including creator Dennis Anderson, will be commemorating the 30 year history as the most celebrated Monster Jam monster truck of all time. Grave Digger has entertained millions of fans worldwide and has hundreds of racing and freestyle wins – including four Monster Jam World Finals℠ championships.

The black and green 30th Anniversary Grave Digger paint scheme.

Highlighting the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary celebration, which starts in January, will be three specially designed Grave Digger monster trucks, a traveling fan experience, limited edition merchandise, and interactive promotions. Monster Jam fans can get up close to the newly designed versions of Grave Digger and participate in the traveling Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Experience, as part of the Monster Jam pre-show Party in the Pits. The Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Experience, which will tour to all Monster Jam events in which Grave Digger will be performing, features a historical timeline from Grave Digger’s humble beginning to its rise in popularity, exclusive vintage attractions, limited edition merchandise like the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary DVD, broadcasts of thrilling moments from Monster Jam events spanning three decades, and more!

Also part of the celebration is a full line of exclusive limited edition Grave Digger 30th Anniversary merchandise available at mass retail outlets where Monster Jam products are sold.

“It is such an honor and a privilege to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Grave Digger in 2012 with the millions of Monster Jam fans around the globe,” said Dennis Anderson, Grave Digger creator and driver. “The Grave Digger racing team has been bad to the bone for 30 years, and we are excited to show off these special edition 30th Anniversary monster trucks and celebrate with the fans at the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Experience inside the Monster Jam Party in the Pits.”

The purple Grave Digger 30th Anniversary paint scheme.

Monster Jam partners like K’NEX construction toys also are paying homage to Grave Digger’s 30th anniversary by completing a massive top-secret project with a group of talented builders at Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) based in the United Kingdom. The project dubbed BIG BUILD will be revealed in early 2012. BIG BUILD took the team at RBLI more than 300 hours over the course of three months to construct by hand and used more than 700,000 K’NEX pieces. This week the BIG BUILD began its trans-Atlantic pilgrimage from RBLI headquarters in Kent, on England’s southeastern coast, to the United States in preparation for its official unveiling at the beginning of January.

“Grave Digger has spent 30 year entertaining Monster Jam fans, and we will pay special tribute to its place in the history books by honoring the legendary monster truck throughout the 2012 season,” said Charlie Mancuso, president, Feld Motor Sports. “It’s not only a celebration of Grave Digger, but it’s more importantly a celebration of the millions of Monster Jam fans around the world who have supported Grave Digger through the years.”

The green 30th Anniversary Grave Digger paint scheme.

No stone has been left unturned for fans to join in the celebration and all of the fun and excitement of the 30-year history of Grave Digger. Monster Jam fans can get their first sneak peak of the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary celebration on December 24th with the Monster Jam television special airing on CBS, which will provide highlights of 2011 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam season along with exclusive Grave Digger 30th Anniversary features. Interactive promotions for Grave Digger fans also can be found on MonsterJam.com and Monster Jam’s Facebook Fan page.

Tickets are available today at www.MonsterJam.com. Stay tuned for upcoming Grave Digger 30th Anniversary announcements at www.facebook.com/mjonline, and www.twitter.com/monsterjam.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

About K’NEX Brands

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX is America’s building toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love, and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.” Since 1992, The Rodon Group, a subsidiary of K’NEX Brands, L.P., has manufactured over 30 billion parts for the K’NEX building toy system. For more information, please visit www.knex.com or www.rodongroup.com.

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