Monster Jam Slaski Stadion Chorzow, Poland 05/30-30/2009
Monster Jam Racing Winner
Monster Jam Freestyle Winner
VERVA
GRAVE DIGGER
Trucks:
USHRA Monster Trucks including Grave Digger (Charlie Pauken), Maximum Destruction (Chuck Werner), Monster Mutt Dalmatian (Candice Jolly), El Toro Loco (Damon Bradshaw), Donkey Kong (Frank Krmel), Batman (John Seasock), Madusa (Madusa), Backwards Bob (George Balhan), Verva (Marc McDonald), and Disney XD (Dan Evans)
Weekend Race Recap
Saturday 8:00 p.m. - Monster Jam's amazing global growth continued with an incredibly successful debut in Poland as more than 40,000 fans sold out Slaski Stadium in Chrozow with a star studded line-up on hand to wow the sport's newest fans on a slick course that tested the drivers and their machines. Marc McDonald became Monster Jam's first champion in Poland by driving a Ford representing new European sponsor Verva to the racing crown, winning the finale by a half truck length over George Balhan in Backwards Bob, then Charlie Pauken took home the freestyle trophy in Grave Digger with an awesome performance that edged reigning World Freestyle Champion Damon Bradshaw in El Toro Loco by a single point.
Rains over the last several days finally subsided around noon Saturday and the track construction crew did a phenomenal job in getting the wet dirt into condition, so while the track was still slick, the trucks were able to race and freestyle at their peaks. Chuck Werner flipped Maximum Destruction in the first turn of his qualifying run, but other than that mishap the drivers were able to handle the track and turned in a series of great races. It was McDonald who had the handle on the track right from the start, setting the fastest qualifying time and then mowing through the race bracket to win the Championship Race trophy at the Orlen Monster Jam.
McDonald then put in a bid for a European Double Down with a strong freestyle to grab the early lead, but Frank Krmel was on his game in Donkey Kong and grabbed the top spot away with a run that had the enthusiastic Polish fans standing and cheering. Krmel stayed on top until the second to the last freestyler of the night gave the crowd a taste of how he won this year's World Freestyle Championship last March in Las Vegas. Bradshaw showed the fans some of the night's highest and longest jumps, his huge air assault allowing El Toro Loco to take the lead from Donkey Kong. Bradshaw set the bar high but Pauken was up to the challenge, ending the night to another standing ovation after his ragged edge Grave Digger freestlye, full of wild saves, big air, and breathtaking slap wheelies was scored the winner by one point.
RACING RESULTS
Fast Qualifier - Verva
1st Round - Verva def Maximum Destruction; Donkey Kong def Disney XD; Grave Digger def Monster Mutt; Backwards Bob def Madusa; El Toro Loco def Batman (Batman advanced as fastest 1st round loser)
2nd Round - Verva def Batman; Grave Digger def Donkey Kong; Backwards Bob def El Toro Loco (El Toro Loco advanced as fastest 2nd round loser)
Semifinals - Verva def El Toro Loco; Backwards Bob def Grave Digger
