Weekend Race Recap

Friday 7:30 p.m.

For Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam fans in Baton Rouge, the rocking weekend opened Friday night with the first of three shows as the Southern Quality Ford Dealers presented the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam brought to you by Ford Trucks. Six top trucks squared off in exciting competition.

The night started with wheel-stand action and no driver left anything to the imagination. Instigator put up one of the best verticals of his career and snagged the early lead. It took a towering effort from Maximum Destruction to deny victory and Max D was up to the task.

The side-by-side action got the fans attention next as the competitors lined up at the Advance Auto Parts starting line with the Ford finish line lurking just a couple dozen feet away. Bad News Travels fast, a 2009 Baton Rouge racing winner, took care of Raminator. Maximum Destruction stopped Cult Energy Activator in round one with Rammunition edging Instigator. The fast loser provisional went to Instigator who had the unenviable task of meeting up with Bad News in the semi-finals. Bad News made the best of the opportunity, advancing to the finals while Rammunition capitalized on Maximum Destruction's wheel-spin. In the final, Rammunition scored a Baton Rouge win.

Donut competition gave the drivers another shot at glory and again Instigator proved to be strong. Louisiana native Sean Duhon and his Cult Energy Activator got close and so did perennial donut champion Bad News, but Instigator held the top spot until Maximum Destruction put together a series of wobbling donuts that left the driver dizzy but victorious.

In the final event, the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam freestyle, drivers kept the competition close with a ton of sixes and sevens and Bad News grabbed the early lead. Cult Energy Activator nipped him by a single point, but Maximum Destruction wasn't done and the truck was heading for a triple. The judges agreed, putting a 23 on the board to claim victory.

Team Texas claimed victory in Quad Wars. The show also featured Death Defying Direnzo's fiery high fall

Wheelie competition

Maximum Destruction 28

Instigator 25

Cult Energy Activator 21

Rammuniition 19

Bad News Travels Fast 18

Raminator 16

Racing

Round one - Bad News Travels Fast defeated Raminator, Maximum Destruction stopped Cult Energy Activator, Rammunition prevailed over Instigator (Instigator awarded fast loser provisional)

Semi-finals - Bad News Travels Fast took care of Instigator, Rammunition knocked off Maximum Destruction

Finals - Rammunition beat Bad News Travels Fast

Donuts

Maximum Destruction 28

Instigator 24

Bad News Travels Fast 23

Cult Energy Activator 22

Raminator 14

Rammunition 6

Advance Auto Parts Freestyle

Maximum Destruction 23

Cult Energy Activator 19

Bad News Travels Fast 18

Instigator 16

Rammunition 15

Raminator 15

Saturday 2:00 p.m.

An afternoon that started with the Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits is going to be a good afternoon. That was the case at the River Center in Baton Rouge in preparation for the Southern Quality Ford Dealers Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam brought to you by Ford Trucks.

The second show of a three-show weekend stood on its merit as quality Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam entertainment. Opening action in the wheelie competition kept the participants on their toes, knowing any misstep would not bring victory. Scores were high with four drivers in the 20s, but no one could stop the effort of eight-time world champion Maximum Destruction with a high flying wheelie. Instigator came close with a stellar leap, earning plenty of respect from fans and competitors alike.

Drivers matched up in side-by-side action for close elimination passes. Bad News Travels Fast earned a first round win with victory over Cult Energy Activator. A battle of Hall Brothers trucks saw Rammunition drop Raminator from contention. Instigator rocketed off the line to grab the win from Maximum Destruction, but Max D earned the fast loser provisional. Second round saw Bad News best Max D and Instigator again pulled the hole shot from the right lane to sideline Rammunition. In a close final, Instigator picked up his first win of the weekend, keeping his personal win streak going after last week's triumph in Pensacola.

Donut competition proved to be a spin to win that saw Bad News driver Bruce Haney hanging the steering wheel from the window and earning the lead. Not to be outdone, Tom Meents did a series of one-handed cyclones, nearly tipping the truck on many occasions and influencing a top score from the judges.

The final monster truck event was freestyle. Three trucks were tied for the lead (Bad News, Cult Energy Activator and Instigator) when Maximum Destruction launched his bid. After a high flying pass over the van stack, which bent the right front rim, Max D went into donuts and the truck stopped suddenly with fluid pouring from beneath the engine. A score of 23 was a winning score, but the crew is spending the afternoon in an engine change, hoping to make the night show.

Team Louisiana avenged a Friday night Quad Wars loss to Team Texas by winning the matinee main. Death Defying DiRenzo plummeted to the arena floor in flames to thrill the crowd, who were caught breathless by the action.

Wheelie

Maximum Destruction 27

Instigator 25

Cult Energy Activator 24

Bad News Travels Fast 21

Raminator 17

Rammunition 14

Racing

Round One - Bad News Travels Fast defeated Cult Energy Activator, Rammunition stopped Raminator, Instigator edged Maximum Destruction (Maximum Destruction received fast loser provisional)

Semi Finals - Bad News Travels Fast won over Maximum Destruction, Instigator nipped Rammunition

UTI Finals - Instigator was winner over Bad News Travels Fast

Donuts

Maximum Destruction 28

Bad News Travels Fast 24

Raminator 20

Cult Energy Activator 20

Rammunition 18

Instigator 17

Advance Auto Parts freestyle

Maximum Destruction 23

Bad News Travels Fast 18

Cult Energy Activator 18

Instigator 18

Rammunition 16

Raminator 13

Saturday 7:30 p.m.

The Southern Quality Ford Dealers Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam brought to you by Ford Trucks closed off with a bang as the annihilation reached the high point of the weekend.

Five trucks presented for the introductions and the action got underway with the wheelie contest. Instigator's effort was the best of the bunch and the honor was about to be awarded when the news came that a sixth truck was ready for competition. Maximum Destruction had blown an engine and damaged several parts in the afternoon contest, but thanks to the non-stop crew efforts between shows, Max D was able to arrive for the wheelies. A storybook ending would have a Max D win, but his wheelie came up a point short, keeping the win with Instigator.

With six trucks now in action, the balanced racing brackets became the norm. Bad News slipped past Cult Energy Activator, Rammunition ousted teammate Raminator and Instigator got the best of Maximum Destruction. Fast loser provisional was awarded to Cult Energy Activator, setting up a semi-final rematch between the Louisiana-based truck and Bad News Travels Fast. The rematch went well for the original winner as Bad News repeated. The other semi matched up the racing winners from the previous shows, Instigator and Rammunition. It would be Rammunition making his second final round, meeting up with Bad News Travels Fast, who made the final for all three events. The green light came on and both trucks shot off the Advance Auto Parts starting line. Rammunition made it to the Ford finish line first, claiming his second Baton Rouge racing title.

In donut competition, Bad News and Instigator locked into a tie for the lead with several trucks getting within a few points. The wild ride by Maximum Destruction made those scores a moot point as Max D scored his third straight donut title.

In the Advance Auto Parts freestyle, Cult Energy Activator took the lead despite breaking a right rear axle, leaving three wheels turning. It took a spectacular ride by Maximum Destruction to take the trophy away and eight-time world champion Tom Meents proved up to the task, getting his win.

Team Louisiana scored the second win of the weekend, earning the lion's share of the Quad wars points. Death Defying DiRenzo conducted his flaming high fall from the rafters as the crowd watching with wide-eyed amazement.

Wheelie competition

Instigator 26

Maximum Destruction 25

Cult Energy Activator 23

Rammunition 19

Bad News Travels Fast 18

Raminator 15

Racing

Round One - Bad News took care of Cult Energy Activator, Rammunition marched past Raminator, Instigator knocked off Maximum Destruction (Cult Energy Activator returns as fast loser)

Semi-Finals - Bad News defeated Cult Energy Activator, Rammunition claimed the win over Instigator

Finals - Rammunition overcame Bad News Travels Fast

Donut competition

Maximum Destruction 28

Bad News Travels Fast 24

Instigator 24

Raminator 22

Cult Energy Activator 21

Rammunition 19

Advance Auto Parts Freestyle

Maximum Destruction 26

Cult Energy Activator 21

Rammunition 19

Instigator 18

Raminator 16

Bad News Travels Fast 10 (broken planetary)