Coty Saucier And Charlie Pauken Honored By Peers

By Scott Douglass
Nov 23, 2010

Several of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam’s premier drivers and mechanics attended their annual summit last weekend in Virginia Beach and at the awards ceremonies that were a part of the festivities US Air Force Afterburner Crew Chief Coty Saucier and World Freestyle Champion Charlie Pauken were named winners of the top awards that were both selected by their peers on hand, Saucier winning the Golden Wrench Award given to the Crew Chief of the Year and Pauken was tabbed as the 2010 Driver of the year.

 

Saucier’s night wasn’t done after being handed the Golden Wrench Award. At the night’s end Coty won what Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Senior Director of Operations Bill Easterly referred to as a Crew Chief’s “Double Down” when Saucier also took home the night’s final award, the Jesse Barden Award that is handed out to the driver or Crew Chief deemed “Most Valuable” for the year. The award is of course named for former US Air Force Afterburner Crew Chief Jesse Barden, who passed away in 2009, and an emotional Saucier began his acceptance of the coveted award, staring into the beautiful crystal style trophy that bares Barden’s name, and Saucier started his speech to those assembled simply by saying “I miss my friend.” The highly regarded Crew Chief then went on to thank many people who have been important to his career as he has moved to the top of the industry, including Barden’s family and the driver that he has built such an instant rapport with in difficult circumstances, 2009 World Champion Damon Bradshaw.

 

The dual honors are no surprise to those in the sport who know of Saucier’s value, and his ability to step in to a World Championship team after the tragedy that befell them in 2009 was especially impressive. In a way it’s quite interesting to see Bradshaw, a somewhat quiet and reserved type that some may see as hard to get to know, able to build such a tight chemistry with those who are arguably the most important people to his success in the pits. He had a fantastic relationship with Barden, and then despite the heavy hearts in place when the new team was formed, an instant chemistry bonded between Bradshaw and Saucier that saw the US Air Force Afterburner team remain among the sport’s best outfits in 2010, and it’s expected that their successes will continue into the coming years. 

Along with winning the coveted Jesse Barden Award it’s significant that the others in attendance in Virginia Beach voted Saucier the winner of the Golden Wrench Award, again signifying his hard work, accomplishments, and the respect that he has earned among the other mechanics in the sport and the drivers as well.

In a career that has reached legendary status with years full of amazing highlights 2010 is sure to stand out as one of the greatest ever for the likeable Pauken. I’ve interviewed Chucky several times since he finally won that elusive World Freestyle Championship last March at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas at World Finals XI, and every time I can see in his eyes what that accomplishment means to him even though he still has a little trouble putting those feelings into words. When he stepped to the podium to accept the top driver honors voted on by his peers last weekend again Pauken was clearly moved and you could see, and hear in his remarks, that like winning that world title, being honored by his peers holds a special place in his heart. I think that Pauken can be a little taken back by the accolades that are thrown his way. He loves what he does and just goes out and excites fans week in and week out with amazing performances, yet he doesn’t sit back and wait for everyone to tell him how great he is, which others often do by the way. No, with Pauken, he just goes out and does what matters most to him, thrilling his fans. If those great performances are honored, awesome, but that’s not what he tightens his belts up for. It’s simply to give the fans the best performance he is capable of every time the light goes green.

 

Another reason for Pauken’s respect throughout the monster truck world is that Charlie has always been willing to give back in many ways, including his willingness to take new drivers under his wing. Several of the superstars who have gained great popularity over the years and developed their careers to a prime time level learned the craft, at least in part, from Charlie Pauken, and new drivers who enter the sport are truly blessed if they are given the chance to run with and learn from Pauken as they begin to rise up the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam ladder. It’s great that Charlie Pauken figures to be behind the wheel thrilling fans for many more years as a driver, but when those driving days are done, Pauken’s legacy at the events will continue on as so many of his protégés take the sport into the future. Not surprisingly when Pauken accepted the Driver of the Year Award last weekend the Team Grave Digger driver received the biggest congratulatory bear hug from Grave Digger creator Dennis Anderson himself. 

Several others along with Pauken and Saucier were honored at the ceremonies on the Atlantic coast. Those other winners included the RaceSource team winning the Hot Look Award. Pablo and Tina Huffaker’s team was cited for the awesome looks and preparation of their equipment and their entire operation, and appropriately Aaron Basl, who works tirelessly to give the Grave Digger and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle trucks that “Hot Look”, joined Pablo and Tina in accepting the honor. Marc McDonald’s El Toro Loco team of Dennis Foltz and Chris Fryman were tabbed as the winners of the Whatever It Takes Award; Tanner Swinehart was named the Rising Star – Crew winner; and Nitro Circus pilot Cam McQueen was selected winner of the Rising Star – Driver Award. Congratulations to all of those deserving winners.

 

While honoring the best of 2010 was a highlight of the weekend, the main purpose of the annual get together was an amazingly constructive exchange of ideas among drivers, crew members, and Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam officials. It was in those meetings that one could easily see that for every one in attendance the meeting was really less about an incredible 2010 year of unbelievable moments, and more about making sure that the fans in attendance at events in 2011 will be treated to even more spectacular moments and amazing family nights at live Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam competitions.