THUNDER NATIONALS (cont.)

UTC MCKENZIE ARENA - CHATTANOOGA, TN - 2/02-03/07

By Tommy Lee Byrd

The format would the same for this show as it was the previous night. The show would start out with the Wheelie Contest. Bruce and Jami Haney stayed up late fixing the broken axle and later found out that the ring and pinion was wiped out too so they were busy. The Full Boar team would work late too, changing the smoked transmission. Everyone would get it together to make the show and breakage was at a minimum so all was well.
 

WHEELIE CONTEST

Ed Eckert would be the first truck out to attempt a wheelie. The fresh transmission helped out a lot and Ed performed a nice wheelstand. Score: 18
 

The next truck out for the wheelie contest was Cowboy. Glen hit the cars with some pretty good speed and stood the truck up in the air nicely. Score: 9
 

Gun Slinger was the next truck up and did a nice wheelie but didn't carry it very far. It was still a nice wheelie though. Score: 13
 

Bruce Haney and Bad News were up next and Bruce did a nice wheelie but it wasn't enough to pass Ed Eckert for the lead. Score: 13
 

The last truck to compete would be Virginia Giant with Diehl Wilson behind the wheel. Diehl hit the cars hard and stood the truck up in an amazing wheelie and won the wheelie competition with a score of 23.
 

RACING COMPETITION

ROUND ONE

Racing would be next and Virginia Giant would again be getting the bye to the Semis by winning the Wheelie Contest.

The first pair out was Cowboy and Full Boar. Ed Eckert stayed low and went on to advance to the Semi final round.
 

Bad News and Gun Slinger came out next. This kind of racing is all about the holeshot and Bruce Haney launched Bad News hard off the line and never looked back.
 

SEMI-FINALS

Gun Slinger would come back as the fastest loser from round 1 to face off against Full Boar. Ed Eckert got a little too much air and allow Scott Hartsock to pass him and advace to the finals.
 

The other half of the semis consisted of Virginia Giant and Bad News. Diehl got the holeshot and soared the truck over the cars to claim a berth in the finals against Scott Hartsock.
 

FINAL ROUND

Scott Hartsock was hoping to brake Diehl Wilson's winning streak but it wasn't meant to be as Diehl barely edged him out. So far Virginia Giant has won all aspects of the Chattanooga Thunder Nationals.
 

DONUT CONTEST

After a brief intermission and FMX, it was time for the Monster Truck Donut Contest. Glen Logan in Cowboy would be the first to try for a donut and just didn't have any luck getting the truck to break loose. Score: 5

Full Boar was the next truck out and Ed put on a great show, throwing the steering wheel out the window during his donut. Score: 23
 

Scott Hartsock was up next to try for some donut action. He slung the Gun Slinger into a nice smokey donut but quickly ran out of room on the floor so he circled around and did it again. Score: 28
 

Bad News was next and Bruce was determined to take this competition. His donuts were fast and the steering wheel was off the whole time. He held it in a super tight donut for quite some time gradually getting faster and faster with each revolution. Score: 30
 

Diehl Wilson was the final competitor for the Donut Contest and really pushed Virginia Giant to the max. His engine was screaming and the tires were smoking. The donut was awesome but all he could do was tie for the win, which was decided by a crowd cheer off. Diehl won the cheer off and continued his winning streak.
 

FREESTYLE COMPETITION

In the Freestyle Competition, Glen Logan and Cowboy came out first and carried more momentum than the previous night. He hit the cars a little harder and got more air but there was still no "wow moment". Score: 18
 

Ed Eckert would be the second truck to compete and wheeled the unique Full Boar around the track like it was a sports car. He got some decent air and threw in a couple donuts to finish the run. Score: 22
 

Bad News was the next truck up and put on a great show with more air and fast donuts. Bruce did a great job but got the same score as Ed in Full Boar. Score: 22
 

Gun Slinger was the fourth truck to go and performed some nice wheelies and another smokey set of donuts. His run would take the lead with a score of 26.
 

Again, the last truck out would be Virginia Giant. Diehl flew around the track and got awesome air off the badly crushed cars. He made several nice jumps and ended the run with another one of his high speed, high revving, gear changing donuts. Score: 30

That would wrap up the Saturday 1:30 PM show in Chattanooga. Be sure to check out the next page for the Saturday 7:30 PM show coverage!!
 

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