It has been one year since the trucks and drivers of Monster Jam were in Pensacola. A lot has changed. First because of the great crowds in the past officials have added another event for 2pm on Saturday. Second 7 time World Champion Tom Meents is in town for the first time. Monster Jam fans were ready for Tom and his Maximum Destruction truck along with Gunslinger, Eradicator, Monster Mutt, Backdraft and Grave Digger. In short, the Pensacola Monster Jam features the best of the best for the deserving fans.

Problems for Jeremy Slifco and his Backdraft truck forced him out of racing for the night. The young Slifco worked to get steering back in the truck for the donut and freestyle competitions but at the end of the night the truck was in dire need of some love and attention.

Another truck that had a tough night was Gunslinger. Problems with the rear steering hurt him in the wheelie contest and forced him out of freestyle. So much for the trucks with problems.

It was a great night for Andy Slifco and Eradicator. He won the wheelie contest over Maximum Destruction and raced to the finals giving way only the race champion Grave Digger driven by Gary Porter. The donut competition was never a big event for Eradicator and by the end of the night the truck was ready for the crew to get it freshened up and ready for the two events Saturday.

Race Winner was Grave Digger driven by Gary Porter, the Donut competition went to Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction. Max D also won Freestyle with a score of 26. Tom Meents drove Max D so hard in freestyle that the truck rolled on its side and skidded into Eradicator as the end of his 60 second run. Meents rolled out of the truck and motioned to the fans that his was safe. Fans loved it when the drivers went into the stands after winning racing and freestyle. “ I love to celebrate with my fans”. said Gary Porter as he handed one young fan an autographed Grave Digger Puff Truck. Max D’s Tom Meents did the same after his freestyle win.

Results:

Truck Wheelie Donut Freestyle

Backdraft 16 10 17

Eradicator 27* 12 18

Gunslinger 13 6 broke

Monster Mutt 22 21 20

Grave Digger 20 23 24

Maximum Destruction 26 26* 26*

Race Results:

Round One

Gunslinger beat Monster Mutt

Max D over Grave Digger

Eradicator bye run when Backdraft broke going to the line

Semi Finals:

Fast loser from round one Grave Digger beat Gunslinger

Eradicator over Maximum Destruction

Race Finals:

Grave Digger beat Eradicator.

As of this writing crews are working on Backdraft, Gunslinger, Eradicator and Maximum Destruction to insure all trucks are ready to rock and roar for not on but two events Saturday as well as a Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits.

Monster Jam fans in Pensacola experienced their first ever Saturday afternoon event in the civic center. Tom Meents drove his Maximum Destruction truck to a win in all events. Not just a double down but a four competition win for the 7 time world champion.

All trucks did a great job for the afternoon as did the superstars of FMX. Scotty Hanlon, Jason Rowe and J. J. Romans thrilled fans with incredible tricks ending with a backflip that brought the crowd to their feet.

Results:

Truck Wheelie Donut Freestyle

Backdraft 19 18 18

Eradicator 25 21 17

Gunslinger 13 14 20

Monster Mutt 24 18 23

Grave Digger 25 21 25

Max D 27* 27* 27*

The afternoon standouts included young Jeremy Slifco driving Backdraft. The young driver seemed to have the problems of Friday night well past him for the Saturday afternoon event. His driving improves with each and every run on the track.

Race Results:

Round One:

Maximum Destruction over Backdraft

Eradicator beat Monster Mutt

Grave Digger over Gunslinger

Semi-Finals:

Maximum Destruction beat round one fast loser Monster Mutt

Grave Digger downed Eradicator in a very close call

Race Final:

Maximum Destruction beat Grave Digger

The fans leaving the Saturday afternoon event met the fans arriving for the evening event at the Pensacola Civic Center. A near sell-out crowd was in attendance to see Eradicator driven by Andy Slifco win the wheelie contest.

Tom Meents in Max D scored the only perfect score of 30 for the weekend in the donut contest. Meents turned it into a cyclone contest with his non-stop action.

Gary Porter aboard Grave Digger managed to keep Eradicator from winning the race championship. Slifco drove the black Dodge so hard it broke the four link connector forcing him out for the rest of the night. Another casualty on the night was Monster Mutt who lost another transmission forcing him out of the donut and freestyle part of the night.

Quad Wars was won by Team Georgia who defeated the Floridian Team in the main. Freestyle Motocross riders Jason Rowe, Scotty Hanlon, and J.J. Romans kept the fans pumped up with their assortment of trick between the 70' ramp to ramp gap. It was Romans two backflips that sealed the deal creating hundreds of new FMX fans in Pensacola.

Results:

Truck                           Wheelie               Donut         Freestyle

Backdraft                     18                        22               20

Eradicator                    24*                      dnc              dnc

Gunslinger                    15                        16               18

Monster Mutt               21                         dnc              dnc

Grave Digger               17                        20                 24

Maximum Destruction  20                        30*               27*

Race Results:

Round One:

Grave Digger beat Gunslinger

Eradicator over Maximum Destruction

Backdraft downed Monster Mutt

Semi-Finals:

Grave Digger beat fast loser Maximum Destruction

Eradicator over Backdraft

Final:

Grave Digger inched out Eradicator