Feld Motorsports Teams Up With Marvel Entertainment to Expand Monster Truck Lineup

December 8, 2011 by 20 Comments

Aurora, Ill (December 8, 2011) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today that they have teamed up with Marvel Entertainment, LLC to expand the line of branded monster trucks for the 2012 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® season to five. Joining the likes of the Spider-Man™ and the two Iron Man™ monster trucks will be none other than the First Avenger, Captain America, as well as the most popular member of the X-Men, Wolverine.

The relationship between Marvel and Monster Jam dates back to 2001 when they teamed up on the creation of the original Spider-Man and Wolverine monster trucks. Since the partnership’s inception, Marvel Super Heroes have continued to make their mark on the Monster Jam circuit, culminating in the re-launch of Spider-Man and debut of Iron Man in 2010.

Chad Fortune moves into the seat of the new Captain America ride for 2012.

The 2012 season proves to be a ground-breaking year for the Monster Jam and Marvel partnership as it will mark the first year that five Marvel themed monster trucks will be competing on the Monster Jam tour at one time. Beginning January 6, all five Marvel Super Hero monster trucks will be set to compete at numerous Monster Jam events each weekend throughout the country.

Captain America will make its Monster Jam debut at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK. New to the scene in 2012, it will sport its trademark shield and red, white, and blue super-soldier theme. The 2003 Monster Jam World Finals℠ Racing Champion, Wolverine, is making its return to Monster Jam after eight seasons and is ready to dominate once again. The driving forces behind these two super heroes are none other than Monster Jam veterans Chad Fortune in Captain America and Alex Blackwell in Wolverine.

Alex Blackwell jumps behind the wheel or Wolverine as it returns to the Monster Jam truck lineup.

In addition to seeing the 10,000lb super hero monster trucks up close, fans will have the opportunity to purchase merchandise of their favorite Marvel-themed monster trucks including Hot Wheels® die casts, apparel, plush toys, and more.

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 trucks.

Marvel Super Hero Monster Truck Touring Schedule

Wolverine

Captain America
Jan 6,7,8 – Council Bluffs, IA – Mid-America Center Jan 6,7 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
Jan 14,15 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome Jan 14 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome
Jan 21 – Minneapolis, MN – Metrodome Jan 21 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Jan 27,28 – Louisville, KY – Freedom Hall Jan 28 – Orlando FL – Florida Citrus Bowl
Feb 4 – Houston, TX – Reliant Stadium Feb 4 – Houston, TX – Reliant Stadium
Feb 10,11 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena Feb 11 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium
Feb 17,18,19 – Worcester, MA – DCU Center Feb 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Dodgers Stadium
Feb 24,25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Energy Solutions Arena Feb 25 – Oakland, CA – O.co Coliseum
March 3 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field March 3 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
March 9,10,11 – Reno, NV – Livestock Events Center March 10 – Syracuse, NY – Carrier Dome

Iron Man

Spider-Man
Jan 7 – Houston, TX – Reliant Stadium Jan 6,7,8 – Rochester, NY – Blue Cross Arena
Jan 6,7 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center Jan 14 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
Jan 13, 14, 15 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome Jan 20,21,22 – Sacramento, CA – Power Balance Pavilion
Jan 14, 15 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome Jan 28 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium
Jan 21 – Minneapolis, MN – Metrodome Feb 3,4 – Fargo, ND – Fargo Dome
Jan 20,21 – Milwaukee, WI – Bradley Center Feb 11,12 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
Jan 28 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium Feb 17,18,19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center
Jan 27, 28 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena Feb 24,25,26 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
Feb 4 – St. Louis, MO – Edward Jones Dome March 3 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
Feb 3,4,5 – Chattanooga, TN – UTC Arena March 9,10,11 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Convention Center
Feb 10,11 – Edmonton, Alberta – Rexall Place March 16,17 – Dayton, OH – Nutter Center
Feb 11,12 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
Feb 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Dodgers Stadium
Feb 17,18,19 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Feb 25 – Arlington, TX – Cowboy Stadium
Feb 25, 26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena
March 3 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
March 3, 4 – El Paso, TX UTEP Sun Bowl
March 10 – Syracuse, NY – Carrier Dome
March 9,10 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
*All schedules subject to change

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  For more information visit www.marvel.com.

About Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

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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BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc. Unveils Brand New BIGFOOT #18

December 6, 2011 by 19 Comments

(Hazelwood, Missouri – BIGFOOT PR) – It has been a long time since legendary BIGFOOT® driver and nine-time National Champion Dan Runte has been this excited about an upcoming racing season, and that is pretty impressive, considering that Runte has been at the forefront of Team BIGFOOT’s racing program for nearly two decades! But, in 2012, while Runte tries to win his TENTH championship, he will be piloting a brand-new BIGFOOT truck, and he can’t wait to get racing!

As frequent followers of the BIGFOOT team can attest, the last two seasons have been banner years for Runte. He posted a pair of top-shelf seasons in the Lucas Oil 4-Wheel Jamboree series, netting a runner-up in 2010 and a Championship in 2011. He also swept every single race for the last two years at Salt Lake City’s Maverik Clash of the Titans Figure-8 Invitational, appeared at numerous Firestone retailers, and won various other races around the country. And, next week, he will, again, make a trip to Germany to visit US military personnel with fellow Summit Racing drivers Jason Line and Greg Anderson.

The incredible new body used on BIGFOOT #18 comes from the world of short course off road racing.

So what exactly has Runte so excited about 2012? He will be driving the all-new BIGFOOT #18. 2012 will mark the first time since 1992 that Runte (or anyone on Team BIGFOOT) has stepped into a new, totally-redesigned BIGFOOT truck! BIGFOOT #18 will be on a totally new chassis and will include a new suspension design and a totally new style of monster truck body. And Runte is way past ready!

“Our current chassis’ have more than proven its worth,” said Runte. “But for this new truck, we wanted and needed to try some new things that our current setup won’t quite let us get away with. I think it will take a little bit of time to get dialed in and it’s going to take me a while to get used to it, but I’m so ready it’s not even funny. This thing’s gonna be an animal.”

Another look at the stunning new ride for Dan Runte in 2012.

The completion of BIGFOOT #18 will mark the culmination of almost a year’s worth of designing, fabrication, and planning. BIGFOOT VP of Sponsorships & Business Development Bob Trent started the whole project late last year when he pointed out that BIGFOOT had been standing still too long with the use of the same chassis for so many years. He then came up with some really different ideas, including a new chassis and a new body style.

“We came to a crossroads last year where it was like ‘Do we keep modifying what we have, or do we start from scratch?’ The chassis design we have used up to now has been one of the most resilient the industry has ever seen, but we hit the point where we needed a clean slate to try some of the new ideas we had.”

Trent went on to explain that “Bryan Bertoletti, our lead mechanic and fabricator, helped make sure the design I found would give us the flexibility to do what we wanted, while still allowing us the ability to add to our fleet in a cost-effective and timely manner. We are just too busy maintaining our current fleet to start something completely from scratch.”

Bertoletti went on to explain: “The chassis design we currently rely on has served us very well since we developed the first one years ago (for BIGFOOT #10), since then we’ve refined that design significantly. Even with all the curve balls we face from tracks, etc., our trucks have consistently met the challenge. But we needed to move forward. We wanted a lower center of gravity, additional reinforcement in various places, and a longer wheelbase.”

Team BIGFOOT had been working around the clock to finish #18 for the 2012 racing season. Pictured left to right, Jim Kramer, Bob Brown, Nick Dvorchak, Dan Runte, Chris Ludwig, Bryan Bertoletti and John Peterson.

BIGFOOT #18 will feature close to 4 ½ inches of additional shock travel in the front, improved driveline restraint systems, nearly 6 inches of additional wheelbase, improved shock mounting angles, and a mass of additional steel tubing in critical areas, all of which will allow the truck to better sustain the abuses it is expected to encounter in its first season of competition. All of this will be topped off with a radical new truck body that can only be described as “extreme.”

Runte is tentatively scheduled to debut his new ride at the Toughest Monster Truck Tour event in Southaven, MS (Memphis) during the second weekend of January, the first stop in his quest to capture the inaugural Toughest Monster Truck/Monster Nation dual-championship. The TMT/MN partnership is the first time the monster truck industry has ever seen two separate series’ combine points for a single title for racing and a single title for freestyle. Following the completion of the indoor tour in March, Runte will head outdoors in May to defend his Lucas Oil 4-Wheel Jamboree championship in Springfield, MO.

But, for now, Runte is just ready to get in his new truck! “I’m stoked about the New Year, but around here its best to take things one day at a time. We’ve got a lot of testing to do with this new truck before we try to win races with it. But I’m pretty optimistic about how testing is going to go, and once we’ve got that under our belt it’s going to be GAME ON. The guys here are ready to see what this thing can do, and so are the fans. They’ve been waiting pretty patiently,” said Runte.

Perhaps Runte summed it best during a break in construction while talking to one of the team’s other drivers: “I’m ready to go hit something big with this thing!”

BIGFOOT would like to thank everyone for their efforts on this project, with a special “THANKS” to Jim Kramer, John Peterson, Chris Ludwig, Nick Dvorchak, and Bob Brown!

For more information on the new BIGFOOT #18 and the rest of the team, check out www.BIGFOOT4x4.com!

(Photos & Video courtesy BIGFOOT 4×4)

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Hotsy Pressure Washers Renews with Hall Brothers Racing

December 6, 2011 by 1 Comment

(Champaign, Illinois – Hall Brothers Racing PR) – Hall Brothers Racing is pleased to announce that Hotsy Pressure Washers has returned as primary sponsor of the Hotsy RAMINATOR for 2012.

“The Hotsy RAMINATOR monster truck and driver Mark Hall are big draws for us at trade shows throughout the United States, and provide great exposure for the Hotsy brand” said Robin Paul, Hotsy Marketing Manager. “Our pressure washers keep RAMINATOR clean and spotless, so it’s an ideal partnership. RAMINATOR is strong, tough and durable…just like Hotsy pressure washers. It’s a perfect match, and we’re looking forward to another stellar year.”

The Hotsy Raminator will be back for 2012.

Driver Mark Hall added “ We get a lot of compliments on how nice we keep our equipment, and we couldn’t do that without our Hotsy Pressure Washers. They are always ready to go to work and help keep our trucks looking good.” He added “I enjoy visiting the various trade shows we do for Hotsy and talking to the folks that stop by the exhibit. People from all industries use Hotsy equipment…it really is the best. I invite all my fellow monster truck owners to experience the Hotsy advantage for themselves; they offer a discount program to monster truck teams. Don’t mess around with inferior washers…get a Hotsy and get the job done!”

Team co-owner and crew chief Tim Hall said “Time is very important to everyone these days. We are all trying to do more with less. When it is time to clean up the trucks and haulers…or even parts or wash tires…you have to get it done quickly and efficiently. There is just no time to mess around fighting with your equipment trying to get it to work. Hotsy offers a full line of washers and detergents that get your stuff clean quickly and efficiently, so you can get it in the shop, turned around and serviced, and head back out to the next event with a minimum hassle. I wouldn’t use anything else”.

Watch for the 2012 version of the Hotsy RAMINATOR appearing at farm shows, trade shows and events near you!

For more information, check out www.hotsy.com or www.raminator.com.

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BIGFOOT Fans, Tomorrow is BLUE TUESDAY, Save 20% Off Online Orders

December 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(Hazelwood, Missouri – BIGFOOT PR) – The BIGFOOT Online Store will be running a special promotion tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6th, they’re calling BLUE TUESDAY!  Fans can get 20% off their online order, but its for ONE DAY ONLY!

It works like this –

* Go the BIGFOOT Online Store anytime on Tuesday, December 6th (12AM – 11:59PM).

* Complete your order as normal!

* Right before payment, enter the coupon code “BLUE“, and a 20% discount will be applied to your order!

Save 20% off tons of great BIGFOOT merchandise on BLUE TUESDAY!

That’s all you have to do! There are no limits on how many items/orders you can purchase/place with the coupon, so take advantage of this one day deal to score all the latest BIGFOOT schwag!

For more information, check out www.BIGFOOT4x4.com.

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Obsession Racing 2011 Press Release 11

December 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(Menifee, California – Obsession Racing PR – By Jill Swanson) – The first week of November was a busy week for Obsession Racing. We attended the SEMA show in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday and then headed down to Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday morning as we had an event with the monster trucks starting on that night with WGAS Motorsports.

The success of the SEMA show has always been beneficial to us each year. Rick was able see our current sponsors and also meet with a couple of new ones. We are looking forward to our continuing support of our current sponsors, and the support of our new sponsors. We are truly thankful for all of our sponsors, because in this sport you can not do it solely.

Rick in Obsession gets after it at the Maricopa County Fairgrounds.

The Phoenix, Arizona Show was four shows that started on Thursday through Sunday with one show a day. Thursday night was a quick exhibition run where each truck performed for two minutes. The next three nights they added more jumps and obstacles. For these nights they had judging. Friday night Rick tied for first place and Eric took second place. On Saturday night Eric took second place and Rick took third. Sunday night’s event Rick took second place and Eric took third. Obsession Racing had an extremely good weekend. Both trucks ran strong. The crowd was pleased with their runs and it showed as we were able to converse with the fans as they let them into the pits after the show for autographs. One lady even told Eric that she is now an Obsessed fan and she is switching from a Grave Digger fan to an Obsessed fan! He is really growing a strong fan base and it makes us very proud of how successful he is becoming!

Eric in Obsessed catching some air in Phoenix, Arizona.

AmeriGas has a large plant that is in the Phoenix area and we were so very fortunate to have the help of Frank and some of his employees and family that helped us out immensely!! We also want to thank the Allen family (Jim, Carol and Christopher) for the excellent dinner Carol prepared and brought to us and their dedication as great fans and friends to our Obsession Racing family business!

We will be on display this weekend at Gold’s Gym for the AmeriGas’s Temecula store. After this display, it will be tear down time for the Obsession and Obsessed trucks to get ready and fired up for the upcoming 2012 season! For more up to the minute updates, check us out on Facebook, and for more information on the team check out www.ObsessionRacing.com!

(Photos by Jim Allen)

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Associated Press Features Kid KJ & Monster Bear

November 23, 2011 by 2 Comments

Uncle Tod Motorsports has received some major national attention for Kid KJ and the Monster Bear mini-monster truck. The Associated Press has just finished a feature story and video on Kid KJ, which has led to news organizations all over the world picking up the story.

A big congratulations to Uncle Tod Motorsports for the great exposure this has resulted in for Kid KJ, Monster Bear, and the monster truck industry.

Be sure to also check out the full text article: http://news.yahoo.com/8-old-kid-kj-drives-monster-trucks-pro-182941989.html

Kid KJ performs a big vertical wheelie in Monster Bear at the 2011 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Like Kid KJ & Monster Bear on Facebook and click “Like” to stay up to date with all the latest team information from Uncle Tod Motorsports!

(Photo by Danny Maass)

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New Country Artist Jason Sturgeon Will Rock Monster Nationals Tour In 2012

November 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(Nashville, Tennesse – Family Events PR) – Toolpusher Records’ artist Jason Sturgeon is partnering with the Monster Truck Nationals for 2012 to perform his revved up live set during the already high-octane event.

“I couldn’t be more excited!” says Jason. “I grew up around engines and cars, working on them with my dad. The Monster Truck Nationals tour is a father-son event so I’m really happy to be part of it.”

Sturgeon is currently working on a new song just for The Monster Truck Tour, which will be the first single from his forthcoming sophomore CD release.

The Monster Truck Nationals is a monster truck thrill show that features two legendary BIGFOOT trucks competing against a field of other top pro monsters at every event. Each event also features the car-crushing, fire-breathing Transaurus and the Lil’ Mighty Monsters – the world’s youngest monster truck team! Jason’s song and others in his live set will be performed as part of the “Party In The Pits” at select Monster Truck Nationals events. The Party In The Pits allow kids and parents to get up close and personal with their favorite Monster Truck and their drivers on the floor of the arena!

Some of the action you'll see on the 2012 Monster Nationals Tour.

“We can’t wait to add Jason’s high energy show into the Monster Truck Nationals series,” said Jessica Hubley, Marketing Manager for Family Events. “Jason is an incredibly talented artist with a true passion for motor sports. We know our audience will identify with his music on many levels.”

The Monster Truck Nationals Tour is produced by Family Events, a family-owned and operated event production company based in Indianapolis, IN. Family Events has specialized in family entertainment and motorsport events since owner C. Bruce Hubley founded the company in 1976. Bruce’s daughters Jessica & Lindsay, along with his wife, Patty are also actively involved in the family business. The company owns and produces The Family Events Performance Series and various automotive events for car and truck enthusiasts nationwide. These weekend events are packed with burn out competitions, Monster Truck Thunder Drags, NMRO Championship Mud Drags, Tough Trucks racing, Rock Crawls, manufacturer’s midway, show-n-shine awards, seminars, awards ceremonies, food and fun for the whole family.

2012 Monster Truck Nationals Schedule

January 13 & 14 – Sioux City, IA / Tyson Events Center
January 27, 28 & 29 – Madison, WI / Alliant Energy Center
February 11 – Champaign, IL / Assembly Hall
February 17 & 18 – Corbin, KY / The Arena
March 2 & 3 – DuQuoin, IL / Southern Illinois Center
March 9 & 10 – Chicago, IL / The Sears Center
March 30 & 31 – State College, PA / Bryce Jordan Center
April 14 – Columbus, OH / Value City Arena
April 27 & 28 Erie, PA / Tullio Arena
June 8 & 9 – Missoula, MT / Western Montana Fairgrounds
June 15 & 16 – Kalispell, MT / Flathead County Fairgrounds
August 4 – Indianapolis, IN / Indiana State Fair
August 18 – Lynden, WA / NW Washington Fairgrounds
November 2 & 3 – Remond, OR / Deschutes County Fairgrounds

Jason Sturgeon’s debut release THAT’S ME is a vivid collection of audio snapshots of Jason’s life. From the hard-driving, unapologetic opening strains of the sexy, growling title track to the scorching heat of “Endless Summer,” you know exactly who he is, where he comes from, and what kind of ride you’re in for…which is not for the faint of heart. A hell-raising country rocker who can tear it up all night long, he also shows he can break it down in the quieter moments on tracks like the seductive “Blankets,” or spend moments in contemplation on what we’re all doing here on tunes like the homespun song “The Cover.” And he sums up his journey so far on the heartland ode “Simple Life,” a three-minute declaration of all that he is and holds dear. To understand Jason, pop in the CD and listen…he lays it out bare for you in three-minute vignettes packed with truth and honesty served str aight up, just the way he likes it.

For more information on the 2012 Monster Truck Nationals Tour, visit www.MonsterNationals.com. For more information on country artist Jason Sturgeon, visit www.jasonsturgeonmusic.com.

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Montreal’s Olympic Stadium Ready for Fall Monster Spectacular

November 15, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Drummondville, Quebec – Chris Arel Motorsports PR) – While 2011 may be winding down, one of the biggest events of the year is happening Saturday, November 26th as Monster Spectacular once again takes over Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. The big event will feature 12 of the best monster trucks battling it out in racing and freestyle as Chris Arel Motorsports celebrates its 16th straight fall event in Montreal.

The fall Monster Spectacular at Montreal's Olympic Stadium is sure to be battle royale as 2Xtreme Racing takes on Team Scream!

The event will be a showdown between some of the sport’s most prolific teams, with 4 trucks from 2Xtreme Racing (Bounty Hunter, Red Baron, Bounty Hunter Black & Iron Outlaw), 4 trucks from Team Scream (Avenger, Brutus, Spike & Wrecking Crew) and 2 trucks each from Sudden Impact Racing (Ground Pounder & Michigan Ice Monster) and Vaters Monster Motorsports (Black Stallion & Higher Education).

X Tracks Canada is putting together another exciting new track layout for the event with bigger obstacles, high flying ramps and much more.

Additional entertainment will include the human cannonball Dave Smith, oval demo derby races, FMX with motorcycles & ATV’s, modified lawnmower races and autocross.

The Monster Spectacular at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is a unique, exciting family event and Canada’s biggest monster truck show. Don’t be the one who misses out on the incredible action, head on over to www.ChrisArel.com to get your tickets now!

(Photo by Stephanie Cotnoir)

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IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Tickets Available Until Saturday, November 5th

November 1, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Auburn, IN – IMTM PR) – Hurry fans, there is only 5 days left to get your tickets for the first ever International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony! Because this is a catered event, you must have your tickets purchased by Saturday, November 5th.

The event will take place Saturday, November 19th in Auburn, Indiana at the International Monster Truck Museum, which is located at the American Heritage Village. There will only be ONE first ever Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and you can be on hand to see the sport’s “Originals” honored as the first inductees. They will include Bob Chandler (Bigfoot), Jeff Dane (King Kong), Dan DeGrasso (Beast), Fred Shafer (Bearfoot), Jack Wilman (Taurus), and Everett Jasmer (USA-1).

The fun kicks off with a meet & greet ceremony beginning at 5:00PM, followed by the catered dinner at 6:00PM. The ceremony will be emcee’d by legendary monster truck personality Army Armstrong, who will conduct interviews with each of the inductees.

Each inductee will also have a special tribute video played featuring some never-before-seen footage. Check out this promo video to see a preview of what you’ll get to see!

Tickets are $35 and are available now at www.MonsterMuseum.org. Get them now, there’s only 5 days left!!

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Dan Runte, Team Summit Drivers to Visit Troops in Germany

October 28, 2011 by 1 Comment

(Tallmadge, Ohio – Summit Racing PR) – Team Summit stars Greg Anderson (NHRA Pro Stock), Jason Line (NHRA Pro Stock), Rickie Jones (ADRL Pro Nitrous), and Dan Runte (Summit Racing/BIGFOOT Monster Truck) will be bringing a bit of home to American troops overseas as part of the Armed Forces Entertainment-sponsored trip to Germany this November.

Team Summit drivers Jason Line, Dan Runte, and Rickie Jones visiting with Air Force personnel at Ramstein AFB, Germany, in 2010.

The trip marks the seventh consecutive year NHRA pro-class racers have visited troops overseas. This is the first visit for Greg Anderson; Jason Line, Rickie Jones, and Dan Runte made the trip in 2010.

Team Summit will be based at Ramstein Air Base, spending three days visiting with military personnel as well as wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the Wounded Warrior Center. The 86th Services Squadron will host the drivers and provide transportation and logistics support during the visit. Major (retired) Dieter Protsch and Sfc (Retired) Wayne Reed of the Army Special Forces Association Chapter 64 (Carlisle, PA) will accompany the team as tour coordinators.

DHL Express USA has again donated their international express shipping service to deliver approximately five pallets’ worth of T-shirts, ball caps, banners, decals, Spike TV Powerblock DVDs, and other items to Ramstein, Germany. Team Summit racers will be handing out these goodies to service personnel during the trip. This marks the second year DHL Express has contributed to the cause.

“You Feel Like You’ve Done Something Good”. “I’m excited to be going back to Germany, and especially excited that Greg is going with us this year,” said Jason Line, driver of one of KB Racing’s Pontiac GXP Pro Stockers. “This will be my third time, and it’s just a great trip—you feel like you’ve done something good. Those people are doing good every day just doing their jobs, and if we’re able to bring them a little slice of home to show our appreciation for what they do, it is well worth the time. After all, they are the ones who allow us to have the freedoms we enjoy every day, so this is the very least we can do for them.”

Rickie Jones, who pilots a 1969 Camaro in ADRL Pro Nitrous and NHRA Pro Modified competition, echoed Line’s sentiments. “This will be my second year traveling overseas with Team Summit. It is truly an honor to meet and visit with the men and women that have sacrificed so much for our nation. The joy that we can bring by simply expressing our appreciation for their dedication and service is amazing. It is a true honor to be a part of this.” “It’s Important to Go”

Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson heard all about the visits from teammate Jason Line and committed to go this year. “Jason has gone the last couple years, and each time he returned from the trip he would tell me what a tremendous experience it was and what a great time he had,” said Anderson. “I’m glad to have the chance to join him this year. These people sacrifice so much to allow us to enjoy our freedom. I think it’s important to go and spend some time with them and show our appreciation. It’s going to be a great deal for me personally, and I can’t wait to get over there.”

Summit Racing/BIGFOOT Monster Truck driver Dan Runte said, “Our troops spend so much time away from their families and friends protecting all of us at home. Anything we can do to show them that we appreciate their sacrifice is time and effort well spent. They’re a big reason why we enjoy our freedoms as Americans.”

“Summit Racing is honored to once again have the opportunity to be a part of this trip and show continued support of our troops,“ explained Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager. “It was an eye-opening experience to see the men and women of our military in action when we visited last year, and were touched by just how much they appreciated our visit. We are looking forward to returning to Ramstein AFB, and visiting additional bases this year. Thanks go to Armed Forces Entertainment, Army Special Forces Association Chapter 64, and Wayne and Dieter for allowing us the honor of visiting the troops.”

Team Summit racers will be blogging during the trip. The blogs and photos will be posted on www.SummitRacing.com and www.NHRA.com.

For more information about Team BIGFOOT, please visit www.bigfoot4x4.com.

About Armed Forces Entertainment

As the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas, Armed Forces Entertainment and its performers have the honor of supporting soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines by bringing them the very best in American entertainment. Armed Forces Entertainment hosts more than 1,200 shows around the world each year, reaching more than 500,000 personnel at 270 military installations. From muddy makeshift stages to show-stopping extravaganzas, the performances bring a piece of home to those stationed far away from home. Learn more at www.armedforcesenterainment.com

About DHL Express USA

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics Company for the World”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. For more information go to www.dhl-usa.com

About Summit Racing Equipment

Established in 1968, Summit Racing Equipment is the leading high performance parts and accessories company. Summit Racing offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and best customer service in the high performance industry via catalogs, Internet, and Retail Super Stores. The company is headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio with retail locations in Tallmadge, Ohio; Sparks, Nevada; and McDonough, Georgia.

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Obsession Racing 2011 Press Release #10

October 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(Menifee, California – Obsession Racing PR – By Jill Swanson) – The Obsession Racing team has spent the last two weekends on the road doing shows for WGAS Motorsports. The audience got to see our Father & Son Team race and freestyle. The first weekend’s event was held in Turlock, California. We had one show per day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Rick did very well in racing for all three days. Eric was also at the top of his game in Obsessed making it to the semi-finals in racing. Rick and Eric put on another great freestyle. The fans are so impressed with Eric’s driving abilities and skills for the amount of time he has been driving.

Our latest show was held next to our hometown in Perris, California at the Southern California State Fair. This was four shows in three days. This was a freestyle only show. This was the first year ever that Perris had double stacked car jumps and even a boat to jump on Sunday! The event featured a field of 10 very competitive well known trucks. Both trucks scored in the top half in all four shows and Eric placed second for two of the shows against Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter, and in one of the shows he was only a point off from Jimmy!

Eric Swanson freestyles Obsessed in Perris, California.

In between the shows at Perris, Eric filmed for a new show call Stunt Busters on Speed TV. Eric showed the host how he pilots the truck and then the host wanted to give it a whirl! She did really well for her first time driving the truck and she also jumped some cars. She wasn’t afraid about the impact of landings as she is a professional stunt car driver and crushes and crashes things for a living which makes her a great host for the show. We hoping it will be airing around the end of the year! So please check out our new rising star!

A Speed TV film crew works with Eric Swanson and Obsessed.

Next week we will be heading to SEMA and we look forward to seeing our sponsors there. For more information on the Obsession and Obsessed monster trucks, visit us online at www.ObsessionRacing.com.

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Kyle Doyle to Pilot Firestone BIGFOOT in 2012

October 19, 2011 by 1 Comment

(Hazelwood, MO – BIGFOOT PR) – BIGFOOT 4×4 Inc. announced this week that team driver Kyle Doyle will take the reigns of the Firestone BIGFOOT® monster truck in 2012, kicking off his rookie season behind the wheel of the team’s red, white, and blue Firestone flagship.

27-year old Doyle, who previously had been a fill-in driver for the team, moved into a full-time slot behind the wheel of BIGFOOT #10 in February of 2011 and immediately set about the task of proving his worth on the team’s roster. After spending the bulk of 2011 performing car-crush exhibitions in BIGFOOT #10 (decked out in 2011 Firestone/MLB All-Star Game colors), Doyle competed in the first two races of his driving career at a pair of FMG/Skyfire Productions monster truck races in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in September.

This caught the industry off-guard, as the Firestone/MLB BIGFOOT currently is the team’s first and only Chevrolet body/engine combination in their 36 year history, and was originally not slated to ever see competition! Needless to say, this surprise was warmly welcomed by fans, and, despite his lack of on-track experience and an unproven engine combination, Doyle was able to quickly find victory lane. Over the course of seven shows between the two events, Doyle took the top qualifying spot all seven nights, won all seven final rounds, and took six out of seven freestyle competitions.

“I can’t even describe how cool it was to compete in a monster truck for the first time, and for it to be a Chevrolet-powered BIGFOOT truck on top of that!” said Doyle. “When you spend your whole childhood fascinated with these things, and then you spend your whole adult life working towards the chance to race one of them, it is very gratifying when a team like BIGFOOT puts their faith in you and gives you a shot at it. That’s huge in my book, and I can’t thank them enough.”

With Darron Schnell moving into the new Vi-cor sponsored Bigfoot for 2012, Kyle Doyle will compete for Rookie of the Year in the Firestone Bigfoot ride.

Jim Kramer, former BIGFOOT driver and current BIGFOOT VP of Research, Technology, & Driver Development, worked with Doyle at his first racing event and was optimistic about the results: “We’re proud that Kyle has become a first-tier driver at BIGFOOT. We increased Kyle’s training opportunities over the last several months and he’s shown us his drive AND his ability to represent our company on and off the track!”

Kramer added that “Kyle’s recent race wins and his attention to truck safety show us that he’s ready to further his monster truck driving career at BIGFOOT. We’re expecting good things from him in the future!”

BIGFOOT VP of Sponsorships and Business Development, Bob Trent, was equally enthusiastic about Doyle’s transition to the Firestone ride: “Kyle came to us a couple years ago with a deep background in the industry. Once we started giving him some seat time, we realized that we really should get him into a truck full-time! His results speak for themselves. Everyone here is looking forward to seeing what he can do in 2012, especially during the indoor season.”

Doyle is extremely excited to be carrying the team’s Firestone colors heading into his rookie racing season. “With Darron [Schnell] picking up the flag for our new Vi-COR sponsorship and moving out of the Firestone ride, I am looking forward to representing Firestone in 2012! They have been with BIGFOOT since 1991, so it’s a BIG responsibility. I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but with a great sponsor and a great team of people behind me, I’m very excited to see what happens!”

For more information about Team BIGFOOT, please visit www.Bigfoot4x4.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A big congratulations to former TMB Staff Member Kyle Doyle on realizing his dream of being a full-time monster truck driver. Best of luck in 2012!

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Monster Truck Radio to Interview Members of 1st Hall of Fame Class

October 17, 2011 by 2 Comments

(Auburn, Indiana – IMTM PR) – The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame is proud to announce that 5 of the first 6 monster truck legends to be inducted into the Hall of Fame will be guests on Monster Truck Radio the next 5 weeks leading up to the much anticipated 1st Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday, November 19th in Auburn, Indiana.

This incredible run of historic interviews that Monster Truck Radio is calling the “Road to the Hall of Fame” begins tonight at 9PM Eastern as host Jeff Richards will talk to one of the originals himself, Jeff Dane. Tune in live at www.MonsterTruckRadio.com and be a part of the live chat, you can even submit questions for Roller to ask to Mr. Dane.

Here is the upcoming schedule of interviews:

10/17 – Jeff Dane – King Kong
10/24 – Dan DeGrasso – Beast
10/31 – Jack Wilman – Taurus
11/7 – Everett Jasmer – USA-1
11/14 – Bob Chandler – BIGFOOT

A huge thanks to the five inductees who were willing to participate in this great interview series.

If you’re unable to make the live show, don’t worry, as you can tune in to an archived version of the show each week at TheMonsterBlog.com.

The International Monster Truck Museum's first ever Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is November 19th in Auburn, Indiana. Get your tickets now at www.MonsterMuseum.org!

Tickets are still available for YOU to attend the first ever IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Auburn, Indiana on Saturday, November 19th and you can get them now at www.MonsterMuseum.org! As this is a catered event, you must get your tickets by November 5th, so don’t wait!

More information on the big event can be found at www.MonsterMuseum.org. Tune in live tonight at www.MonsterTruckRadio.com, we’ll see you there!

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Obsession Racing 2011 Press Release #9

October 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(Menifee, CA – Obsession Racing PR – By Jill Swanson) – Last weekend, the Obession Racing team was in Sublimity, Oregon for the Harvest Festival. This show is a non-profit event to raise money for children in need from the area. This is not just your average show. It is a complete community outreach. The trucks are sponsored by local businesses to come and perform. The trade-out is all show sponsors that participate get a private BBQ and a pre-show on Thursday night. The gates are open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

With team member Jeff Jones’ high position at AmeriGas and high volume of work, he has not been able to drive at some of our shows this year. On the norm, Jimmy Lehnertz has stepped in for Jeff and driven for the team. But we had a special surprise in Sublimity, having Aaron Basl, Monster Jam driver of the Turtle truck, fill in for us. We thought it would be nice for him to be able to compete with his twin brother Daron in their hometown. They have a lot of family that comes to this show and their father currently lives there. We also feel as though they are family to us. We have had both Aaron and Daron stay at our home and they are such a pleasure to have around! Aaron did an excellent job piloting both trucks! He even did an awesome save in Obsession on Saturday night! All the shows were freestyle only and Rick and Aaron did the town proud. We had some good times over at Gary Basl’s house (Aaron & Daron’s Dad) after the shows and enjoyed really good food and company!

Aaron Basl stands Obsession straight up and down as he takes on the bus stack at the Sublimity Harvest Festival.

On September 30th and October 1st-2nd, we were in Red Bluff, California. We had Jimmy Lehnertz back in the seat of Obsession. This show is for the West Coast Monster Truck Fall Nationals. There were three shows with both racing and freestyle. Both of the trucks did very well in racing. I was very proud to see Rick take a round win against Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction. This is a huge honor as Tom is one of the best racers that you could compete against and very rarely looses. They were also on their game for freestyle hitting all of the big obstacles and pleasing the crowd with the show they put on.

Rick Swanson catches some big air in Obsessed at the West Coast Monster Truck Nationals.

We want to make sure we thank Aaron and the Basl family for all that they have done and do for us in making feel welcome and like family. Also we are so fortunate to have Jimmy Lehnertz drive for us and his wonderful wife and son to help us with what whatever we need! Our next event will be in Turlock, California where Eric will be back driving the Obsessed truck.

For more information on the Obsession and Obsessed monster truck, visit us online at www.ObsessionRacing.com!

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Viper Celebrity Challenge Race featuring RAMINATOR Driver Mark Hall on Versus TV Sunday

October 7, 2011 by 3 Comments

(Champaign, Illinois – Hall Brothers Racing PR) – Multi-time Monster Truck Racing Champion Mark Hall, driver of the RAMINATOR monster truck, recently competed in the Dodge Viper Celebrity Challenge event held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event will be broadcast Sunday, October 9th at 3PM Eastern time on Versus TV.

Mark Hall is one of monster truck racing's most accomplished drivers and he recently had the chance to try out his skills against some of the Dodge Motorsports team's best from every discipline.

Mark competed against fellow Dodge Motorsports drivers in equally prepared 640 horsepower Dodge Viper ACRx cars on the 2.44 mile road course at Miller Motorsports Park. NASCAR drivers Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Robby Gordon were in the race, along with racing icon Roger Penske. Formula Drift and off road racer Sam Hubinette and NHRA Pro-Stock racer Allen Johnson also competed, as did motocross stars Ivan Tedesco and Carey Hart. Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish, JR and others were also in the field.

Mark Hall pilots a Dodge Viper around Miller Motorsports Park.

Road racer Cindi Lux helped give Mark some instructions prior to the race.

“I had a great time”, said Hall. “Hanging out with all these great champion drivers, what a fantastic experience! I hope we can do it again sometime!”

The event raised more than $18,000 for various charities.

For more information on Hall Brothers Racing, visit their website at www.Raminator.com. Don’t forget to tune in October 9th at 3PM on Versus to see it for yourself!

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