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DRIVER INFORMATION
Driver name:	Jim Burns
Residence:	Rockford, Illinois
Date of birth:	October 15, 1977
Years competing:	Since 2007
DRIVER HISTORY
Jim Burns is “living the dream” as a competitor in Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®. Burns explains very simply that driving a monster truck is what he always wanted to do. Here’s how Burns puts it, in his words, when asked about his background and how that background led him into the world of monster trucks: “I always wanted to be a monster truck driver, all the way back to grade school when I used to watch the TNT Monster Truck Challenge. Once I started high school, I kind of figured owning, or even becoming a monster truck driver, was probably going to be impossible. So I spent the rest of my high school years playing around with street legal drag race cars, and even a demolition derby car. After spending way too much money on all that stuff and having not much to show for all the effort, I sold everything that had to do with hot rod cars. After graduating high school, I bought a small house and took the money that was left from selling the car to build a small shop to start building—of all things—a monster truck! After working two, full-time jobs for six years, I was finally able to finish building my truck.” Q&A with Jim Burns MonsterJam.com: How did you get started competing on the Monster Jam circuit? Jim Burns: I started building my own truck in 2000, piece-by-piece. Finally, seven years later, I got it finished. After just two little shows I was “thrown to the wolves,” so to speak, in Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam. MonsterJam.com: What do you enjoy doing while on the road with Monster Jam? Jim Burns: I love traveling to all of the different cities; meeting all the fans; and most of all, crushing cars. MonsterJam.com: What do you do with your free time? Jim Burns: With my full-time job as an auto mechanic and with monster truck repairs after shows, I don’t get much free time. I recently have found time for a few weekends away to go camping. I also take a week’s vacation to go—where else—The Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam World Finals. MonsterJam.com: What is your greatest memory as a monster truck driver? Jim Burns: It’s hard to think of many times that aren’t great. In the shop or sliding down the highway in the dead of winter you may hear me complain, but as soon as I get to the venue and I see all the fans at the pit parties, I couldn’t be happier. But if I had to pick one moment or one memory as the greatest, it would be competing at the Metrodome (Mall of America Field) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I guess that’s because that is what I pictured myself doing years ago when I hoped to be a monster truck driver. MonsterJam.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals that you run though? Jim Burns: Not really. Sometimes, I kick the truck just to be sure its “ready to go.” MonsterJam.com: If you were not competing on the Monster Jam tour, what career path would you follow? Jim Burns: Equipment operator. I always loved to dig in the dirt as a kid. MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite food? Jim Burns: Steak, fish MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite movie? Jim Burns: Uncle Buck MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite television show? Jim Burns: Ice road truckers. It’s a tie with Monster Jam. MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite color? Jim Burns: Blue TRUCK INFO Truck Name: Mechanical Mischief Body: 2000 Chevy Chassis: Mechanical Mischief #1 Engine size: 512 ci Chevy Transmission: Turbo 400 Shocks: 20” travel front 26” travel rear Sponsors: Rockford Drive Shaft