Joliet Illinois-Route 66 Raceway

"Monster Mash"

October 9, 2004

Recap by Robert Haught

The monsters returned to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois for the second and final show of 2004 at the venue. A wide range of trucks and drivers attended, and it was anyone's guess as to who would take racing and freestyle.

The course was a long Chicago-style, with two seven-car jumps at each end. Drivers would have to be smooth over the cars and slide around the turn without hooking up for fast times. Trucks and drivers in attendance were as follows:

-Jim Koehler (Avenger)

-Andy Slifko (Eradicator)

-Chris Bergeron (Brutus)

-Mike Hawkins (Equalizer)

-Mark Hall (Raminator)

-Dale Benear (Rammunition)

-John Seasock (Sudden Impact)

-Jason Witte (Wild Hair).

QUALIFYING

Racing brackets were determined in alphabetical order, so no qualifying runs were held.

RACING

ROUND 1

Avenger vs. Brutus

Chris Bergeron's Brutus had a large amount of smoke billowing from the rear of the truck throughout the night, but was able to pull to the line, taking the loss to Koehler's Avenger, who was very steady. Koehler slid each turn wide but fast and sailed into the next round.

WINNER-Avenger

Equalizer vs. Eradicator

Mike Hawkins was a late addition to the Joliet lineup because of problems with Airborne Ranger's hauler, but that didn't keep him from running Equalizer hard in a close race with Andy Slifko's Eradicator. The trucks were even through the first two turns, but Equalizer pulled ahead coming out of the second turn and launched across the cars first. Equalizer had broken a shock coming around that second turn, however, and would not be able to fix it in time for round two.

WINNER-Equalizer (broke, Eradicator takes Equalizer's place)

Sudden Impact vs. Wild Hair

Seasock was smooth and steady around the first turn, and going into the final turn the trucks were even. Sudden Impact got too much traction around the turn though, and bicycled onto the right side, then powered out but came onto the left side tires and could not save it. This was the first rollover in Route 66's monster truck history. Seasock emerged unhurt and the truck was towed to the pits for an attempt at a fix for freestyle.

WINNER-Wild Hair

Raminator vs. Rammunition

Raminator was ahead the entire race, pulling a good hole shot on Benear and Rammunition. Hall's run was the fastest of the round easily, and like Koehler, he slid around the turns wide but fast, then let the engine take over across the cars.

WINNER-Raminator

ROUND 2

Avenger vs. Eradicator

Koehler and Slifko were smooth around the first turn, with Slifko getting an unusual bounce off the first set of cars. Koehler oversteered the second turn a bit but corrected in time to take the victory by about a truck length, one of the closest races so far.

WINNER-Avenger

Raminator vs. Wild Hair

Hall used the same strategy as his first round race, sliding fast and wide around the turns, and was ahead by nearly three trucks at the finish line.

WINNER-Raminator

FINALS

Avenger vs. Raminator

Each driver used the same wide, fast style of turning to get to the finals, and the two most consistent trucks all night pulled to the line. On the light, Avenger's engine stuttered and Koehler eventually pulled off the track after the first set of cars with transmission problems, while Hall took an easy win.

Racing WINNER-Raminator

FREESTYLE

Freestyle was not scored, but each truck was given equal time on the track for a run. Freestyle obstacles included a ramp with a "spider" made of spray-painted hay bales, a double-wide double-van pyramid with cars on one side, and the racing cars.

BRUTUS

Bergeron came out and immediately planted Brutus' tailgate on the cars twice in succession, drawing some cheers from the crowd. Brutus' run came to an end early though, as after attempting to slide around to set up for his next move, Bergeron hooked up in the dirt much the same way Seasock did in racing, bicycling and taking a soft roll. Bergeron was fine, but the truck was still smoking and suffered some body damage.

EQUALIZER

Hawkins said during the pit party that he "came here to freestyle" and was the first to do donuts on the track. After that, however, something in the front steering let go, forcing Hawkins to improvise with only rear steer. A hit on the double-van pyramid and Hawkins' rear steering seemed to be done for as well. Without momentum Hawkins had to improvise again and slammed into the "spider" hay bale on the track, getting a nice wheelie. Hawkins rolled across the orange car set and was done.

SUDDEN IMPACT

Sudden Impact was missing half of the body but seemed to be running fine. Seasock cleared all seven cars on his first jump, then came around and hit the double-van pyramid, bouncing up a small slap wheelie. An attempt at a donut and a few more hits on the double-van and cars and Seasock emerged and did a bit of roof surfing, waving to the crowd to end his run.

RAMMUNITION

Benear's transmission began acting up very early in the run. After a donut and a few other hits, Rammunition was done.

ERADICATOR

Slifko came out with great momentum, starting with a hit on each racing car set, then moving to the double-van pyramid and hitting it from the van side. Slifko swung around and hit the same pyramid from the opposite side, almost getting a slap wheelie going. Donuts were next from Slifko, then another hit on the vans and cars before Slifko parked it to an ovation from the crowd.

WILD HAIR

Jason Witte also started with good momentum, nailing the yellow racing cars and getting a good sky wheelie. Upon landing, though, all of the forward gears in the transmission let go, leaving Witte with only reverse gear. With what was left of his forward momentum, Witte rolled around a turn to line up, getting up on two wheels and making a nice save. Witte threw the truck into reverse, refusing to give up, and proceded to hit the cars sideways in reverse, then lining up for the double-van pyramid and pausing to fire the crowd up. Witte made a nice jump over the pyramid, clearing it completely, then lined up on the opposite side and hit the vans in reverse from the van side, getting more air. Another reverse hit on the cars and Witte was ready for another hit on the van side. This time Witte wound the engine very hard and got a near-vertical reverse wheelstand going, then pulled around and drove the truck on top of the vans with the left side tires still touching the ground. Witte emerged to the loudest cheers thus far in the freestyle competition, then was towed off the track.

RAMINATOR

Hall hit the cars sideways with some nice air in Raminator, then attempted a donut and hooked up, taking only the second rollover in the truck's existence. The damage looked to be only cosmetic, and Hall hopped out of the truck unhurt.

AVENGER

Koehler proved why he went last in the freestyle order, immediately nailing both car sets and clearing them easily. Koehler swung around and nailed the cars again with even more air, then lined up and hit the double-van pyramid from the van side, simply blasting off with 20 to 25 feet of air under the truck with an amazing sky wheelie. Koehler's left rear wheel snapped off upon landing, ending his run and the event. Koehler emerged and stole the microphone from the event announcer, then told the fans, "We're here to give you a show and that's what we did! YEAH!" and the fans headed for the exits while Koehler and Bergeron helped the track crew haul Avenger off.