Saturday
For the fans that braved the –7* degree weather, it was HOT racing action inside the PEPSI ARENA. It all started to heat up during the wheelie contest when Mike Vaters in Black Stallion kicked off a perfect score of 30.  That only seemed to raise the bar for the other drivers during the doughnut contest when Andy Slifko in Eradicator scored a perfect score of 30 to tie Mike Nitske in Rambo.  The crowd was on its feet in appreciation for the home state driver, Rambo, and so the win. 

In freestyle, Black Stallion nailed a perfect 30 from the obviously knowledgeable judges.  It then came down to the racing portion of the night, and you could see it in the eyes of Dan Evans in Destroyer.  The 2 of them were not about to be denied.  Destroyer literally “destroyed” the competition.

 The Albany, New York fans were treated to an unbelievable display of freestyle motocross.  Tyler Kyle, Will Kimbrough, and local favorite, K.C. Higgins had every fan waving their checkered flag.  Flash bulbs were almost blinding on each jump.  The 3 competitors didn't want leave the floor because of the rabid fans. 

After everything was said and done, new crush cars were brought in, monster trucks were checked over by the crews and we are set for another show coming on Sunday afternoon, see you then for day #2 recap.

Sunday
Sunday started with the Pepsi Arena crammed with boy scouts and cub scouts from throughout the Albany area for the Advance Auto Parts “Party in the pits.”  In the wheelie contest it was a field of boy scouts waving their flags for the winner, Mike Vaters in Black Stallion.

 

During the doughnut contest, it was “cement burning,” “4 tire smoking,” and steering wheel out the window winner, Mike Nitske in Rambo taking the win with a perfect 30.  Back to freestyle one more time, again, it was Mike Vaters in Black Stallion obviously making a statement that the 2 belong at the World Finals in Las Vegas come March 20th.

 To end the day it was Andy Slifko in Eradicator Dodge taking the big check in monster racing.  Not to be outdone by the guys with the 4 BIG wheels, the freestyle motocrossers, Tyler Kyle, Will Kimbrough, and K.C. Higgins had the kids in the crowd dropping their jaw and the parents slapping their foreheads in disbelief. 

As the racers and USHRA officials saluted the crowd in appreciation for their participation in a great afternoon, you could see many fans on their feet as well applauding in return.  A blast was had by all racer and fan alike.