West Lebanon, NY - Lebanon Valley Speedway

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam
Lebanon Valley Speedway
West Lebanon, NY
July 16-18, 2012

It had been several years since Dennis Anderson had raced at the legendary Lebanon Valley Speedway. While the Grave Digger truck is an annual favorite, Big Daddy Dennis’ schedule just didn’t allow the trip.

That all changed Monday night when thousands of faithful fans came out to see Dennis and the 30th anniversary Grave Digger earn the fastest qualifying time, win the UTI Race Championship and roll in Freestyle.

30 years ago, almost to the day, Grave Digger and Dennis were at the track for the first time. “That first year Dennis just crushed cars in Grave Digger as part of the Mud Racing event, said track owner Howard Commander. “The next year we ran the first ever side by side racing event with Carolina Crusher taking on Grave Digger. Fans loved it then and they continue to do so”, he continued.

Fans love Monster Jam so much that many take vacation time and camp out in the field across from the Speedway for three days. The track, located between Albany N.Y. and Pittsfield Ma. becomes a sort of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Woodstock. For many, it’s three days of not just Monster Jam but a 72 hours experience with drivers, crew, and fans interacting and celebrating something truly special.

Monday began that three day experience. Eight trucks, 24 Street Warriors and the Green Mamba jet car filled the lineup. By showtime at 8pm the Street Warriors were down to the top 8 and the Monster Jam competitors were ready for action. The impressive lineup included the Lucas Oil Crusader driven by Linsey Weenk, Bryan White in Monster Magic, Steve Sim’s Stone Crusher, Mohawk Warrior driven by George Balhan, Damon Bradshaw in Monster Energy, Frank Krmel aboard Advance Auto Parts Grinder, Neil Elliot driving Maximum Destruction and Dennis Anderson with the 30th Anniversary Grave Digger.

Racing was fast with Grave Digger winning the final by defeating Stone Crusher. Dennis was on his game cutting a good light each time he was at the line. Bryan White, making his first appearance at Lebanon Valley in Monster Magic came, in second in qualifying. Considering this World Class field of Monster Jam Trucks that is quite an accomplishment.

Grave Digger was on his way to a double-down victory when the truck rolled a little more than halfway into his freestyle. With the black and green wrecking machine on it’s side, Anderson crawled out of the truck unharmed thanking the crowd for their 3 decades of devotion. He went on the say that while Maximum Destruction and Neil Elliot deserved the first night's Freestyle win, it would not happen again.

Grave Digger was not the only truck to roll during Freestyle. Monster Magic, driven by Bryan White rolled early in his :60 run when the sticky track prevented him from making a sharp turn. “I simply misjudged how unforgiving the track service was. It was a rookie mistake and I am disappointed, but I did learn from it”, said White.

Street Warrior competition saw veteran Mike Mareau and rookie Rich Crane battle it out in the final with Crane getting the win. “Tonight is special for me because my family and friends are in the stands cheering me on”, he said in a post race interview on the track.

Results:
Truck Freestyle

Monster Magic 7 (rolled)
Stone Crusher 18
Lucas Oil Crusade 6 (locked up drive train)
Mohawk Warrior 21
Monster Energy 24
Advance Auto Grinder 19
Max Destruction 25
Grave Digger 23

Race Results:
Round One:
Grave Digger beat Advance Auto Parts Grinder
Maximum Destruction over Monster Energy
Stone Crusher defeated Lucas Oil Crusader
Mohawk Warrior downed Monster Magic

Semi Finals:
Grave Digger beat Maximum Destruction
Stone Crusher over Mohawk Warrior

UTI Race Finals:
Grave Digger defeated Stone Crusher

At the end of the event, Doug Rose set the night on fire with his jet car, Green Mamba. Fans lined up for autographs with many saying they would be back Tuesday and Wednesday for more action.

By Joe Lowe

The second night of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam at Lebanon Valley Speedway began pretty much the same way Monday nights event did, Dennis Anderson dominated qualifying and racing.

The problem was at the ending of the event. It too was the same as the Monday night event, Dennis Anderson rolled Grave Digger a few seconds into freestyle giving the win to someone else. On Tuesday, that someone else was Damon Bradshaw driving Monster Energy.

Bradshaw ran the most impressive freestyle hitting everything on the track and getting great air during the 90 second run. “This is a small racetrack but the event is stadium quality. The fans here are awesome and I feel blessed to be asked to come back for another year”, said Bradshaw in a post event interview.

The night also featured Street Warriors, these trucks are for the most part street legal but with some handling and suspension improvements giving the vehicles the ability to fly thru the air and tackle hard core surfaces. The Monday night Street Warrior winner was Rich Crane. Crane came up a bit short on the final lap giving the prize to his friend Mike Moreau. Moreau told fans he loved the Street Warrior class or racing and he looked forward to watching a race the following day with his grown son.

Fans braved near record heat with temps in the upper 90’s and the heat index well past 100 to see the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam trucks run.

Race Results:
Round One:
Grave Digger defeated Monster Magic
Advance Auto Parts Grinder beat Stone Crusher
Maximum Destruction over Lucas Oil Crusader
Monster Energy squeeked past Mohawk Warrior.

Semi Finals:
Grave Digger beat Advance Auto Parts Grinder
Maximum Destruction with a win over Monster Energy

UTI Race Final:
Grave Digger over Maximum Destruction

Freestyle Results:
Truck Score
Monster Magic 15
Stone Crusher 18
Lucas Oil Crusader 19
Mohawk Warrior 14 (truck left on the track while others run)
Monster Energy 25
Advance Auto Parts Grinder 25
Maximum Destruction 24 (locked rear Steer)
Grave Digger rolled ending the Freestyle with over 50 seconds left.

After a nearly 2 hour autograph session, drivers were already talking about what it would take to shake the event up with a different winner for the Wednesday event

By Joe Lowe

Dennis Anderson promised fans Tuesday night to double down or load the truck up in pieces. Tonight, he did both. “I have two strikes in my attempt to double down (win both racing and freestyle) here at Lebanon Valley. I have one show left”, he said at the end of the Tuesday Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam.

Anderson on his 30 years of Bad to the Bone tour won racing easily. As the fastest qualifier he had lane choice all night long. But the Freestyle crown kept avoiding the Veteran Champion.

Driving hard for the freestyle win Anderson put Grave Digger thru its paces with high jumps, quick turns and fast action. He was determined to get very close to the high score of 25 earned by Frank Krmel in the Advance Auto Parts Grinder and Neil Elliot driving Maximum Destruction.

Digger went into the last jump very very hard becoming airborne but he didn’t hit it straight. The Black and Green 30th Anniversary truck came off the hill out of shape and twisted in the air. Digger landed on it’s top looking like a twisted pretzel. Anderson was OK but a bit shaken as he told the fans that although he destroyed a $12,000 body and did major frame damage to the truck it was worth it for the greatest fans in the world.

Holding a few body parts he vowed to giveaway during the post event autograph session, he thanked the fans for 30 years of loyalty.

The night also had a few surprises for Anderson. The fans at Lebanon Valley have been loyal to Grave Digger for 30 years. A couple of sponsors and the track owner, Howard Commander, presented Dennis with a custom designed Grave Digger guitar. I am sure you will see this on www.monsterjam.com, in the near future.

Grave Digger was not the only truck at the Lebanon Valley Speedway Monster Jam but the other drivers agreed that this was Big Daddy Dennis’ event. “You run as hard as you can to beat him but he seems to get some magical power at Lebanon Valley”, said Mohawk Warriors George Balhan.

Linsey Weenk driver of the Lucas Oil Crusader agreed that there is a special bond between Anderson and the fans at W. Leb. “It’s Grave Digger Country, I admired the way fans loved Dennis when I was a crew guy. I’d watch him make a championship truck out of junk yard parts. Today I have a healthy respect for his ability to get more out of that truck than anybody else. He really is the best year after year”.

Race Results:
Round One:
Grave Digger beat Advance Auto Parts Grinder
Lucas Oil Crusader over Monster Energy
Maximum Destruction defeated Monster Magic
Stone Crusher downed Mohawk Warrior

Semi Finals:
Grave Digger over Lucas Oil Crusader
Maximum Destruction over Stone Crusher

UTI Race Finals:
Grave Digger beat Maximum Destruction.

Mohawk Warrior broke with 30 seconds left in freestyle after hitting the large car stack. George did get the truck started again only to have it quit. George Balhan promised the crowd he would be back next year and win it all. “I have the utmost respect for Dennis Anderson but I also want to win at Lebanon Valley”, he told the fans. He then gave away the shirt off his back to one very happy Monster Jam fan.

Freestyle Results:
Truck Freestyle
Monster Magic 19
Stone Crusher 20
Lucas Oil Crusader 24
Mohawk Warrior 15 (broke)
Monster Energy 21
Advance Auto Parts Grinder 25
Maximum Destruction 25
Grave Digger (Dennis) 27

All in all it was an incredible week of modern Advance Auto Parts action combined with 30 years of fond memories. As Neil Elliot said, ”this place is where the legends of the sport were born”.

By Joe Lowe