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10/22/08

- St. Charles, MO AMP Thunder Slam Highlight Video!!

- Gainesville, FL Monster X Games Recap!!

- Lakeland, FL AMP Thunder Slam Photos!!

10/18/08

- Monster X Games Tonight At Gainesville Raceway!!

10/13/08

- Dan Runte & Bigfoot Sweep Saturday Night
In Lakeland!!

10/10/08

- Kreg Christensen to Drive Maximum Destruction In 2009!!

- "World of Trucks" Features Indy Monster Truck Thunder Drags!!

- Obsession Racing Press Release!!

- MTRA Announces 2008 Voting Procedures!!

10/08/08

- West Coast Monster Truck Nationals Final Report & Photos!!

- 2Xtreme Racing News: Creten Conquers Mud In Red Bluff Amidst Changes in Team!!

- Joliet Monster Mash & Bloomington Thunder Slam Highlight Videos!!

- MTRA Board of Directors Announce Restructuring Proposal!!

10/04/08

- 2Xtreme Racing Dominates Friday Night In Red Bluff!!

10/03/08

- Monster Mash V at Route 66 Raceway's

Dirt Oval Tomorrow!!

- Monsters On Parade
In Red Bluff!!

- Tijuana Monster Trucks Showdown Video Highlights!!

- Monster Truck Fundraiser In Chapin, SC Tomorrow!!

- Ride Truck Needed for Monster X Games In Gainesville, FL!!

10/02/08

- MLMT West Coast Monster Truck

Nationals Invitational This Weekend!!

10/01/08

- Mark Hall Named 2008 Monster Truck Thunder Drags Champion!!

- TMB TV Episode 8: Monster Truck Thunder Drags - Indianapolis!!

- Indianapolis 4-Wheel Jamboree Photo Gallery!!

- Monster Madness World Finals Photos!!

- AMP Live Events Announces Fall Lineups!!

 

   

 

        

   

St. Charles, MO AMP Thunder Slam Highlight Video!!:  The AMP Tour Monster Truck Thunder Slam returned to the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO this past Saturday night, and Monster Blog Special Contributor Colby Marshall was on hand to capture all the action!!  Seven trucks competed in wheelie, racing and freestyle contests and it can all be seen in a great highlight video simply by clicking the link below. Rookie driver Jeff Lushen took the wheelie contest win with a wild sky wheelie that saw Torqzilla get stuck standing vertical on the cars. Racing would see some hard-nose competition, with Dale Mitchell driving to the win in Pouncer over Larry Swim in Bigfoot. Freestyle would see solid efforts from all competitors, with the highlights being a three-truck team freestyle from Predator Racing and some great encore donuts from Swim and the hometown hero Bigfoot. A special thanks to Colby Marshall for another great video, and to the AMP Live Events staff for their hospitality!!  (10/22/08)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COLBY MARSHALL'S ST. CHARLES, MO HIGHLIGHT VIDEO!!

(VIDEO GALLERY)

Gainesville, FL Monster X Games Recap!!:  Gainesville Raceway hosted the first Monster X Games event this Saturday night in Gainesville, FL and Scott Hartsock and the Gun Slinger stole the show!!  The event featured sky wheelie, slap wheelie, high jump and freestyle contests, but no official winners were declared. While he may not have officially grabbed any wins, there is little doubt that Hartsock and Gun Slinger was tops in each category. Headliner Dan Runte in Summit Bigfoot suffered a terminal engine problem in the opening sky wheelie contest that prevented him from challenging for the monster truck wheelie record. A huge thanks to Monster Blog Special Contributor Bryan Wagner for his great video work at this event, be watching for a highlight video coming your way soon. A big thanks to Danny Torgerson and the Monster Truck Entertainment staff for their hospitality at the event, and to all of the teams for their efforts. More coming soon, stay tuned!!  (10/22/08)

Lakeland, FL AMP Thunder Slam Photo Gallery!!:  The Lakeland Center hosted the AMP Tour Monster Truck Thunder Slam Saturday, October 11th and Monster Blog Staff Member Ross Z. Bonar's full photo gallery from the event is now online!!  See Bigfoot, Predator, Prowler, Pouncer and Reptoid in wheelie, racing, donut and freestyle competitions, all by clicking the link below!!  Enjoy!!  (10/22/08)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ROSS Z. BONAR'S LAKELAND, FL PHOTO GALLERY!!

(BLOG PHOTO GALLERY)

Monster X Games Tonight At Gainesville Raceway!!:  The first ever Monster X Games event will take place tonight at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL!!  A stellar six-truck lineup including Bigfoot, Gunslinger, Tail Gator, Bad News Travels Fast, Instigator and Cowboy will compete for top honors in a high jump contest, vertical contest, wheelie contest and freestyle. Veteran Dan Runte and Summit Bigfoot will attempt a record breaking wheelie down the length of the quarter mile drag strip!  The current record is 602 ft. held by Linsey Weenk driving Iron Outlaw. All of the action starts tonight at 8:00PM, with doors opening 1 hour before show time for the general public, while Pit Party Pass holders will be allowed on the floor 2 hours prior to showtime with valid ticket and Pit Party Pass. The show lasts approximately 2 hours, adult tickets will be $20 at the gate, children's tickets $10. Don't miss out on your chance to see the first Monster X Games event!!  Check out www.MonsterTruckEntertainment.com for more information!!  (10/18/08)

Dan Runte & Bigfoot Sweep Saturday Night In Lakeland!!:  The AMP Tour Monster Truck Thunder Slam made its first visit to The Lakeland Center this past weekend, and The Monster Blog was on hand for all the action Saturday night in Lakeland, FL. The evening began with a wheelie contest that saw good efforts from Allen Pezo in Pouncer and Dan Runte in Bigfoot, with Runte getting the win by crowd applause. Racing would also come down to Runte and Pezo in the finals, with Runte taking the win by a bumper.

     Following the brief intermission was the donut contest, which saw good efforts from all three Predator Racing trucks. Dan Runte in Bigfoot had a tough time getting a donut going, but once he did there was no question that he was the victor once again.

     Finally the night ended with the freestyle competition. Pezo in Pouncer opened with a solid run and Lenny Kuilder turned it up with a good effort in Prowler. Jim Jack entertained the crowd in the wild-looking Reptoid machine, and Pezo made a few nice hits in Predator pulling double duty. Dan Runte in Bigfoot had some of the bigger jumps of the competition before being joined on the floor by not just one, but two more trucks for a three-way freestyle grand finale!!  Jim Jack in Reptoid and Allen Pezo in Predator roared back onto the track and the three trucks put together a solid multi-truck freestyle, made all the more impressive by the tight confines in which they ran. When all was said and done, the crowd was asked to choose a winner from the individual freestyle performances and they gave Dan Runte and Bigfoot the evening sweep!!

     A big thanks to Ron Woodbridge and the AMP Live Events crew for their hospitality Saturday night, and also to Monster Blog Special Contributor Bryan Wagner for coming out and doing the video coverage. Stay tuned for the highlight video and a photo gallery featuring all the action, coming your way soon!!  (10/13/08)

Kreg Christensen to Drive Maximum Destruction In 2009!!:  (Aurora, IL) This year Monster Jam will see a new face driving the hugely popular Maximum Destruction monster truck. Tom Meents will team up with Monster Jam veteran Kreg Christensen to take on the rest of the Monster Jam field in 2009!  MonsterJamOnline.com sat down with both Tom and Kreg to get their views on what 2009 has in store for Team Meents.

MonsterJamOnline.com: What are your thoughts on teaming up with Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction this year?

Kreg Christensen: Its a huge honor to drive for Tom. I have always had a huge amount of respect for what he has done in Maximum Destruction. He is the freestyle king of Monster Jam and I hope to follow in his foot steps as one of the top drivers in the world.

MonsterJamOnline.com: Have you ever been in Maximum Destruction before, and what do you think it’s going to be like?

Kreg Christensen: Well it’s going to get CRAZY out there this year. I’m going to run Max D. harder and more on the limit then I ever have before. I’m going to be running this truck wide open!!! I started out driving Dragon Slayer for the first 15 years, then switched to Iron Outlaw for 2008. This coming year is going to be a totally new challenge as I have not driven a front engine truck since 1992.

MonsterJamOnline.com: Any closing words for your competition?

Kreg Christensen: Everyone better bring their A game this year, because I’m going to be bringing mine...as Tom always says, Max D. is going to be ON A MISSION.

MonsterJamOnline.com: Tom what are your thoughts on having Kreg as a teammate this year?

Tom Meents: Kreg brings so much driving experience and has been competing on such a high level for years. I couldn’t pick a better fit to drive Maximum Destruction. I expect him to drive as he always has, on the limit! I have know Kreg since 1990 when we use to mud race. He has always had a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and I think this is his year to shine. I’m going to throw him the keys to his new ride and were going to have the time of our lives in '09! Bring it on!

     For more information on Monster Jam and Maximum Destruction, head on over to their website at www.MonsterJamOnline.com!!  (10/10/08)

"World of Trucks" Features Indy Monster Truck Thunder Drags!!:  (Indianapolis, IN) The ground pounding, axle wrenching, high flying feats of Monster Trucks Raminator, Rammunition, Bigfoot, Avenger and other top teams will be featured during the television broadcast of World of Trucks on the The Outdoor Channel airing Monday, October 13th at 4:30 pm and again at 7:30 pm (eastern standard time/check local listings). For night owls the episode will also re-air at 2:00 am on Tuesday, October 14th.

     Expect a highlight reel capturing the sights and sounds from the 27th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals Presented by Toyo Tires that was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds this past September 19, 20 and 21. This event is part of the largest 4x4 events in the nation, produced by The Promotion Company/ Family Events Performance Series, which provides four wheel drive truck enthusiast gathering places and “playgrounds” to share stories, swap techniques, show off their creations and take part in 4x4 competitions. To learn more visit www.4WheelJamboree.com.
     World of Trucks on The Outdoor Channel enters its fourth season with veteran sports personality Claude Wood who as the host takes viewers across the country to truck enthusiast events. Check your local listings for times and availability. (10/10/08)

Obsession Racing Update!!:  (Menifee, CA - By Jill Swanson) The Obsession Racing team has had a busy few weeks on the road. On September 4th, 5th and 6th we were at the Sublimity Harvest Festival in Sublimity, Oregon. This show is a fundraiser to help support the kids in the Southern Portland area. The show has three nights of freestyle and the trucks that are there are sponsored by local businesses. We were sponsored by AWI Diesel Repair. The companies that sponsored the trucks to perform get to have the trucks on display at their facilities. This is where we got the pleasure to meet the owners of AWI Diesel, JR and Diane. Their company is beautiful and it has everything any employee would dream of. AWI Diesel is a great place to have your work done and you would be taken care of by the most pleasurable people you could imagine. The truck ran hard all weekend and was a for-sure crowd pleaser. We would like to thank Gary Basil for his help and the races and opening up his home to us and getting us to and from the airport. We would also like to thank Frank & Teresa with Chavez Trucking for the help on the truck and the great Harley tour.

     Monday on our way home from Sublimity, we booked a show for the L.A. Fair. This was a one night show held on that Thursday night. This was a freestyle show with a total of seven trucks competing. Rick put on a great show and the truck handled well. This show is usually set up mostly for wheelie competitions, so Rick was happy to see that they had also included some big air jump for him to shine.
     The night of the Pomona races we came home for a few hours sleep and Rick and Jeff our Pit-man / Sponsor had to be at the California / Mexico boarder at 8:00 am to meet with the promoter to cross into Mexico. After waiting on the boarder for eight hours, they got through. Friday night they did a parade through the of Tijuana town with the Monster trucks on low boys. Saturday Rick and Jeff spent all day getting the truck ready to race for Saturday night. They were having issues with the magneto. Rick went out in qualifying and laid down the fastest time. Racing Rick had to take each round one at a time and adjust the magneto and still made it to the finals. The final round was Rick and Jimmy Createn in Bounty Hunter. Rick's motor didn’t have one last pass in it and gave the win to Bounty Hunter.
     This last weekend we had an event at the Southern California Fair in Perris, California for WGAS Motorsports. On Sunday, AmeriGas held a great BBQ for all of the employees and drivers and families. I think they were proud as Rick took the win in racing and took second in freestyle Sunday night. It was a great night for Obsession in our hometown. For more info on the Obsession Racing team, check us out at www.ObsessionRacing.com!!  (10/10/08)

MTRA Announces 2008 Voting Procedures!!:  (Union, MO - By MTRA Secretary) The MTRA Board of Directors has decided to implement new voting procedures for the Board of Directors. The procedure is as follows:

MTRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

- Nominations will be accepted until October 24 by email to contact@mtra.us or by phone to

  636-234-6162.

- Nominations for Directors can only be made by Owner/Drivers, Race Team Affiliates and

  Promoters, and anyone can nominate themself.

- A ballot listing all nominees will be sent to all Owner/Drivers, Race Team Affiliates and

  Promoters with an invitation to the MTRA banquet. Please return your completed ballot with

  your RSVP for the banquet by the date on the response card.

- Only Owner/Drivers, Race Team Affiliates and Promoters are allowed to vote for directors.

- Directors will be elected to the Board, the Officers and Staff will be decided by the elected

  Board.

MTRA AWARDS

- The same voting procedures will be in place for the awards as last year.

- All MTRA Certified Trucks will be nominated for "MTRA Truck of the Year".

- All Class "A" Licensed Drivers will be nominated for "MTRA Driver of the Year".

  (Only drivers of certified trucks)

- All MTRA Sponsors will be nominated for "MTRA Sponsor of the Year".

- All MTRA Promoters will be nominated for "Promoter of the Year".

- Nominations will be accepted for the following awards: Rookie of the Year, Sportsman of

  the Year, Mechanic of the Year, Most Improved Team, MTRA Safety Award, Weekend

  From Hell (description of weekend must be included)

- Nominations will be accepted until October 24 by email to contact@mtra.us or by phone to

  636-234-6162.

- Nominations for awards can be made by all current MTRA members

- A ballot listing all nominees will be sent to all members with an invitation to the MTRA

  Banquet. Please return your completed ballot with your RSVP for the banquet by the date

  on the response card.

     The Board of Directors understands that everyone cannot attend the Annual Banquet in December. This voting process will help voice the opinion of the entire MTRA membership, whether they can attend the banquet or not. The 2008 Rules will be voted on at the meeting, with the new voting procedures in effect. All Owner/Drivers, Promoters, and Race Team Affiliates can vote by proxy on rules.
     For more information on the Monster Truck Racing Association, check out www.MTRA.us!!  (10/10/08)

West Coast Monster Truck Nationals Final Report & Photos!!:  The Allen family was back out at Red Bluff Saturday and Sunday for the conclusion of the four-day West Coast Monster Truck Nationals event. The wind and rain of Friday night gave way to showers Saturday morning that ended just before gates opened at 5PM Saturday afternoon. The MLMT track crew worked hard and laid down two new layers of dirt to turn the mud bog into a good race track.

     The racing was fast and furious all the way to the semi-finals, as Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter beat his teammate Kreg Christensen in Iron Outlaw, who was up on two wheels after the final jump and crossing the finish line. Christenson ended up wedging Outlaw in between two dumpsters in front of the north stands giving the fans there quite an exciting moment. In the other semifinal, Andrew Peckhum in Tropical Thunder moved on after dethroning King Krunch and David Smith. The finals saw an impressive run by Tropical Thunder, but the experience of Jimmy Creten was too much. Bounty Hunter took the racing title for the second night in a row after starting the evening by setting a new track record in qualifying.
     Freestyle was an exciting affair with each competitor getting two and a half minutes to show what they could do. The early lead was held by Don Frankish and Maniac after a strong run. Dan Patrick in Samson took the lead by finishing his run stuck on the bus stack. The truck could not be removed, so MLMT officials shut down that obstacle to competitors that followed. Kreg Christenson put forth a strong freestyle performance in Iron Outlaw that ended early with a huge cloud of white smoke from the engine. The diagnosis was a blown head gasket but the run would still be enough to take the freestyle lead. Bounty Hunter was the final competitor and put on an awesome freestyle run. In the end, the fans couldn't choose between the 2Xtreme Racing team trucks, and Creten & Christensen would share the win.

Click each thumbnail to view larger image!!

         

         

     Sunday at the 11th Annual West Coast Monster Truck Nationals was “Crush Out Breast Cancer” day. There were lots of pink ribbons, pink arm bands, pink checkered flags, pink tee shirts and even a pink Monster Truck. The Patriot was carrying the pink breast cancer awareness colors. It was a great event. Andrew Peckhum continued to impress in Tropical Thunder, taking the top qualifying spot to start the action.
     The semi-finals would see Dan Rodoni in The Patriot take down Peckhum however, and he would be joined by Daron Basl in El Matador in the finals after Basl defeated Maniac. In the championship race, The Patriot ran hard but fell just short to Daron Basl in El Matador, who took the big win as Rodoni lost control after crossing the finish line, rolling over and ending upside down in the dumpsters.
     Freestyle saw the early lead held by Don Frankish and Maniac, but soon each truck began to outperform the next until the best slap wheelie and huge air performance of the weekend was demonstrated by Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter. Bounty Hunter continued his win streak in freestyle bringing this weekend’s events to a close and clinching the 2008 West Coast Monster Truck Nationals Championship for Jimmy Creten.

Click each thumbnail to view larger image!!

         

         

         

     TheMonsterBlog.com would like to send out a huge thanks to Jim and Christopher Allen for their great coverage of the West Coast Monster Truck Nationals. Jim's amazing photos and Chris's outstanding recaps were everything we could have asked for, and we thank them for volunteering to cover the event!!  (10/08/08)

Joliet Monster Mash & Bloomington Thunder Slam Highlight Videos!!:  It was a busy Saturday for Monster Blog Special Contributor Colby Marshall, as he traveled through Illinois en route to covering two shows in one day!!  The action-packed adventure would begin in Joliet, IL at Route 66 Raceway for the annual Monster Mash event. With 10 trucks and a wild course layout, this year's show did not disappoint. Chris Bergeron drove his new Brutus machine to the big racing win over last year's winner Andy Slifko in Eradicator. Freestyle would see some wild runs, but in the end it was Steve Koehler in the one-off Masher body stealing the show. Other trucks in attendance included Avenger, Amsoil Shock Therapy, Excaliber, Lil' Miss Dangerous, Spike, Backdraft and Dream Catcher. A special thanks to the Sudden Impact Racing crew for their hospitality to the Blog this weekend. Click the link below to check out Colby's awesome highlight video featuring all the action from Monster Mash V in Joliet!!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COLBY MARSHALL'S MONSTER MASH V HIGHLIGHT VIDEO!!

(VIDEO GALLERY)

     With one event in the books, it was back on the road for Colby, hurriedly making the trip down to Bloomington where the AMP Monster Truck Thunder Slam would be going on at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Colby arrived at the arena just in time for racing as Dale Mitchell in Pouncer would take down the boss, Allen Pezo in Predator in the finals. Freestyle would see solid efforts from all of the drivers, but the victory would go to Greg Adams in the Bar's Leaks Eliminator as he managed a small slap wheelie in the tight arena. A special thanks to Scott Hart and the AMP crew for their hospitality in welcoming the Blog at the event. Check out Colby's great highlight video from Bloomington now by clicking the link below!!  A big thanks to Colby for bringing us such great coverage of this Monster Truck Saturday in Illinois!!  (10/08/08)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BLOOMINGTON THUNDER SLAM HIGHLIGHT VIDEO!!

(VIDEO GALLERY)

2Xtreme Racing News: Creten Conquers Mud In Red Bluff Amidst Changes In Team:  (Toganoxie, KS) You wouldn't know by the attendance numbers that this year's West Coast Monster Truck Nationals was hampered by mother nature. Despite the soggy conditions, fans packed the Tehama District Fairgrounds for what has become the biggest summer show in the west. Creten in Bounty Hunter won 2 of the 3 racing competitions and cleaned house in freestyle. Jimmy rolled his blue CSK truck on Friday, creating a challenge for the track crew in the mud filled arena. Kreg Christensen in Iron Outlaw tied for the crown in Saturday night's performance before announcing it would be his last weekend behind of the wheel of the Red CSK machine. Kreg did a great job this year and we wish him the best in the future. The team's new hire, Joe Miller, will climb into Iron Outlaw for the rest of the year.
     Claiming another WCMTN title carried a little more emphasis this year; "I'm glad I was able to win one last big event out here for CSK Auto, this is our last year with them on board" Creten explained. The auto parts chain was bought out by O'Reilly Auto Parts, who terminated both of CSK's race team sponsorships. "We had a great 8 year relationship with CSK and they made it possible for us to make it to this level. We were able to do a lot for them also and I want to thank Joe Spica, Jim Schoenberger and everyone there, right down to the guys in the store".
     The team has been exploring sponsorship opportunities for much of the year and will take on a full schedule in 2009, regardless of corporate backing. For more information on the 2Xtreme Racing team, check out www.BountyHunter4x4.com!!  (10/08/08)

MTRA Board of Directors Announce Restructuring Proposal!!: (By George Eisenhart) The MTRA Board of Directors held their third meeting in as many weeks to discuss the direction of the organization along with proposed structural changes. The current Board feels these changes will help the safety organization not only communicate better with its members but also react quicker to safety issues that come up. In addition, the Board feels new and current members will be encouraged to participate in the process of making & maintaining rules in the rule book.
     The first change will be to take nominations for directors in October, members nominated will have to understand the director positions they are nominated for and ACCEPT that nomination. Starting in November members will begin to vote for not only awards like last year but Directors as well. The entire membership can nominate and vote for awards, ONLY owner/drivers, promoters and RTA can nominate and vote for directors. Nominations will be taken by the MTRA Secretary through email and voting will be done by paper ballet through the mail for record keeping. Keep in mind this is all done prior to the annual meeting.
     The next change will be the organization chart and the way the whole organizations voices are heard (meaning voting procedures). The organizational chart below has some subtle differences from what we currently have. First is the Technical Director which is voted on by the membership and will account for 15% of all voting rights. There will be sub committees put together under the Tech Director based on safety issues that arise throughout the year. Those committees will research issues and then present or sell their ideas for the membership to vote on. This will lighten the work-load on the Board of Directors so they can focus on the running of the organization. Next is the Administrative Board which is made up of a President, Vice President, Communications Director, Membership Director, Sponsorship Director and the MTRAE Director and they account for 15% of all voting rights. The Promoter Director is appointed by any and all Promoter Members involved with the MTRA and they represent 15% of all voting rights. That leaves 55% of voting rights that are controlled by the General Membership which are Owner/Drivers, Promoters and Race Team Affiliates. For simplicity the current Board has seated themselves in the new organizational chart to finish out the year. The current Board feels with certain positions representing only certain percentages of the vote the new organization cannot be easily manipulated.

     Things are changing with the Tech School as well. For 2008 we will hold a tech school as normal BUT we are looking at creating a group of appointed tech officials the MTRA can call on to certify and spot inspect trucks throughout the year. The MTRA would actually pay expenses for the Tech Director to travel to an event and inspect trucks so the minimum safety standard set by the MTRA is upheld throughout the entire season. For this 2008 banquet Doug and Brenda Noelke will bring one of their monster trucks to the host hotel for the truck inspection on the Friday of the banquet weekend. We will also look to all in attendance of the Tech School to give us input on re-vamping the rule book. The Board is aware of rules that either don’t apply any more or can be interpreted a couple different ways and we realize that must be addressed.
     The final major change is our website. Ross Bonar has done a tremendous job improving and updating the site to get us where we are. Ross is being asked to take the site to the next level and offer a 24 hour live chat or discussion board for MEMBERS ONLY. This discussion board will bring up rule issues, safety concerns amongst many other subjects that the members can give input 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The current Board feels this addition alone can be the single best thing for the MTRA in years. It will be easier for members to get involved and increase the communication to those members on how and why rules are being changed.
     Now, the current Board of Directors knows this is a lot of change at one time but feels it addresses many concerns our current membership has along with frustrated members that have come and gone from the MTRA. The current Board wants to do what’s right for the industry as a whole and wants to see more trucks care about safety and become members, wants to see more promoters care about safe events and become members. The Board wants to see this organization become the largest group of independently owned monster truck owners, drivers and promoters in the world!
     This is just the beginning, we plan to direct mail venues and insurance companies to explain the benefits of using MTRA certified trucks and promoters. We are looking into event insurance that drivers can buy from the MTRA direct for “one off” events close to your home that we all get a chance to produce. We are also looking at changing the name and logo of the MTRA to better describe what this safety organization stands for along with writing a mission statement or charter that will guide us into the future. These and many more items are being thrown around BUT we need help…this is an organization made up of volunteers and those volunteers can only be so effective while maintaining their own businesses. Many hands make light work and there are plenty of members now to help the current and future Board get things done.
     We look forward to your input through this process, we understand there will be bumps in the road so please bare with us and during these tough economic times hope we can all come together with one common interest…making the business that is monster trucks safe and sound!  Head on over to www.MTRA.us for more information on the Monster Truck Racing Association!!  (10/08/08)

2Xtreme Racing Dominates Friday Night In Red Bluff!!:  Think a little rain was going to spoil the fun in Red Bluff for the first night of the West Coast Monster Truck Nationals?  No chance!!  It is one thing to see monster trucks competing on a combination of a J-hook and Chicago-style race course, but seeing them get down and dirty in that same type of track is something else entirely. The hardcore monster truck fans saw exciting racing and freestyle in spite of the wind and rain.  In the opening round of slip-sliding racing, Captain USA robbed Samson of his strength, David Smith and King Krunch out-stomped Larry Swim and Bigfoot, El Matador defeated Maniac, Bounty Hunter beat teammate Iron Outlaw and Tropical Thunder, driven by Brian Pappas was too much for Kristy Edge and Jurassic Attack.

     In the next round, The Patriot took out fast loser Bigfoot, Captain USA beat King Krunch, Bounty Hunter defeated El Matador and second fast loser Samson got past Tropical Thunder.
     In the semi-finals, The Patriot beat Captain USA and Bounty Hunter beat Samson. The final was a great matchup of Bounty Hunter against fast qualifier The Patriot. The championship race saw Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter come away with the victory.

     Freestyle saw some decent runs, as drivers slid from one end of the track to another. The Patriot and Tropical Thunder got some great air and the donuts threw mud well up into the crowd. However, the most applause was saved for the dual freestyle with 2Xtreme Racing teammates Bounty Hunter and Iron Outlaw on the track at the same time. It all ended in spectacular fashion with Jimmy Creten rolling the Bounty Hunter, which ended the run to a standing ovation. The wind and rain could not dampen the spirits of these diehard fans and the monsters did not disappoint.

     A special thanks to our good friends Jim Allen, for the great photos, and to Christopher Allen for the great recap. They'll continue to do a great job keeping us all up to date as the big Red Bluff weekend progresses. More coming soon, stay tuned!!  (10/04/08)

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Monster Mash V at Route 66 Raceway's Dirt Oval Tomorrow!!:  (Joliet, IL) Monster Mash will be unique in track design and lineups. Avenger, Brutus, Eradicator, Excaliber, Sudden Impact, Lil Miss Dangerous, Spike, Masher, Dream Catcher and Backdraft are just a few of the Monster Trucks scheduled to appear at Route 66 Raceway's 1/2-mile dirt oval track in 2008. The dirt oval will be transformed into a challenging, bumpy race to the finish. As two trucks face off, it will be a dangerous race to the end, as the head-to-head challenges become more extreme after each round.

     Fans can venture into the pits for a pre-race party from noon - 2:30 p.m., stand next to their favorite monster trucks and get autographs from the drivers of these amazing machines. Entry to the party is free with the purchase of an event ticket. Children attending the event will also have the opportunity to enjoy a costume contest, pumpkin painting, truck rides and trick or treating. Racing begins at 3PM. Ticket prices at the gate will be $20 for adults and $10 for children. For more info on the Route 66 Raceway Monster Mash, check out www.Route66Raceway.com!!  Watch for coverage here on TheMonsterBlog.com as Special Contributor Colby Marshall will be on hand to bring you all the action!!  (10/03/08)

Monsters Trucks On Parade In Red Bluff!!:  The 2008 West Coast Monster Truck Nationals started with a roar, literally!!  The trucks competing in this weekend's events rumbled down the main streets of Red Bluff Thursday night in the annual monster parade. At the conclusion of the parade, drivers signed flag after flag, pennant after pennant, and shirt after shirt. Basically, they kept signing until every fan that wanted an autograph got one. A special thanks to our good friends Jim Allen, for the photos, and Christopher Allen for the quick recap. The Allen's will be keeping us up to date on all the action in Red Bluff this weekend, stay tuned!!  (10/03/08)

Tijuana Monster Trucks Showdown Video Highlights!!:  The Monster Blog's video coverage of the Tijuana Monster Trucks Showdown event is now online!!  Eight trucks including Bounty Hunter, Iron Outlaw, Deal Breaker, Unnamed & Untamed, Nasty Boy, Natural High, Obsession and McGruff competed in racing and freestyle at Estadio Calimax on September 13th, and you can see it all by clicking the link below!!  A big thanks to our good friend Gary Steinsdoerfer for helping out with the video and doing a great job, be watching for Staff Member Lauren Bonar's full coverage coming soon. Enjoy!! (10/03/08)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MONSTER TRUCKS SHOWDOWN VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS!!

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Monster Truck Fundraiser In Chapin, SC Tomorrow!!:  The 4th Annual Chapin, SC Backhoe Rodeo featuring monster trucks and benefiting the MSKP Foundation is tomorrow, October 4th!!  Ballistic and Bad News Travels Fast will be on hand performing freestyle exhibition, and the HPI Savage ride truck will be available to give rides to fans in attendance. Gates open at 2PM, with the Backhoe Rodeo getting going at 5PM. Adult tickets are $10 and children's tickets are $5. Gist Backhoe holds the event each year to benefit the Mid-State Kyle Page Foundation (MSKP) which is dedicated to helping families in need of assistance. Click here to view the event poster for more information!!  (10/03/08)

Ride Truck Needed for Monster X Games In Gainesville, FL!!:  The Monster X Games are coming to Gainesville, FL October 18th and Monster Truck Entertainment is looking for a monster ride truck to work the event. All monster ride truck teams are encouraged to contact Monster Truck Entertainment's Danny Torgerson by phone at 480-773-6822 or by email at danny@monstertruckent.com. For more information on the event at Gainesville Speedway, check out www.MonsterXGames.com!!  (10/03/08)

MLMT West Coast Monster Truck Nationals Invitational This Weekend!!:  (Red Bluff, CA) Once again, The Major League of Monster Trucks (MLMT), returns to the Tehama District Fairgrounds located in Red Bluff this year. The event featuring the top Monster Trucks in the country, will take place this weekend, Friday October 3rd, Saturday October 4th and Sunday, October 5th. “The MLMT West Coast Invitational will mark the 11th anniversary of Monster Truck racing being presented at the District Fairgrounds each fall,” said Joe Froome. “It is an honor to be able to stage this event again this year under the MLMT. Fans should look forward to one of the most competitive events that they have ever seen.”

Click image to view full event poster!

     The MLMT West Coast Invitational is an event that the MLMT has organized to showcase the talents of the top monster trucks and their drivers. With the days ticking down, and the hours nearing closer to the 11th Annual West Coast Monster Truck Nationals, MLMT has announced their official line-up. Defending 2007 Racing Champion, Kreg Christensen in the Iron Outlaw, Jimmy Creten in the Bounty Hunter, Dan Patrick in Samson, Dan Rodoni in the Patriot, David Smith in King Krunch, Daron Basl in El Matador, Jeff Bainter in Captain America, the return of the Maniac driven by Don Frankish, and introducing Kristy Edge in Jurassic Attack. Team Bigfoot and Tropical Thunder will also be included in the line up, with MLMT expecting Larry Swim in Bigfoot and Mike Pappas in Tropical Thunder.
     Additionally the local Thunder Trucks will also be competing. Teams from around the West Coast will battle it out on a track that will showcase both the driver and the team’s capabilities. The track will feature the huge jumps, the tabletops, and the tight turns that the fans have enjoyed for over a decade!  MLMT will also continue the annual tradition of designating Sunday as the “Crush out Breast Cancer Day” to help raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.
     All tickets are available online at www.MLMT.com and in general outlets now. The events, held at the Tehama District County Fairgrounds, will go on as scheduled, even if it rains. "Rain won't stop these three huge events. Come rain or shine, the MLMT will produce the West Coast Monster Truck Nationals.", said Joe Froome.
     For more information on the MLMT West Coast Monster Truck Nationals Invitational, head on over to www.MLMT.com!!  (10/02/08)

Mark Hall Named 2008 Monster Truck Thunder Drags Champion!!:  (Indianapolis, IN) The 27th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals presented by Toyo Tires marked the end of the competitive 4-Wheel Jamboree racing season. The event, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, September 19 through Sunday, September 21, 2008 featured final-round competition in the Monster Truck Thunder Drags, the Mickey Thompson Tough Trucks Challenge, and in the Comp Cams NMRO Mud Drags presented by TCI Automotive.

     The Hall Brothers Racing Team from Champaign, Illinois again claimed the top two spots for the 2008 Monster Truck Thunder Drag season. The team, which competed at every 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals event except one in 2008, has been dominant throughout the year. For the 2008 season, Mark Hall driving Raminator wins the championship finishing 280 points ahead of teammate Geremie Dishman in Rammunition. The Dodge Hemi team of the Hall Brothers finished the season nearly 1000 points ahead of third place finisher, Dan Runte in Bigfoot. For the 2008 Monster Truck Thunder Drag season, fourth place ended in a tie between teammates Spike and Avenger. They were followed in sixth place by Batman and seventh place by Tailgator.
     At the Fall 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Indianapolis, three rounds of Monster Truck Thunder Drag racing were completed. The winner of round one was Dishman in Rammuntion, round two went to Doug Noelke in Tailgator, and the round three winner was Dan Runte in Summit Bigfoot.
     For more information on the Special Events 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals and Monster Truck Thunder Drags, head on over to www.FamilyEvents.com!!  (10/01/08)

TMB TV Episode #8 - Monster Truck Thunder Drags - Indianapolis!!:  The Monster Blog's major event coverage series returns with TMB TV Episode #8, featuring this past weekend's Monster Truck Thunder Drags season finale at the Indianapolis 4-Wheel Jamboree!!  The event featured a stellar truck lineup including Raminator, Summit Bigfoot, Rammunition, Avenger, Spike, Tail Gator, and Big Dawg, along with a special pulling exhibition by the Hushpower Diesel monster truck. Kyle Doyle is back behind the mike hosting TMB TV with more great editing and footage from Special Contributor Colby Marshall. Click the link below to watch the new episode and enjoy!!  (10/01/08)

WATCH TMB TV EPISODE #8: MONSTER TRUCK THUNDER DRAGS - INDIANAPOLIS!!

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Indianapolis 4-Wheel Jamboree Photo Gallery!!:  In addition to the TMB TV episode from Indianapolis, The Monster Blog's Paul M. Harry was on hand taking photos of all the action. Check out another great photo gallery from Paul by clicking the link below!!  Enjoy!!  (10/01/08)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAUL M. HARRY'S INDY 4-WHEEL JAMBOREE PHOTOS!!

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Monster Madness World Finals Photo Gallery!!:  You've heard the stories from last week's Monster Madness World Finals thanks to a great column by Doug De Nance, but now see the action in a small photo gallery courtesy of the folks at Edge Motorsports. See Jon Zimmer & Amsoil Shock Therapy and Bill Payne & Rock Star on their way to their first major championships, and much more from the huge event in Calgary. Check it out by clicking the link below, and a big thanks to Edge Motorsports and their photographers for sending us these great shots!!  Be sure to head on over to www.Edge-Motorsports.ca for more information on Canada's Monster Madness Tour!!  (10/01/08)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MONSTER MADNESS WORLD FINALS PHOTO GALLERY!!

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AMP Live Events Announces Fall Lineups!!:  AMP Live Events has put together a great fall lineup of events and has been kind enough to share the truck lineups for these events with us. AMP's promotional strategy for these fall events includes stacked lineups of up to 10 trucks with affordable tickets with children's pricing as low as $5 bucks. Families are encouraged to come out and get away from it all with this real monster truck value pack. See below for lineups:

October 4th - Bloomington, IL - U.S. Cellular Coliseum

Predator, Holman's Beast, Prowler, Pouncer

October 4th - Austin, TX - Travis County Expo Center

Twisted Dragon, Reptoid, Clydesdale, Bearfoot Barbie, Crash Masters

October 10th-11th - Lakeland, FL - Lakeland Center Jenkins Arena

Bigfoot, Predator, Reptoid, Prowler, Pouncer

October 11th - Yuma, AZ - Yuma County Fairgrounds

Bigfoot, Twisted Dragon, Unnamed & Untamed, Nasty Boy, McGruff

October 18th - St. Charles, MO - Family Arena

Bigfoot, Bearfoot, Predator, Prowler, Pouncer, The General, Torqzilla, + 1 TBA

October 24th-25th - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Arena

Twisted Dragon, Unnamed & Untamed, Nasty Boy, McGruff, Pit Bull, Tuff Enuff
Bearfoot Barbie, Terminator, Crash Master, Obsession

November 14th-15th - San Francisco, CA - The Cow Palace

Bigfoot, Twisted Dragon, Rock Star, Public Disturbance, Deal Breaker,
Ms. Monster Moose, Bearfoot Barbie, Play'n 4 Keeps, + 2 TBA

** Lineups Subject to Change **

     For more information on the AMP Tour Monster Truck Thunder Slam events, head on over to www.AMPLiveEvents.com!!  (10/01/08)

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