Baltimore, MD (Feb. 23-24, 2002) Saturday Afternoon Qualifying Round Dennis Anderson left them all in the dust with a fast time of 1.15.
Quarter Finals Backdraft burned Bulldozer. Black Stallion stomped Sudden Impact. Grave Digger stuck it on American Guardian.
Semi Finals Bulldozer, being the fast loser from round 1 came back for round 2 and ended up as the next victim of Grave Digger. Backdraft put the fire to Black Stallion to advance on against Digger in the Monster Finals.
The Finals Dennis Anderson and Grave Digger showed Rick Disharoon and Backdraft why Digger is the most dominating monster on the planet!
Monster Freestyle Backdraft, after losing to Digger in the finals, drove into Freestyle for a great score of 24 points. Then Grave Digger entered the building and extinguished Backdraft and earned his score of 29 points.
Saturday Night Qualifying Round Grave Digger smoked the field with the fastest time of 1.25
Quarter Finals Grave Digger advanced on against American Guardian. Black Stallion put a sudden stop to Sudden Impact's racing and Bulldozer sizzled Backdraft to advance to the semi finals.
Semi Finals Black Stallion put Bulldozer back in the bull pen. Backdraft got another chance being the fast loser from round 1, only to go down in a ball of flames against 20 years of Grave Digger racing.
Monste Finals The stage was set for two men and two trucks who were both celebrating 20 year anniversaries. Mike Vaters from Hagerstown, MD and Black Stallion against the legendary Dennis Anderson and the Grave Digger. When the light turned green only 1/2 inch determined the winner and it was Grave Digger by a nose.
Monster Freestyle Mike Vaters must have thought he was in Las Vegas at the Monster Jam World Finals. When the light turned green, Mike Vaters went full throttle for the center pile of vehicles called the Pyramid and launched Black Stallion about about 30 feet in the air. When he landed, he was cockeyed and flipped Black Stallion up side down and the crowd went wild. It was the first time this announcer has every seen that truck turn over. Black Stallion made one pass for 27 points.
Then came what everyone was waiting for, 20 years of Grave Digger and Dennis Anderson. The fans had the arena rocking for Digger and lit the place up. Grave Digger hit every obstacle on the course straight and sideways and diagonal. Then it happened...Grave Digger was upside down. Dennis Anderson climbed out unhurt and thanked his fans in Baltimore for a perfect score of 30 points. For this announcer, I had more fun tonight then the fans did. Watching Mike Vaters and Dennis Anderson go at it was history in the making. Thanks Clear Channel.
Sunday Qualifing Round Dennis Andersone launched Grave Digger for the fastest time of 1.19, but when he finally came to a stop, we could tell something was wrong with Digger. The left rear wheel was tilted in a little, the cause was a broken spindle. The fans would not see Dennis until Freestyle. Our hats are off to the Digger crew, who got Digger fixed before freestyle. The fans loved it.
Quarter Finals With Digger out, Bulldozer got the by Run ith the second fastest time of 1.29. Rick Disharoon brought Backdraft across before American Guardian. Black Stallion beat John Seasock and Sudden Impact, but Sudden Impact, being the fast looser would get another chance.
Semi Finals Guy Wood put a Sudden stop to Sudden Impact's charge for a monster finals lineup. Black Stallion put Backdraft's flame out, to advance to the finals.
The Finals Two veterans lined up on the Ford start line. When the light went green, it was full throttle and Black Stallion aired it out for a win against the great Bulldozer and Guy Wood. Black Stallion took took the checkered flag in Baltimore, MD.
Monster Freestyle Radical Rick Raab in American Guardian went all out for 22 points. Black Stallion and Bulldozer tied in Freestyle with 20 points.
Then came Dennis Anderson. After sitting out the last half of racing, Dennis had a little pent up frustration. It showed. Dennis blew out of the tunnel to show the fans what freestyle is ment to look like. He brought Digger to the point of almost flipping over, but kept things going until his 90 seconds were up. Dennis rolled Digger to a stop in front of the stands. The crowd was on their feet. The USHRA Judges awarded Dennis with 30 points: a perfect score. I'd like to thank Brian Sharenow for letting me announce Baltimore, MD. You don't get any better in drivers and staff to work with. Brian Welsh put together a great Monster Jam. It was a pleasure to watch two 20 year Anniversary trucks, Black Stallion from Hagerstown, MD and Grave Digger, from Kill Devil Hills, NC.
