Tulsa, OK - BOK Center

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Trucks: USHRA Monster Trucks including Grave Digger® driven by Pablo Huffaker, El Toro Loco® driven by Aaron Basl, Grave Digger The Legend℠ driven by Adam Anderson, Razin Kane driven by JR McNeil, Barbarian driven by Devin Jones, Captain America driven by Chad Fortune, and just added: Advance Auto Parts Grinder℠ driven by Lupe Soza and Madusa!


Friday night

KAAABOOOOOM!
Did anyone else here that? It was the start of the 2012 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam. The fans in attendance here at the BOK Center seemed ready to start the year with a bang and that’s exactly what they got.
Celebrating the 30th year of history making monster truck competition, Grave Digger with Pablo Huffacker behind the wheel took home the win in first contest of the night, the wheelie competition with a score of 26, and nearly destroying the under carriage of the truck in doing so. With the win but ensuing destruction, it put Pablo in the “re-fabrication” mode back in the pits missing the racing portion of the night as well as the donut contest.
The Monster Jam Racing part of the night proved to be very interesting. It was young gun versus wiley veteran but in a NEW truck. Adam Anderson and The Legend came up against Chad Fortune and his new ride, Captain America. It was so very close, but it was (by inches) Anderson across the Advance Auto Parts finish line first and the win. It was so close in fact that Chad Fortune challenged JUST Adam to a (one on one) donut contests. AGAIN, very close, both drivers put their best (right) foot forward and surpassed the donut, kept going through the cyclone, and screamed into the “spin cycle.” Once the smoke cleared, the judges scored a PERFECT 30 for Anderson and left him with another win on the night.
Freestyle, OH MAN FREESTYLE! Working through the field truck after truck laid it down for the fans. Eventually Adam Anderson and the Legend found himself as the man to beat with one truck remaining. Pablo was able to somehow piece together Grave Digger just enough to tie Anderson. Yes, a tie. The tie breaker though went to Pablo for the last win of the night.
It was great to see the “young” fans have as much fun as they did tonight, but what was even more enjoyable for many of our staff was watching how much fun the adults were having as well. One show down, with one more to go. Hope to see more of Tulsa tomorrow night.

By Scott Rehn

Saturday Night 7:30pm

There’s always something special in the air when it comes to the last night of competition for the weekend. Tonight definitely had that feel before the event even started.
Starting with the wheelie contest, it was local hero and easily a fan favorite, local boy Devin Jones and his Barbarian came out of the gate for his two hits. Surprising nearly everyone and maybe even himself a bit, Devin scored a tremendous 25 and looked like he might be on the “hot seat” for quite awhile. That was until 2 time world champion Madusa hit the floor. Running a gorgeous new “pink” paint scheme and a newly found sense of excitement, she NAILED it on both hits! On the first set of cars she dragged the back tailgate so far and long, well, until the tailgate ripped off. Then the second hit was so violent that she ripped off both back side fenders. It was all cosmetic though, with no real structural damage. When the score card holders finally held up the cards, it was Madusa with a 26 and the lead. Needless to say it is always fun to talk to the much animated Madusa, but when she realized that they had hung on for the win, it was a priceless moment for her and her crew. They were the ones to come out onto the floor first to congratulate her with hi-fives all around. Even after the winner’s interview, you couldn’t wipe that grin off her face.
The Monster Jam racing portion of the event was next and proved to be just as entertaining if not maybe a little more dramatic, as we had a veteran in a brand new truck and a young gun, soon to be if not already a superstar, both racing their way through the field on into the UTI Finals. I am talking about Chad Fortune and his NEW Captain America monster and Adam Anderson in The Legend. Both drivers had never been to the BOK Center before, so for these two aces, it was going to be “all or nothing.” The same two drivers were in the UTI Finals last night, but the result ended up being a little different this time around. Crossing the Advance Auto Parts finish line first and taking his FIRST win in his brand new Captain America was an ecstatic Chad Fortune. Entering into the 2012 season Chad was rather nervous leaving something that he knew very well and was known as by his fans for so many years, but decided to leave that comfort zone and go for it with his new Captain America look and it was a HIT RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX this weekend. The more the fans reacted (which, OH BOY DID THEY!) the more you could see the confidence in Chad’s demeanor and aggression on the track. Needless to say all that nervousness was put to bed with Chad’s first win. Congrats man, uhhh, I mean Captain America!
It became apparent during intermission that Chad’s win didn’t sit too well with Adam Anderson and after a few “kind” words were exchanged, Adam challenged Fortune to a “one on one” donut contest. Maybe Chad should’ve stayed parked for this one because there was no denying who won the donut contest. As Adam tossed The Legend sideways it seemed almost too easy as he nailed the throttle and spun so many donuts he went through what is a “few” donuts, went past what is considered and “cyclone” and ended his challenge with a HUGE “SPIN CYCLE!” Best part was, upon exiting his monster and staggering over for his interview, I could see there was no doubt that Adam laid it down for the fans as he still wasn’t quite able to see straight yet (laughing.) Score, Captain America 14 – The Legend 30.
Finally what everyone in Tulsa had come to see, the Monster Jam Freestyle competition. Aaron Basl and El Toro Loco did well with a 22 and was in the “hot seat” for quite some time, but along came Lupe Soza and his Advance Auto Parts “Grinder” booting Aaron out as he took over with a 23. It wasn’t too much later that Pablo Huffacker and Grave Digger equaled the score of “Grinder.” So for the time being we had a tie at the top spot with 23s. That was until the KID hit the floor! Adam Anderson and The Legend came out into the middle of the arena with such force and aggression, you’d swear that both driver AND truck were rather “ticked off”. Each hit was more violent than the next. The speed and momentum that was carried between each hit was scary. The sound that was bellowing throughout the arena had to deafen even citizens just passing by OUTSIDE the building. There was no DENYING who the winner was going to be. No doubt about it, tonight, son made daddy proud. Adam Anderson & The Legend, the Monster Jam Freestyle, Tulsa, Oklahoma Champions.

By Scott Rehn