Robert Haught-What's it like to going from such a colorful motor sports background to something new like monster truck racing?

Dustin Brown-Well, from mud racing to monster trucks, size is pretty much the only difference; everything else is nearly the same. In drag racing, it's much different. We have the same workload as in monster trucks, but after every race in drag racing, we tear the vehicle apart and do things to improve it. I feel like I've caught on well and I'm learning a lot in monster trucks so far.

RH-Are you excited to be a part of the Grave Digger Racing Team? Why?

DB-I'm really excited. I have learned a lot so far, and jumping right to the "main" truck in monster trucks is a tough challenge. I'm liking it so far!

RH-Besides crewing and working on vehicles, have you ever raced or participated? DB-Never, but I may be interested in monster trucks someday… RH-What do you mean by someday? DB-I want to work as a crew guy first, to get to know the truck inside and out. That way I feel like I could be a better driver because I'll feel things break and know how the truck will react. Some guys get into a truck without working on it and have trouble because of that. I am really happy where I'm at right now though; Dennis and everyone else have been great to me and I am looking forward to staying here a long time.

RH-What can you tell us about yourself and your father? You started out crewing for his mud racing team?

DB-That's right. I crewed for my dad (Dan Brown who was a mud/sand racer with the Pace Motorsports) from the mid 1980s through 1999, then I spent three years doing drag racing for the Rhonda-Hartman Smith team. Last year, I talked to Keith Speller and Mike Wales and got into monster trucks. It makes me feel good that they put me on the Grave Digger team so quickly and kept me there. I feel like they have confidence in me. There are a few other guys on Dennis (Anderson)' crew that are new, and it will take a few races for us to get used to everything.

RH-What else can you tell us about your father?

DB-He owned and drove his mud racer, and I was the lone crew guy. I was around the sport all the time and that was when I decided that motor sports would be my living. I enjoyed doing hands-on work and making the connections I made.

RH-Have you spoken to Dennis about what he expects of you in crewing for him? Do you feel like you have a good idea of what you are getting into?

DB-Yes, definitely. Dennis has kind of taken me in and I actually live in his barn by his house *laughs*. He has treated me almost like a son, and it has helped make the transition much smoother for me. Dennis likes to be able to watch the truck run and have an outside view of how it reacts, and it helps to have someone do that for him when he drives it and also look for the same things he looks for. Everything always has to be right; when it's a Grave Digger, it has to be good.

RH-Do you feel any pressure being the "new guy" on a crew like this?

DB-Yeah, I do. Being the new guy puts a lot of pressure on me to prove myself, but I believe things are going well. If they aren't, we'll adjust. We want to have a perfect truck all the time for him to drive.

RH-How important do you feel the first couple of months out on the road will be for the team?

DB-They're very important; we want to build confidence as a unit and at the same time build Dennis' confidence up. We want him to be confident that if something breaks or isn't right, we'll do the job well and fix what needs to be fixed. I'm enjoying everything so far and look forward to a good season.