Monster Jam Trucks & Drivers
Advance Auto Parts became the primary sponsor Grinder℠ in 2009. The first Grinder driver was Lupe Soza, the 2004 Monster Jam World Finals℠ Freestyle Champion. Previously, Soza drove El Toro Loco®, of which Advance Auto Parts was an associate sponsor. The Advance Auto Parts Grinder team, piloted by Soza, made its Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam debut at the Minneapolis Metrodome Saturday, December 5, 2009. Called “The People’s Truck” by Soza, the new team found immediate success. The following December, Advance Auto Parts unveiled a second Grinder truck with another Monster Jam World Champion driver joining the team, two-time Monster Jam World Finals Racing Champion John Seasock. Then to start the 2011 season a third Advance Auto Parts Grinder arrived on the scene with another top-level talent behind the wheel, Monster Jam World Finals veteran Frank Krmel. It was Krmel who would power Grinder to one of the highest profile wins in the sport’s history. Krmel and Grinder were the team to snap Grave Digger® and Dennis Anderson’s amazing nine-event stadium racing winning streak as Grinder beat Grave Digger in the Championship Round Race at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome in February of 2011.
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Starting Jan 2007, Aftershock will be a brand new 2006 Chevy. Its chassis will be replaced with a new Koehler chassis built by Avenger Racings Jim Koehler. In addition, Aftershock now has two drivers, brothers Bob and Pete Robbins. Aftershock's most memorable moment was when it launched over a School Bus in front of a Sell Out Crowd at the Toronto Sky Dome. Check out this trucks webpage atwww.aftershockmonstertruck.com for more information.
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In 1997, a monster truck with a mind of its own busted onto the Monster Jam ® scene. The monster truck was created with a hot rod in mind, 1957 body, and only one person capable of handling its violent nature: Jim Koelher. Jim and Avenger have been to every Monster Jam World Finals since it first began in 1999. Jim acknowledges the fans in helping him make it to the world finals because Avenger was voted “fan favorite.” An even bigger career highlight occurred in 2003 when Avenger was crowned the Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion.
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When Andy Slifko bought a new chassis for his Eradicator monster truck, he decided to re-purpose the old chassis and make a brand new monster truck out of it that his son, Jeremy, could compete in. In 2005, Backdraft became a reality. Jeremy was a little too young at the time of the monster truck’s inception to immediately take the wheel, but now at age 18 he looks to have a successful rookie season in Monster Jam®. Backdraft’s paint job is a simple, yet classic scheme. Imagine a 1950’s hot rod with incredible red and orange flames streaking back from the hood; then, imagine it as a truck sitting on six foot tall tires, and Backdraft truly comes to life!
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It was a motor sports idea so crazy, that it could only be attempted in Monster Jam®. Known not only for their innovations in safety, but the outrageous look of the trucks as well, the Monster Jam designers had another gem of an idea: to invent a monster truck like many others… except the body is actually mounted backwards. Enter Backwards Bob™, the very first monster truck that’s always going the wrong way. With the driver’s seat mounted facing the back of the cab, an ingenious design was needed to allow the driver to still see the track while looking out the bed of the truck. Debuting at the 2008 Monster Jam World Finals, the truck indeed proved to be tricky to drive. Since fan reaction was so tremendous, look for Backwards Bob at a Monster Jam near you. Just make sure you know which way it’s going first!
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Owned by the youngest professional Monster Truck driver and team owner in the country, Bad Habit has been tearing it up all over the country. Bad Habit was born when owner, Joe Sylvester, decided to put together his own Professional Monster Truck team. He made extensive changes to his race truck to fit his driving style and image, as well as customizing the hauler. Bad Habit's Chassis was originally built in 1993 by Jerry Richmond and was ran as Hercules by Tim Tesmer. It was later run as Carolina Crusher. Something about Bad Habit that Joe is very happy with is it's Suspension and Shock system. He runs 18" of travel in the front of the truck, using King Dual Rate Coil Overs and King Triple Bypass Shocks. In the back, he has 26" of travel using King Air Springs, along-side King Triple Bypass Shocks. There is no Sway Bar in the Front of Bad Habit, however, there is one in the back. When asked what makes his truck special compared to the others, Joe's response was, "What makes my truck special is not any part of the truck itself, but rather the head case behind the wheel!" To check out more on Bad Habit log on to it's website at www.badhabit4x4.com.
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