There are many paths that can be taken to become an Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam driver and Bari Musawwir is a perfect example of that. Musawwir’s background does not include previous motorsports or mechanical experience; it comes from the popular world of radio controlled trucks. After seeing how impressive Musawwir was in dominating in a RC monster truck competition Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam officials decided to test his skills in a 10,000 pound machine, and sure enough, he had a pair of impressive test sessions behind the wheel of the big trucks. After completing those auditions successfully he got the opportunity to drive in an actual Monster Jam World Tour competition, making his debut driving Backwards Bob at the 2010 event in Panama City, Panama. Musawwir was impressive in that debut so much that he then got the assignment to drive for the El Toro Loco team starting in 2011, and according to Musawwir, he is very grateful for the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream as an Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam driver. The next major step forward in his career came at the start of the 2012 season when Musawwir took over as the driver of the popular Spider-man monster truck.

Q&A with Bari Musawwir

MonsterJam.com : How did you get started competing on the Monster Jam circuit?

Bari Musawwir:   I was given an opportunity to drive a Monster Jam truck at a test session back in 2006 after winning a big Radio Controlled Monster Truck event.  I knew I wanted to be a monster truck driver at the early age of 6 after my Mom took me to my very show at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1986. I always had a love affair with cars and trucks as a kid. I would draw, build plastic models, and make vehicle sound effects all the time. I eventually got into radio controlled cars and trucks at the age of 11 and haven’t looked back since. I started competing at National Radio Controlled Truck Pulling Association (NR/CTPA) events at age 12 with my first truck. I eventually got better at driving and started placing at events. I gradually added more and more RC trucks to my racing stable over the years. After many years of successful racing, and designing my own line of aftermarket parts for my trucks, I decided to form my own racing promotions company with a few fellow racers in 2007 called No Limit RC. We held local racing events around central Florida. Eventually we were chosen to organize events out of state. Our biggest event is the No Limit RC Monster Truck World Finals which is held every Memorial Day weekend at the world famous Diggers Dungeon. It was at this very event in 2006 where Bill Easterly (with Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam) took notice of my RC Monster Truck driving skills. He asked me if I had any motorsports experience, and I replied no, just RC Monster Truck racing. He said ok. I then went on to win the freestyle competition at the very same event. This must have been what sealed the deal for Bill to invite me back to the property a week later to participate in a private Monster Truck test session. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!!  I was very excited for this opportunity.  Much to everyone’s surprise, they said I did very well, even considering I had no prior motorsports experience.  After I got back home from the test session I was eager to start racing monster trucks professionally, but I didn’t get the call right away. In the mean time I kept in touch with the Monster Jam crew frequently, and got the opportunity to participate at the Monster Jam Pit Parties with our No Limit RC Monster truck racing club. We held RC Monster truck racing and freestyle events during the pit parties of all the Florida Monster Jams. Eventually I got the call I had been hoping for, with another opportunity to test drive again 2 years later in June of 2008. After my 2^nd successful test session, I was excited about getting a chance to finally compete which took 2 more years.  After 4 years of hoping and praying, I was very fortunate to get my opportunity of a life time to compete in my first Monster Jam event driving Backwards Bob, in Panama City, Panama. Ironically that came on Memorial Day weekend of 2010, the same weekend where I first was noticed some 4 years earlier. 

MonsterJam.com : What do you enjoy doing while on the road with Monster Jam?

Bari Musawwir:  Meeting all of the great fans, learning from my monster jam peers and fellow competitors, and seeing all the parts of the world I would not otherwise get to see.

MonsterJam.com : What do you do with your free time?

Bari Musawwir:   I like to race my RC Trucks, design and install vehicle wraps, watch Monster Jam on Speed, and spend time with my family and friends. 

MonsterJam.com : What is your greatest memory as a monster truck Bari Musawwir?

Bari Musawwir:  Doing my first show in Panama City, Panama.

MonsterJam.com : Do you have any pre-show rituals that you run though?

Bari Musawwir:   Double checking to make sure all my safety equipment is good shape.  Stretching and talking to my family.

MonsterJam.com : If you were not competing on the Monster Jam tour, what career path would you follow?

Bari Musawwir:   Being a pro RC Racer, and a Graphic Designer,

MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite food?

Bari Musawwir :  (Italian) Pasta

MonsterJam.com : What’s your favorite movie?

Bari Musawwir :  Bad Boys 2

MonsterJam.com : What’s your favorite television show?     

Bari Musawwir :  Wipeout

MonsterJam.com : What’s your favorite color?

Bari Musawwir :  Black

TRUCK INFO

Truck Name : Spider-man

Body : Custom Concept

Engine size :  540 CI

Transmission :  Coan 2-speed

Sponsors :  Advance Auto Parts, Arsenault Associates, ARP Automotive Products, Auto Meter, Awesome Racewear, Cam 2 Racing Oil, Coan, Crower Racing Products, Derale Performance, Energy Suspension, Fel-Pro Performance Gaskets, FK Rod Ends, Hawk Performance, Jaz Products, K & N Filters, King Engine Bearings, Lincoln Welders, Liquid Advanced Technology, Magnaflow Performance, Mechanix Wear, MSD Ignition, NGK Spark Plugs, Optima Batteries, Piloti, TX7, Powermaster, Rockford Rosgate, Speed Pro, Universal Technical Institute, Walker Radiator Works, WISECO, World Products