Tom Meents in Goldberg Becomes Two-Time Racing World Champion!
By: Andrew Palochko
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What many have considered to be one of the best monster truck shows of all time thrilled fans all over the world via live pay-per-view inside Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The monsters shook Vegas in a magical, thrilling display of glory and destruction - one that won't soon, or ever, be forgotten.
The evening's activities started off early with intense first round action. Dennis Anderson driving Grave Digger XIV went out early to Pablo Huffaker, driving Black Smith. Scott Hartsock in Gun Slinger took a first round win over Dan Evans' Destroyer but failed to stop in time and tagged the dumpster at the end of the track. Unfortunately this was enough to put him out for the evening. Even veterans like Gary Porter had trouble with the track, as his first round spin allowed Avenger to pick up the win.
Round 2 saw even more fierce action. In a race win against Blue Thunder, Pablo Huffaker in Black Smith had a violent rollover, flipping twice and ending up between the dumpsters and the stage at the end of the track. Because of the truck's obscure location on the track, the truck would remain all night in that position, thus eliminating the chance for a Black Smith freestyle. Destroyer was called in to replace the broken Gun Slinger and beat Avenger to advance to the semi-finals. In his Round 2 victory, Tom Meents hit a water main in his futuristic SUV, dousing the right lane with water. The track had to be shortened for the semi-finals and finals.
As "Friends" cast members Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and David Arquette looked on, Blue Thunder beat Wolverine and Goldberg beat Destroyer to set up the final matchup. Into the turn, the two trucks were about equal. Hancock in the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder took the turn a bit too wide, and Goldberg sailed to victory. Meanwhile, Blue Thunder hit the cars crooked and fought to keep it on all 4 wheels to no avail. Blue Thunder rolled 1 1/2 times at the end of the track. For the second year in a row, Goldberg became the racing world champion.
While some of the drivers were intimidated by the 13'6" trailer or some of the other freestyle obstacles, other drivers saw them as an opportunity to have fun. Jill Canuso, driving Wrenchead.Com, was the first to take to many of these obstacles. The rookie drove like a true veteran and launched the truck off a steep dirt ramp, sending her straight up in the air and then back down - on her roof. Though a bit shaken, Jill was OK to acknowledge the capacity crowd on hand. A Thunder Nationals regular, Black Stallion 2000, had an incredible freestyle, and actually jumped two of the SFX pyramids in reverse! Tony Farrell also had fun running the course until he rolled his truck. Avenger was the first truck to run after SFX Officials brought out a camper. Driver Jim Koehler, always the showman, actually ripped the roof right off the camper and proceeded to destroy the camper. A broken tie rod would end Jim's freestyle early, but not before an incredible driving job to save the squirrelly truck.
Since Pablo Huffaker's truck still laid at the end of the track, Pablo was quite disappointed he couldn't perform freestyle. Long time friend Gary Wiggins allowed use of his truck, Ragin' Steel. Huffaker actually drove up onto the Sting monster truck, parked in the corner after his earlier wreck. Gary Porter proved that it didn't matter what truck he's in to be spectacular, as he put on an incredible performance in Spiderman.
Meents had just finished a spectacular freestyle run and left the truck atop one of the SFX pyramids. All of a sudden, with "Bad to the Bone" filling the air, Dennis Anderson began. He jumped and crushed Goldberg before finally laying the truck on its side.
After freestyle, Meents had the highest score and was thus awarded the freestyle world championship. But, it became apparent that Dennis wasn't done. Another fresh Digger came in and Dennis tore up the track again.....and again. Tom Meents struck back with a second Goldberg truck, but it was Anderson who had the last laugh in Grave Digger XII by finishing right on top of Tom Meents' Goldberg truck to conclude the Wrenchead.Com World Finals II.
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