Durham, NH (April 12-14, 2002)

Friday Night
It was a tough night in Durham, NH for round 1 of the Thunder National World Finals.

In the Wheelie Contest, Eradicator scored 16 points, Thrasher 9 points, and Rambo 16 points. Diehl Wilson and Virginia Giant got it up for 22 points. Then Mike Vaters, coming off an impressive freestyle at the Monster Jam World Finals 3 in Vegas, went vertical with Black Stallion for 24 points and the Wheelie win.

In the Doughnut Contest, Eradicator tried hooking up for 13 points. Pat Soma and Thrasher scored 16 points. Black Stallion took the lead with 18 points. Virginia Giant sat of Doughnuts and Freestyle with a broken rear steering problem. Then came the Doughnut specialist himself, Mike Nitzki. Rambo spun a hole in the floor for 24 points and the win.

In Freestyle, I thought Pat Soma and Thrasher were going over on the last wheelie he tried, but Pat is a Veteran and he landed it perfectly for a score of 23 points. Eradicator and Rambo both tied with 22 points. With Diehl Wilson sitting out, it left the door open wide for Mr. Vegas himself. It looked like Mike Vaters wanted Back in the Hot Wheels Hot Seat the way he was in Vegas. He tore up the track in Freestyle doing a combination of long jumps and wheelies for an impressive score of 24 points and tonight's Freestyle Championship. The fans in Durham tonight got a chance to see a little bit of Las Vegas up close.

During intermission, we heard good and bad news coming from the pits. The good news was Diehl Wilson fixed the rear steering on Virginia Giant and was ready to go on racing. The bad news was Rambo blew a rear tire during the Freestyle and would have to sit the rest of the night on the bleachers watching.

Round One
Black Stallion smoked Thrasher to advance to the Final Round. Andy Slifco and Eradicator took out Virginia Giant.

Bad News was coming from the pits once again. Eradicator blew the transmission and would not be able to make the line against Black Stallion. That means the 2002 points Champion Virginia Giant would get his chance in the showdown round.

Monster Final
Black Stallion v. Virginia Giant. Former champion v. current champion. This was a classic match up. Mike Vaters and Diehl Wilson have been friends for a long time. All that went out the window when the light turned green... because went it did, Black Stallion filled the air and left Virginia Giant wondering what just happened.

Great job by Mike Walsh, Les Allsworth and Scott Poiries, the USHRA Track Official. They are true professionals.


Saturday Afternoon
After a great Pit Party, we set up for round number 2 of the Thunder National's Championship Weekend. This afternoon the fans were pumped up and ready for some great USHRA live entertainment... and that's exactly what they got.

We started off with the Wheelie Contest:
Eradicator began the show with 18 points
Thrasher ended up with 17 points
Rambo managed to get 23 points from the judges
Virginia Giant stood it up for 20 points
Mike Vaters and Black Stallion were not going to be denied. He went vertical for the win with 26 points

The Doughnut Contest was next:
Eradicator only received 9 points
Thrasher received 15 points for his effort
Virginia Giant rolled upside down for 19 points
Rambo squeezed 22 points from the judges
Black Stallion worked his magic for 27 points

Freestyle
Thrasher received 15 points
Eradicator scored 19 points
Rambo landed with 22 points
Black Stallion took the early lead with 27 points
Diehl Wilson and Virginia Giant stuck it on 'em for a big score of 29 points and the victory!

Monster Racing Round One
Virginia Giant got the by run for winning the Freestyle event
Eradicator blew away Black Stallion to advance to round two
Pat Suma and Thrasher stuck it on the two time Thunder National Champion Rambo

Monster Racing Round Two
Andy Slifco and Eradicator sent Thrasher back to the pits for performance
Diehl Wilson proved why he's the #1 driver by putting Black Stallion out to pasture

Monster Finals
Eradicator and Virginia Giant lined up on the starting line. The light turned green and Monster Trucks filled the air. When the dust settled, it was Eradicator who was victorious


Saturday Night
The Whittemore Center was rocking tonight. You could feel the electricity sparking around the arena.

Wheelie Contest
Eradicator went up for 18 points
Thrasher got major air for 25 points
Rambo received 17 points for his effort
Virginia Giant gunned it for 21 points
Black Stallion went vertical for 26 points and the win

Doughnut Contest
Eradicator tried his best for 11 points
Thrasher ended up with 22 points
Rambo showed his specialty for 27 points
Black Stallion tried to keep up with 26 points

Then IT happened... one of the freakiest thing's I've ever seen during a show. Diehl Wilson was not going to lay down and let Rambo walk away with this contest. He brought Virginia Giant out onto the floor and when he mashed on the gas pedal the BACK of the truck squatted down and the front lifted off the floor doing a high powered 60 miles per hour doughnut. When the front end hit the floor, the right front tire blew apart, came off the rim and landed about 30 feet away like a mangled up pretzel. Diehl Wilson even said he'd never seen anything like it. Not only did it destroy the tire, but it also did about $8000 dollars in damage to the truck. However, he still won the contest with a perfect score of 30 points.

Monster Freestyle
With Virginia Giant out for the weekend, the rest of the trucks stepped up to the plate to finish the job.
Thrasher went at it for 23 points
Eradicator received 22 points
Rambo brought back 21 points to the pits
And Mr. Vegas, Mike Vaters won the Freestyle with Black Stallion for 29 points

Monster Racing Round One
Thrasher stuck it on Rambo
Black Stallion extinguished Eradicator's hope of repeating his Round 2 performance

Monster Finals
Black Stallion sent Pat Suma and Thrasher back to the waiting area, when he launched Stallion over the crush cars.