(Article By Ross Z. Bonar) – Another edition of the TMB Leaderboard for 2011 is out following the completion of the month of September. Based on all of the information gathered through the TMB Results Tracker, we are able to statistically see who some of the top performing drivers have been in 2011. A total of 238 drivers have competed in monster truck events through the month of September with an incredible 182 different drivers scoring a competition win. See below for the top 5 drivers in each of our statistical categories:
Jimmy Creten's annual ascent to the top of the standings is nearly complete after September. Creten now leads in Total Racing Wins, Total Freestyle Wins, Total Racing/Freestyle Wins Combined and Best Combined Racing/Freestyle win percentage.
Total Racing Wins
1) Jimmy Creten – Bounty Hunter – 27
2) Gary Porter – Grave Digger – 24
3) Rick Long – E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #15 – 21
4) Carl Van Horn – Grave Digger – 18
5) Pablo Huffaker – Grave Digger – 17
Best Racing Win Percentage
1) Rick Long – E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #15 – 72%
2) Gary Porter – Grave Digger – 56%
3) Donald Epidendio – Titan – 54%
4) Jimmy Creten Bounty Hunter – 53%
5) Dan Runte – Summit Bigfoot #16 – 50%
(A driver must have competed in 25 racing competitions to be listed in this category)
Total Freestyle Wins
1) Jimmy Creten – Bounty Hunter – 36.5
2) Pablo Huffaker – Grave Digger – 34
— Bill Payne – Rock Star – 34
4) Mac Plecker – Ballistic – 26
5) Gary Porter – Grave Digger – 25.5
Best Freestyle Win Percentage
1) Larry Quick – Ghost Ryder – 86%
2) Randy Brown – Grave Digger – 70%
3) Adam Anderson – Grave Digger The Legend – 68%
4) Jimmy Creten – Bounty Hunter – 64%
5) Pablo Huffaker – Grave Digger – 60%
(A driver must have competed in 25 freestyle competitions to be listed in this category)
Total Combined Racing/Freestyle Wins
1) Jimmy Creten – Bounty Hunter – 63.5
2) Pablo Huffaker – Grave Digger – 51
3) Gary Porter – Grave Digger – 49.5
4) Bill Payne – Rock Star – 46
5) Mac Plecker – Ballistic – 41
Best Combined Racing/Freestyle Win Percentage
1) Jimmy Creten – Bounty Hunter – 59%
2) Gary Porter – Grave Digger – 57%
3) Adam Anderson – Grave Digger The Legend – 54%
4) Rick Long – E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #15 – 52%
5) Carl Van Horn – Grave Digger – 50%
(A driver must have competed in a combination of 50 racing and/or freestyle competitions to be listed in this category)
Total Wheelie/Donut/Long Jump Wins
1) Carl Van Horn – Grave Digger – 28
2) Pablo Huffaker – Grave Digger – 27
— Bill Payne – Rock Star – 27
4) Mac Plecker – Ballistic – 25
5) Gary Porter – Grave Digger – 22
Most Wins In Fields of 10+ Trucks
1) Tom Meents – Maximum Destruction – 17
2) Dennis Anderson – Grave Digger – 10
— Jimmy Creten – Bounty Hunter – 10
4) Linsey Weenk – Lucas Oil Crusader – 8
5) Jim Koehler – Avenger – 7
Tom Meents has amassed a jaw dropping 17 wins in fields of 10+ trucks in 2011, easily one of the most eye-popping stats of the year.
2011 Series Championships Update
Monster Jam World Finals Racing Champion: Tom Meents, Maximum Destruction
Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion: Jim Koehler, Avenger
Monster Nationals Racing Champion: Rick Long, E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #15
Monster Nationals Freestyle Champion: Bobby Holman, Lucas Oil Stabilizer
Monster Truck Thunder Drags Champion: Dan Runte, E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot #16
Monster Truck Winter Nationals Champion: Devin Jones, Barbarian
Monster Nation Champion: Doug Noelke, Tail Gator
AMP Tour Racing Champion: Rich Blackburne, Viper
AMP Tour Freestyle Champion: Larry Quick, Ghost Ryder
Dan Runte's 2011 Monster Truck Thunder Drags title, combined with his 5th best Racing Win Percentage and sweep of racing at the Maverik Clash of the Titans have made the veteran a major contender for Racing Driver of the Year.
Stay tuned for more updates to the TMB Leaderboard each month through the end of the year. The TMB staff will soon begin pouring over stats in search of this year’s standout drivers as we prepare to announce the nominees for the 2011 TMB Industry Awards.
(Photos By Ross Z. Bonar, Chris Parrish and Danny Maass)
