All-Star Challenge Day 1 Notebook

Brianna Mahon prevailed in the Best Trick Competition. She hung onto the lead as 14 challengers tried to get the top spot, but no one was able to muster a score above 9 through the rest of the competition.

Team Fire managed to secure some top finishes to pull closer in the point race for top team. At the conclusion of the first day, Team Ice unofficially had 317 points with Team Fire standing at 283.

After 12 trucks have attempted the planned routines in the Best Trick Competition, the provisional leader is Brianna Mahon in Whiplash. Her wheelie into a corkscrew has drawn a score of 9.053. The top three are Mahon, Jim Koehler (Avenger – 8.618) and Bari Musawwir (Zombie Fire- 7.343).

Though Team Ice has the top spot, Team Fire is making a respectable showing, but there are six from each team still to go.

The inaugural All-Star Challenge would come down to Ryan Anderson and Todd LeDuc. The duo have met 12 times in the past five years and Anderson has won 9 of those races. LeDuc hasn’t beaten Anderson since they met in Stockholm in 2016. In the end, Anderson charged to the line, recording a time of 33.900, the fastest time of the night. Ryan Anderson is the first All-Star Challenge Racing Champion

Unofficial point standings after racing – Team Ice 183, Team Fire 117

Drama wasted no time in showing up for the semi-finals. Todd LeDuc had an electrical issue thaht called for crew to bring the jump box out just in time. The race went green and both were maintaining a fast pace under an accidental RII signal brought Neil Elliott’s ride to a stop. Officials determined the race would be re-run and again LeDuc would require assistance to start. Elliott made it to the first turn before coasting to a stop as LeDuc went on to victory. The other semi-final saw Ryan Anderson with the fastest of the night for the second time, ending Coty Saucier’s hopes.

Quarterfinals saw the elimination of Team Fire for the Friday racing. Tyler Menninga was the only member of Team Fire to advance to that round and Menninga rolled his truck in his race against Todd LeDuc. The outcome clinched the points for Team Ice, but the individual title was still to be decided. Neil Elliott eliminated Jon Zimmer, Todd LeDuc benefitted from the Menninga miscue, Coty Saucier ended the Cinderella story of teammate John Gordon while Ryan Anderson defeated Brianna Mahon with a wild finish. Anderson used the fastest time of the night (34.876) to earn the victory.

Round two saw Neil Elliott defeat Cory Rummell, Jon Zimmer topped Heavy D, Tyler Menninga defeated Team Fire teammate Bryce Kenny, Todd LeDuc scored for Team Ice over Scott Buetow,  Coty Saucier put up the fastest time of the night at 35.192 to beat Colton Eichelberger, John Gordon chilled Jim Koehler, Brianna Mahon bested Krysten Anderson and Ryan Anderson lined up against Camden Murphy, but Bakugan Dragonoid had a transmission issue and could not finish, giving Anderson a bye run to get a time for lane choice. He clocked a 35.456. Team Ice is dominating the competition.

Round One Racing is complete – Moving on to the second round are Neil Elliott, Heavy D, Tyler Menninga, Scott Buetow, Colton Eichelberger, John Gordon, Krysten Anderson and Ryan Anderson. Ryan Anderson had fast time with a 35.962 and Tyler Menninga put up a 35.971. Team Ice won five of the first 8 races.

There will be a new truck competing in future Monster Jam events. During the All-Star Challenge preshow, the Diesel Brothers revealed that a past project will be coming to life as a Monster Jam truck. The BroCamino will be driven by Diesel Dave. The schedule and details will be announced at a later date.