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DRIVER INFORMATION
Driver name:	Michael Vaters
Owner of:	BLACK STALLION
Residence:	Hagerstown, Md.
Birthplace:	Hagerstown, Md.
Date of birth:	November 10, 1964
Marital status:	Married
Children:	3 boys
DRIVER HISTORY
Michael Vaters is one of the sport’s original superstars and remains at the top of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, today. Vaters has been competing in his Black Stallion monster truck since 1984. Monster truck competition is the only motorsport in which he has ever competed professionally. Vaters is considered one of the most versatile drivers in the sport. He has shown his ability on the big stadium courses over the years, including several impressive performances at the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam World Finals. Vaters has also won the arena-based Thunder Nationals championship several times. Q&A with Michael Vaters MonsterJam.com: How did you get started competing on the Monster Jam circuit? Michael Vaters: The Black Stallion was one of the first 12 monster trucks built. Initially in the 1980s, monster trucks were the finales of the USHRA’s tractor pulls, performing in an exhibition car crush at the end of the show. In the late 1980s to early 1990s, monster trucks evolved, improving in design and in numbers. This is when monster trucks started competing against each other, racing side by side across sets of cars. I was competing in Monster Jam from its inception. Initially, it was “Battle of Monster Trucks,” then “Monster Wars,” then “Camel Mud Monster,” and then finally it was named “Monster Jam.” The Black Stallion has been around since the beginning. I have watched this sport evolve over the years, from initially crawling over cars to the current, high-impact sport it is today. MonsterJam.com: What do you enjoy doing while on the road with Monster Jam? Michael Vaters: The best thing about traveling around with Monster Jam is meeting different people and all the fans. I like inventing different strategies to tackle different freestyle courses. MonsterJam.com: What do you do with your free time? Michael Vaters: There isn’t a lot of free time. It is a good thing I enjoy spending time in the shop working on the trucks. I also enjoy restoring old cars. And, my wife and I like to ride horses. MonsterJam.com: What is your greatest memory as a monster truck driver? Michael Vaters: There have been so many good memories and so many wonderful people that I have worked with. I would have to say that my greatest memory is being chosen by the fans to compete in the Monster Jam World Finals for the first time. MonsterJam.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals that you run though? Michael Vaters: I don’t have any personal ritual, but I do perform a pre-race check on the truck. I check the air pressure in the tires. I “nut & bolt” the truck, which is going around the truck and tightening all the nuts and bolts. And I check the valves in the motor and set the pressure in the shocks according to the track. MonsterJam.com: If you were not competing on the Monster Jam tour, what career path would you follow? Michael Vaters: I would have to be designing and fabricating something, such as parts or equipment. Maybe get more involved in restoring collector cars and trucks. MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite food? Michael Vaters: I like all kinds of foods … spicy and anything cooked on the grill. MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite television show? Michael Vaters: Mythbusters, America’s Funniest Videos, Two Guys Garage, and I watch the History Channel, a lot. MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite movie? Michael Vaters: Grumpy Old Men and Twister MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite color? Michael Vaters: Ford Blue TRUCK INFO • Truck Name: Black Stallion • Owner: Michael & Denise Vaters • Body: 2009 Ford F150 • Chassis: Custom-built by Vaters’ Motorsports • Engine size: 557 CI big block Ford, blown/alcohol injected • Transmission: C-6 with pro-fab transfer case • Shocks: 4” diameter King shocks with 26” of travel by Vaters’ Motorsports Sponsors: Ford Racing, Safety-Kleen, Miller welders, K&N Performance Filters, A&C Racing Engines, Alto, ARP, BDS, Cloyes, Cometic Gaskets, Dayco Belts, Fluidyne, Go Pro cameras, Harland Sharp, JE Pistons, Jomar, King Shocks, King Engine Bearings, L&L Hydraulics, Maier, Makita, Manton, Melling, Milodon, Moser Engineering, MSD, Neal Chance Converters, NGK Spark Plugs, Oliver Racing Parts, Optima Batteries, Piloti, PPG Paint, Pro Parts, Pro Werks, Radial Bearings, Safety Solutions, SSBC Brakes, Teamtech, Total Seal, Truck Toyz, Valco