To say that being a part of the Louisville Monster Jam this year was awesome would be a huge understatement. Last year, my buddy Adam Anderson gave me a call to see if he could borrow a tire for TAZ, and while I was at it, bring another tire, along with a rim for Pablo Huffaker. That was my first trip to Louisville’s Freedom Hall. Why is Freedom Hall mean so much to Monster Truck drivers? The rich history there is second to none. As a young boy in the late 1980’s, I can remember like it was just yesterday getting home from school, doing my homework and hurrying through dinner to get to watch monster trucks on TV. At the time, Gary Porter was the man to beat along with Adam’s dad, Dennis. I never imagined then that I would get the privilege of getting to race with Gary, Dennis. Well, in Louisville this past weekend it all came together. Gary would be the Grave Digger driver, Scott Douglass the announcer, and Freedom Hall was the arena. It truly was a thrill. I cannot begin to tell you the respect and admiration I have for Gary Porter. As much as I now consider him a friend, I still catch myself be a fan from time to time. Asking him questions like “Remember that time at West Leb. when you ran against so and so?” or, “Why did you move the shocks to the outside of the chassis on your first race truck”. I felt like a kid in a candy store for sure.

 Now, if that’s not cool enough getting to run against Gary Porter, my mom, dad, sister and brother in law made the 7 hour drive from Detroit to see me in my second event driving the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder. So needless to say, I had more than enough motivation to run hard and put on the best show I could. It’s really kind of fun when you are at an event with guys like Randy Moore, Porter, Adam, Alex, Whit, and Bruce Haney. It’s like playing football in your backyard with your buddies. Everyone is laughing and joking before, during and after, but at the same time everyone wants to win. I was lucky enough to start the weekend out with a win in the wheelie contest, while Adam Anderson cycloned his way to a win in the donut contest. In racing Friday night it would be Alex Blackwell in Captains Curse defeating Grave Digger and Gary Porter. That is where the drama began though. As we all went out side Freedom Hall to fuel up our trucks, I noticed that I had no rear steering in Blue Thunder. Adam Anderson was also experiencing rear steering issues. On top of that Gary Porter had to flat left tires after the racing final. My problem ended up being a solenoid switch on the rear steer motor(Thanks to Alex Blackwell, Mike Skiedel, and Billy Easterly III, for jumping in and help getting it diagnosed and fixed). Adam on the other hand was not so lucky. Adam and Robert “Scooby” Wells did all they could, but with Adam’s position on the floor, it limited their time to get it fixed, keeping Adam and Taz out of the Freestyle Competition.  The culprit turned out to be a faulty rear steer motor (which is usually the last thing to fail in the system). The legendary Gary Porter and Grave Digger would take the win in Freestyle just edging out War Wizard, myself in Blue Thunder and Captains Curse. Saturday started with an awesome Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits. This was special because of the Halloween theme, and all the great costumes everyone dressed up in. Once we got to business, it was Adam Anderson making up for his early night the show before picking up the win in the wheelie contest. Again, it was Adam taking home the donut contest. Gary Porter made up for his loss the evening before to Captains Curse, by blazing around the Freedom Hall track. Once Freestyle got underway, you could tell it was going to be one of those nights where everybody left it all on the track. Alex Blackwell in Captains Curse got it started with a big air, donut filled run that set the bar at a pretty high level.  War Wizard, Predator and Bad News and Whit Tarlton all laid down great runs. By the time it was my turn, War Wizard had the high score with a 24. I figured there was better time for me to show why I was behind the wheel of the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder. My goal is always to be the leader after I run, and it was no different in Louisville. Non Dirt events are always tricky, so you have to have a different approach to the track, but you want the same result-big air and a lot of momentum. It is more important at these types of shows to watch the trucks that re before you because there is no dirt ramp t launch you straight and true every hit. The terrain changes after every hit at non dirt shows. Everything was ramped up pretty good when it was my turn to go. So, I made sure I got squared up, and got big runs at everything, always having an escape route in mind if I had to do some driving after each hit. Luckily, that big blue Ford was set up perfect by crew chief Bill Easterly III, so it handled everything I threw at it. It was one of those runs where once you made the first hit and it went really smooth, it was on from there. You tend to get more confident as the run goes, and this run was no different. I saw the red light come on signaling the end of my time, but with friends and family in attendance in Louisville, along with a ton of great Monster Jam fans, I had to give one more big air hit to end the run in true Blue Thunder fashion. I can’t tell you how big the smile on my face was when I unbuckled from that seat. No matter what the score, I had a blast, and didn’t want the run to end. With just Taz and Grave Digger left to run, I was the leader with a 26. I was happy with my run, but just like any driver, you always think after you might have been able to do more. Adam’s run was cut short by a flat tire, and Gary Porter ran Digger into the ground, but when it was all over I was able to edge Gary Porter and Grave Digger out by one point 26 to 25. It was such a huge thrill to stand on that floor next to Gary Porter, Scott Douglass, and in front my family and some great fans, at such a great place in Monster Jam history. So as we get ready to roll into 2010, you can’t help but think this may be one of the most wide open seasons in Monster Jam History. I can’t wait to get it started. How about you?