Monster Photos: O’Reilly Outlaw Nationals – Miami, OK 2011

Event: O’Reilly Outlaw Nationals
Venue: Miami Fairgrounds
Location: Miami, Oklahoma
Date: June 17th-18th, 2011
Photographer: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: Avenger (Jim Koehler), Barbarian (Devin Jones), Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten), Brute Force (Jerry Perry), Crashmaster (Jeremy Perry), Iron Outlaw (Jay McPherson), War Wagon (Andy Hoffman), Wrecking Crew (Steve Koehler) [Read more…]

Video of the Week – 07/02/11

Week Ending: July 2nd, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten), Iron Outlaw (Darren Migues)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Awesome dual freestyle from Jimmy Creten and Darren Migues at the big Kaboom event in Pomona, California.

Monster Photos: All Star Monster Truck Tour – Primm, NV 2011

Event: All Star Monster Truck Tour
Venue: Star of the Desert Arena
Location: Primm, Nevada
Date: June 24th-25th, 2011
Photographer: Lauren Z. Bonar

Lineup: Bounty Hunter (Darren Migues), Ground Pounder (Chris Ryan), Iron Outlaw (Gene Kinal), McGruff (Rod Wood), Michigan Ice Monster (Chris Lagana) [Read more…]

Video of the Week – 05/28/11

Week Ending: May 28th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Jimmy Creten lays down a dominating freestyle to take the victory at the Monster Trucks Showdown event in Monterrey, Mexico.

Monster Photos: Kicker Monster Truck Nationals – Clovis, NM 2011

Event: Kicker Monster Truck Nationals
Venue: Curry County Fairgrounds
Location: Clovis, New Mexico
Date: May 13th-14th, 2011
Photographer: Anthony Cordova

Lineup: Barbarian (Devin Jones), Bounty Hunter (Darren Migues), Hurricane Force (Steven Thompson), Storm Damage (Tim Mente) [Read more…]

Video of the Week – 05/14/11

Week Ending: May 14th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Bounty Hunter (Darren Migues), Hurricane Force (Steven Thompson)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Wheelie contest clips from the Kicker Monster Truck Nationals in Clovis, New Mexico featuring an incredible launch from Darren Migues and the Bounty Hunter.

Video of the Week – 05/07/11

Week Ending: May 7th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Avenger (Jim Koehler), Bounty Hunter (Darren Migues), Brutus (Chris Bergeron), Nasty Boy (Ronnie Sturges), Summit Bigfoot 16 (Dan Runte), Unnamed & Untamed (Travis Sturges)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Highlights from this year’s NAPA Monster Truck Nationals & Jet Car Meltdown featuring Robosaurus.

The Allen Report: NAPA Monster Truck Nationals – Chandler, AZ 2011

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Six of the top monster trucks in the world arrived at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona for the annual NAPA Monster Truck Nationals and Night of Fire, held on Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st, 2011. Participants included current Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion Jim Koehler in Avenger, with last year’s Firebird runner-up Chris Bergeron in Brutus right behind him. Darren Migues would be filling in for perennial Firebird Champ Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter, Dan Runte would be back in Summit Bigfoot 16 and Travis and Ronnie Sturges would be piloting Unnamed & Untamed and Nasty Boy from just down the road in Tucson. Nasty Boy was even sporting the great looking TMB flag for the weekend’s events. The grand finale would be the return of the 40-foot tall, 60,000 pound car-eating, fire-breathing monstrosity Robosaurus.

Opening each show was a wheelie and donut competition with the brothers Sturges giving wheelies that set the stage for what was to come. Brutus not only surprised the Firebird fans with a 45 degree angle wheelie attempt, but gave cyclones that had yours truly thinking back to Wrecking Crew at the 2010 Monster Jam World Finals encore. Even better, Chris put the wreck from last year behind him with a perfect score of 30, followed it up with an outstanding freestyle, taking the Saturday night championship.

Sunday saw the encore performance for the fans that could not make it the first night. At one of his favorite places to perform, Dan and Bigfoot got the crowd pumped up with his shots at the wheelie and donut win. But it was déjà vu for Chris Bergeron, who found himself tied with Bounty Hunter with just freestyle left to go for the weekend. The judging was close, but Darren kept the Bounty Hunter Firebird legacy alive with a score tallied over wheelies and donuts combined with his freestyle number to oust Brutus for the second year in a row.

To close each show, Shawn Pacheco and Robosaurus fascinated the kids in the crowd by eating, breaking and burning a junk car or, in the case of the big show on Saturday, no less than three. In addition, Sam Sturges gave rides to fans young and old in his team’s “Boogie Monster” ride truck. Will Team Scream ever be able to defeat Bounty Hunter at Firebird? Find out next year. Until then, thank you for reading, thanks to everyone with Firebird Raceway for their hospitality, enjoy Jim’s great photos and cheer on!

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2011.

Monster Spectacular Tour Update – Red Baron Rocks Regina

(Ottawa, Ontario – By Doug De Nance) – The mystery man who drives the truck that reigns supreme in Canada supremely entertained Monster Spectacular fans in Regina when he not only tore off his mask, but tore up his truck during a most spectacular monster truck racing win.

During the VIP pre-show pit party, the Red Baron kept his red and white Luchador mask firmly in place, refusing to speak to the fans one on one or to them all on the microphone. When asked how he planned to win racing he simply held his arm up in an arc, demonstrating that he would make Red Baron fly over the cars. The incognito driver had more in common with the lucha libre wrestlers than just the mask. That heavily muscled arm he used to predict his racing win strained the seams of his black fire suit as the Canadian Champion signed autographs and had photos taken. But his personality remained an enigma to Monster Spectacular fans and officials alike.

One man who was anything but a mystery was Jimmy Creten. The 2005 World Monster Truck Freestyle Champion had come in second in racing at the world finals a few months ago and was out to prove he should have been first. Tearing through racing bracket after racing bracket since, Jimmy was driving Bounty Hunter to win after racing win. When asked if he would win tonight, he was respectful to his fellow drivers, but confident he would make history repeat itself.

As is historically the case, Creten edged out a win in the Monster Truck Wheelie contest, but had his toughest challenge from Red Baron. The Canadian Champion, hit a fantastic” timber” wheelie, standing the 10,000 pound truck straight up on the wheelie bar jammed the brakes to cause the truck to stop at the 120’clock position and slowly fall back to earth. However, as Baron goosed the throttle the truck lurched into a bicycle onto the two passenger side wheels but he drove out easily to a stop.

 

Jimmy Creten took the wheelie contest win in the Bounty Hunter.

They say history repeats itself. In the finals, that was the case for the Red Baron, but not for Jimmy Creten. Red Baron had to race his way to the finals through the monster truck straight ahead drag racing brackets, beating Don Frankish in Maniac (in what may well be his final year after 21 years on the monster truck circuit), as well as Frankish’s team mate Nathan Weenk, back behind the wheel of Jurassic Attack after spending that last few years racing in the Canadian Nascar series (Weenk calls that style of racing a “traffic jam at 120 mph”). While Creten had a buy into the second round, he still had to defeat Barry Parkin and Western Renegade to get to the final.

With the two finalists at the line, the tension began to build. Creten backed off of the line and then roared the massive engine of Bounty Hunter to spin all four tires trying to warm up the rubber for some extra traction on the slippery cement surface of the Brandt Center. Not to be outdone, Red Barron did the same thing. Then Creten repeated the action and the Red Baron reciprocated. If Creten was trying to play a mind game, the Red Baron was giving as good as he was getting. Finally the track official staged the two trucks and the final race was about to go green.

The trucks looked like mirror images of each other, not only because they are Ford Expeditions, but because as they hit the cars, both trucks titled to the outside of the car stacks as they soared though the air. Both trucks landed on the outside two wheels virtually simultaneously at the end of the car stacks. But that is where the mirror image was shattered. Creten bounced back and forth, but somehow managed to stop with the rubber side down. Not so for the Red Baron. The truck rocked back and forth and then was headed straight for Maniac who was pitted on the floor. To avoid a head on crash, the Baron cranked the wheel catapulting the truck onto its side and then its roof. Sliding across the floor, the Baron slammed into Frankish’s front passenger side tire, caving in his front quarter panel in the process. The impact into Maniac stopped the upside down Red Baron dead in his tracks, slamming the Baron violently in his seat against the 5 point harness.

 

WILD ride for the Red Baron as Ben Winslow takes the racing victory.

A hush fell over the arena as fans waited to see if the Baron would emerge from the upside down truck. After what seemed an eternity, the Baron slowed inched his way out through the driver side window and stood woozily waving to the crowd. The roar of the crowd all but drowned out the announcement that the Red Baron had defeated Jimmy Creten. Once again Bounty Hunter had come in second, while the Red Baron stole the win and the hearts of the fans.

During the intermission VIP pit party fan after fan requested to see the Baron, but the mystery driver was busy in the pits seeing if he could resurrect the Red Baron truck for monster truck freestyle. While he was unable to do that, he did something extra special for the VIP fans at the post show pit party. He arrived on the scene sans mask, letting these fans see that Ben “Bo Bo” Winslow was the man behind the mystery that is the Red Baron.

Fans always receive something special at a Monster Spectacular show. They can have VIP treatment at the exclusive pit parties, they get to meet the man behind the mask of Red Baron and they are dazzled by motorsports entertainment like a motorcycle freestyle extravaganza featuring both sport bikes and FMX. What something special will you receive? Find out at the next Monster Spectacular show in your area. Check the schedule at www.MonsterSpectacular.com and then get your tickets now.

Video of the Week – 04/30/11

Week Ending: April 30th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten), Red Baron (Ben Winslow)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Wild final round race between 2Xtreme Racing teammates Jimmy Creten and Ben Winslow gets wild, as Red Baron wins the race and flips onto its lid.

Newly Crowned Freestyle Champ Jim Koehler & Avenger Bring Winning Moves to Firebird

(Chandler, AZ – Firebird International Raceway PR) – He’s always been a Firebird International Raceway crowd favorite with his daring style and reckless antics. Now he’s a two-time world champion as well!

On March 26th, Jim Koehler and the Avenger lit up the always bright Las Vegas skies with an epic run to capture the second Monster Jam World Finals freestyle championship of his career. Just weeks removed from reaching the pinnacle of the sport, Koehler plans to thrill Firebird International Raceway fans once again during the 2011 NAPA Auto Parts Monster Truck Nationals & Night of Fire, set for April 30th and May 1st.

2011 World Finals Freestyle Champion Jim Koehler will return to Firebird riding one of the hottest streaks of his career.

While many would consider the recently crowned world champ to be the favorite to win this April, Koehler faces a field stacked with some of the sport’s top drivers, including Dan Runte, the driver of BIGFOOT, and Jimmy Creten, piloting the Bounty Hunter.

Known as the “most daring driver” on the BIGFOOT team, Runte’s willingness to put it all on the line – literally – has earned him the love of Firebird fans, and the feeling is mutual. On the BIGFOOT team website, Runte calls Firebird International Raceway one of his three favorite places to perform.

Jimmy Creten has been nearly unbeatable over the last several years at Firebird.

And while Koehler is bringing his recently won world championship to the late-April showdown, Creten and the Bounty Hunter have some impressive hardware in their garage as well! Creten recently was named the winningest driver in Monster Trucks for 2010 by TheMonsterBlog.com, compiling an impressive 68 victories in the 118 events Bounty Hunter entered.

In other words, this Bounty Hunter doesn’t plan on finishing second to anyone.

Joining Koehler, Runte and Creten in the star-studded field are Koehler’s teammate Chris Bergeron, the driver of Brutus; and Arizona’s own Sturges Monster Trucks team with Unnamed and Untamed and Nasty Boy.

While the Monster Truck stars will definitely shine during the 2011 NAPA Auto Parts Monster Truck Nationals & Night of Fire, they won’t be the only motorized mayhem rocking the Gila River Indian Community track that weekend. The 40-foot-tall, 30-ton mechanical monstrosity known as Robosaurus makes his triumphant Firebird return during the event, as well.

The event features something for everyone including:

– JET DRAGSTERS – Have a need for speed? Watch as airplane engine + car + track combine for speeds nearing 300 MPH
– TRUCK SHOW N’ SHINE – See some of the most tricked out trucks from across the Southwest
– BIG SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT – Includes massive fireworks display!
– MANUFACTURERS’ MIDWAY – Truck fans’ favorite products will be on-display and available for purchase
– KIDS ZONE – When they’re not marveling at the awesome Monster Trucks, there’s plenty of fun waiting for Firebird’s younger fans in the Kids Zone

To ensure this family friendly show is accessible to EVERYONE, including parents with younger children, in addition to Firebird’s awesome Saturday night performance, a Sunday-afternoon encore is also being offered. Gates open at noon both days, with the Saturday night show beginning at 7 pm, and Sunday’s encore show starting at 3:30 pm.

General Admission tickets are $25 for Saturday and $20 for Sunday, with reserved seats starting at $30 and suite tickets starting at $50. Kids 12 and under receive free general admission seating with a paying adult. To learn more or purchase tickets, please call 602-268-0200, or visit firebirdraceway.com.

About Firebird International Raceway

Since its inception in 1983, Firebird International Raceway has grown into one of the most versatile and diversified motorsport venues in the world. A staple of Metropolitan Phoenix’s sports and entertainment scene, Firebird’s annual attendance regularly eclipses the 600,000 mark.

The Gila River Indian Community-based facility features a prominent calendar of championship-series events including annual stops by the National Hot Rod Association Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series as well as its popular Monster Truck Nationals. Firebird also hosts dozens of smaller public and private events each year, as well as professional race team testing, ride-and-drives for major automobile manufacturers, concerts, and corporate meetings. To learn more about Firebird International Raceway, please visit firebirdraceway.com.

Monster Truck Radio 04/18/11 – Darren Migues & Donald Epidendio

Monster Truck Radio With Host Jeff Richards
Date: Monday, March 28th, 2011
Guest #1: Darren Migues, driver of Stone Crusher/Bounty Hunter
Guest #2: Donald Epidendio, driver of Titan [Read more…]

Monster Truck Radio 03/21/11 – Jimmy Creten & Jim Koehler

Monster Truck Radio With Host Jeff Richards
Date: Monday, March 21st, 2011
Guest #1: Jimmy Creten, driver of Bounty Hunter
Guest #2: Jim Koehler, driver of Avenger [Read more…]

The Allen Report: Monster Jam – Anaheim, CA 2011

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

The Monster Jam superstars lowered the curtain on a triad of shows in the home of the Anaheim Angels Saturday, February 12th, 2011. The stacked 16 truck field featured the following top names in monster trucks: Charlie Pauken in Grave Digger, Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction, Adam Anderson in Grave Digger The Legend, Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter, Cam McQueen in Nitro Circus, Candace Jolly in the Monster Mutt Dalmatian, Becky McDonough in Dragon’s Breath, Scott Buetow driving Iron Man, Pat Gerber in Shocker, Don Frankish with Maniac, Scott Anderson in Jurassic Attack, Kelvin Ramer in Time Flys, Nick Owens driving Iron Outlaw, Mark Schroeder in The Felon, Dan Rodoni and The Patriot and Mike Pappas in Tropical Thunder.

The track of choice was an appropriate one for the locale and venue, the very popular so-cal style. That means they fall off a tabletop jump, turn away from each other, fly down a straightaway and race back the way they came. Early racing highlights saw Bounty Hunter advance with a bye after Jurassic Attack suffered fatal engine trouble during intros and Time Flys upset new World Finals qualifier Nitro Circus in the opening race, free of qualifying. In one of the semis, the blue and gray Digger and Max D crossed the finish line side-by-side with Grave Digger The Legend winning by an inch or two, if that much. The other Digger outraced Bounty Hunter to setup a history making Digger vs. Digger final. In the end, Adam proved himself more than just a freestyler by taking the huge racing win.

Freestyle started off a little slow, with most of the first half the field slowly strutting their way around the track with little air. Nick Owens in Iron Outlaw would hold the lead for the longest time with a score of 22. Even the young Anderson and Owen’s boss Jimmy Creten could not outscore him. But then, there were two. Tom Meents has four World Freestyle championships to his credit and showed why, finishing his run with an upside-down cyclone on the tabletop. With a score of 29, Meents looked to see a trophy for the first time at the Big A in a few years. To close the show, the reigning freestyle champion of the world Charlie Pauken gave the fans a potential winning freestyle in Grave Digger, but he only impressed the judges enough for second place, giving Meents the victory.

Although the Anaheim Monster Jam season was over, two weeks later Monster Jam would make its debut at the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium. With Monster Jam, a great show is always guaranteed. On that note, thank you for reading, enjoy Jim Allen’s great photos and cheer on, we’ll see you down the road!

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2011.

Monster Photos: Monster Jam – Kansas City, MO 2011

Event: Monster Jam
Venue: Sprint Center
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Date: February 12th, 2011
Photographer: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: Aftershock (Bob Robbins), Bounty Hunter (Jay McPherson), Destroyer (Dan Evans), Grave Digger (Pablo Huffaker), Krazy Train (Roger Cardot), Martial Law (Paul Strong), Reptoid (Jim Jack), TMNT (Aaron Basl) [Read more…]