fun toys came into Minneapolis, MN on 11/13/2010 and will be back in 1/22/2011
DRIVER INFORMATION
Driver name: George Balhan
Residence: Chicago, IL
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Date of birth: February 1, 2010
Years competing: Since 2003
Marital status: Married - Sara
Children: 3 - Katy, Nick, and Cole
DRIVER HISTORY
A life in racing has prepared George Balhan for his newest challenge-driving the Escalade monster truck. "Monster trucks are a bit different than quads or motorcycles, which is what I've raced mostly. In quads, when you hit a jump and in you're in the air it's kind of your time to relax and take a break - but in a Monster Truck, since they are so heavy - you have to stay on the gas and really keep going. That's really different, but I've adjusted." Balhan raced amateur and professional ATV's, then bought a dirt bike and raced those professionally as well in the late 90's. Quads still attracted him, however, and Balhan ran in the Quad Warz series alongside his future rides, the monsters. "I actually approached the company about driving at first," says George. "I didn't know how long I would be able to keep doing the quads, and I love competition, even if it's against my wife at mini-golf," he says with a laugh. During his rookie season in 2003 on the Monster Jam® tour , he quickly turned some heads driving Spider-Man and won the title of 'Rookie of the Year.' Balhan stepped into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle truck and impressed Ford executives enough to get a ride in their second Blue Thunder truck. Balhan again ran successfully and had his next opportunity when the idea for Escalade was formed. "I feel like I've finally found my niche in Escalade," he says. "I can be myself more-more flashy, the Mohawk, things like that. I can express myself in interviews and generally just have fun." Escalade's debut at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta early in 2005 came as a surprise to many, but those that doubted Balhan's ability behind the wheel were quickly surprised. "We kept things low-key at every show and didn't always let the fans see the truck until introductions," says Balhan. "I think a lot of people were surprised at first, but now I have an identity and the fan base for the truck is really growing." Many final-round appearances and top freestyles followed, and Balhan lost a close race with Dennis Anderson's Grave Digger at the 2005 Monster Jam World Finals, then followed with a spectacular freestyle run, ending by standing the truck straight up on a triple-stacked car set and flipping it. George leads a crazy life, but he thrives on it. "I guess you could say I'm not the average monster truck driver," he says. "I work, have a family, and drive. There's always a lot going on, but I do my best to please the fans wherever I'm at. We have some of the most genuine fans of any motorsport I've been involved in." Competition drives Balhan to perform his best. He has been labeled as one of the rising stars on the Monster Jam circuit, and his many goals include winning a championship someday in Las Vegas and building a fan base with Escalade. Balhan is a threat to win in racing or freestyle, and that balance may help him achieve his goal quickly. "I used to think that if I won a championship, it'd be in racing," says Balhan. "However, my freestyle has gotten a lot better, so we'll see. I want to have longevity in the sport, and most importantly, please the fans. Some guys are dead set on championships, but not me. If it comes, great, but I have figured out that I have way more fun if my fans are having a good time. A championship would be great for the resume, but for now, I will let my fans speak for me."
| DRIVER INFORMATION | |
| Driver name: | Tom Meents |
| Residence: | Paxton, Ill. |
| Birthplace: | Paxton, Ill. |
| Date of birth: | July 10, 1967 |
| Years competing: | Since 1993 |
| DRIVER HISTORY | |
| This 8-Time World Champion has several accomplishments under his belt. Rarely does a monster truck driver dominate Monster Jam® in the manner that Tom Meents has over the past few years and since his inception into the sport some years ago. Meents obliterated the tracks and his competition over the course of the 2000, 2001, & 2002 Monster Jam seasons in the Goldberg and Team Meents trucks. Week after week he managed to stun crowds while drawing them in with his extraordinary driving abilities, and wild freestyle antics. In January of 2003, Tom debuted a new truck, Maximum Destruction®. Still the same body style, Maximum Destruction came with an awesome paint job and still brought Tom high scores at various Monster Jam events. Though the truck had a different name on the side, everything else was pretty similar to the style that took him to a second straight championship in 2002. "Not a whole lot of changes to the truck, just more than anything getting things beefed up in critical areas where we had breakage last year," said Tom in regards to how the truck was performing. "We're trying to make those areas better and stronger than they were before so they won't break down." At the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas, NV in March of 2004, a broken wheel hindered him, but definitely did not stop him. "I was disappointed because I knew that I could have and would have done better. When it broke, I didn't consider stopping for a second." That desire to keep going provided an unforgettable World Finals moment and also earned him 1/3 of the 2004 Monster Jam World Freestyle Championship title. Tom continued his run until the truck would go no more. The crowd went crazy as the wildman walked out of a huge cloud of smoke proving once more that absolutely nothing will stop him. Tom Meents' monster truck racing career began in 1993 when he sat behind the steering wheel in the MONSTER PATROL truck. Tom made a name for himself as the "Wing walking mad man" and captured the first ever championship on ESPN2's Inside Monster Jam in 1998. From that time things have certainly taken off for the charismatic driver, who fears nothing. Later moving into the the Goldberg truck, it wasn't long before he was driving his namesake, Team Meents. Obviously, once you're the champion, there is only one thing that can be on your list of goals - win again! That is exactly what's been on Tom's mind, and the countless championships have been proof that he is a man of his word. Even in 2004, the announcement about the field of competitors moving from 16 to 20 trucks at the World Finals for 2005, didn't have any effect on him. "Makes no difference to me, I don't think they can bring anyone better than they've got now. I mean it just brings in four more people for me to compete against. For the fans, it's great but it doesn't scare me, for me it's all about making it to first place and putting on the best show." In 2005, Tom's "take-all attitude" brought him back stronger than ever. "The fans are in for a treat. We haven't reached our main plateau. If you look at the whole year so far you'll see our stuff is ready to go big." Meents did just that at the 2006 Monster Jam World Finals. Another year of racing frustration did not sit well with him and he decided to take it out on freestyle, where he became the first driver ever to bring his own obstacle! Max-D drove out onto the track, pulled into the fountain, and the motor shut off. Everyone thought that Tom had a problem with his truck until his teammate, Neil Elliott, jumped out of the truck, leaving the back up Max D on the course as another obstacle. Tom rolled onto the floor and began his run by leaping over his own truck and went on to turn in one of his best performances ever, which landed him world title number 7. Now that the 10th annual Monster Jam NGK Spark Plugs World Finals is over, Meents, the most decorated World Finals drivers of all time, has once again claimed a championship. Tom won his 8th Monster Jam World Finals Championship in 2009 with a win in the racing competition. This win marks his fourth racing championship and he also has four freestyle championships to his name. "I have to thank my crew for all of their hard work to help me get back on top at the finals. The field here keeps getting harder and harder and I am excited to be back on top. The fans in Las Vegas have been incredible and this win is for the fans," said Meents after claiming the win. In addition to his 8th world championship in 2009, he went big and awed 37,000+ fans as he nailed a 10,000 pound monster truck back flip during the World Finals's encore. The Maximum Destruction back flip is one of the greatest motor sports feats of all time and has only been successfully performed by Meents. Tom Meents and Maximum Destruction's fan base has grown so much in recent years that a second Maximum Destruction monster truck is now also touring. His on-track rivalry with Grave Digger® driver Dennis Anderson keeps fans on their feet at Monster Jam events around the country and we look forward to seeing what this proven daredevil has up his sleeve next! |
| DRIVER INFORMATION | |
| Driver name: | Chris Bergeron |
| Owner of: | BRUTUS |
| Residence: | Colombus, Mich. |
| Birthplace: | Detroit, Mich. |
| Date of birth: | November 10, 1966 |
| Years competing: | Since 2001 |
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 sons |
| DRIVER HISTORY | |
| He used to mud race trucks with his long time friend Jim Koehler. About 10 years ago he helped Jim build his truck and about 3-4 years later with the help of Jim he built Brutus. Prior to this, he owned and continues to own a plumbing company. His goal this season is to win the world finals. His career accomplishment has been making it to the world finals on more than one occasion. His favorite spot used to be New Orleans but they don’t go there anymore so his new favorites are Georgia and Indianapolis. He was in Georgia for the first time last year and he had a great freestyle run. Also, the fans were great, they back you up 100%. He enjoys Indianapolis because it is that place that he has always done really good at, its always been really good to him. His favorite guy to race against is Jim Koehler because beating him is awesome since he gets to make fun of him all the way home. He differs from other drivers in his freestyle because he goes wild right out of the gate full throttle from the start. The advice he would give to those looking to get into the industry is to have a big wallet and to plan on not sleeping much. How did you get involved in monster trucks? I helped a friend build his first truck and saw how much fun it was. What's the best thing about being a monster truck driver? The fans. Career highlights? First Win? The day I hit Gunslinger in New Orleans. What is your most memorable moment so far? The first time I raced in the World Finals in 2004. Describe what it is to be a monster truck driver in one sentence. How bout one word - 'Superhero' Give 4 separate words that describe you. Humorous - Determined - Fighting - Fun What is the best part about signing an autograph for a child? Seeing their smile, when you had a bad day of racing they can lift your spirits. What do you do to prepare for a new season? We have new axels and new transmission. Whats your favorite stop on the tour? Vegas and Georgia Are you working on anything new right now? Brand new truck coming out, old truck will be named Spike Whats the best thing about your truck? The way it does wheelies What gets you pumped to compete? The pit parties Where are the best fans? All over the States Best advice to kids who want to become monster truck drivers? Stay in school |
| TRUCK INFORMATION | |
| Driver(s): | Rich Hilgendorf |
| Engine: | Blown 575 Chevrolet Big Block |
| Horsepower: | 1800 |
| Transmission | Coan/Bewick Power Glide |
| Tires | 66" Terra Tires |
| SPONSOR INFORMATION | |
| Hot Wheels, Speed Channel, RJS Racing Equipment, Coan powersports, Lucas Oil, ISP, NGK Spark Plugs, Masters Tool & Die, Wiseco Performance Products, Aristo Cast, PTM Corporation, Van Fiberglass, SNS Chrome, Kinsler, Burkard, Boyce Equipment & Parts Company, Bewick Transmission, Bell helmets, Aurora Bearing Company, Auto-Air Colors, SATA, Crossroads, B&M, Modern Stripping, GreenGrease.net, Dynamic Speed Center, Smullen Fire Trucks, UBI Sott, Visit Las Vegas |
| TRUCK HISTORY | |
| It may seem that Monster Jam® is going to the dogs, considering the amount of canine-inspired trucks on the circuit. However, each one has proved to be very popular, and Spike Unleashed is no exception. In fact, you can even consider Spike a breed apart, as its body style is listed as a “2004 3-D Siberian Husky”, complete with the breed’s signature black & white fur, pointy ears, and bright blue eyes. And of course, don’t forget the striking collar that Spike is named after! Spike Unleashed is the creation of Chris Bergeron, legendary driver of Brutus. Look for Spike Unleashed to be a force on the Monster Jam tour for years to come. Only experience holds Spike Unleashed back from being dominant! |
| DRIVER INFORMATION | |
| Driver name: | Jim Koehler |
| Owner of: | AVENGER |
| Residence: | Columbus, MI |
| Birthplace: | Detorit, MI |
| Date of birth: | July 13, 1966 |
| Years competing: | 10 |
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 4 children (Ashley, Nicholas, Christopher, & Jonathan) |
| DRIVER HISTORY | |
| His whole life has circled around racing. It was a family thing and still is. His dad was a drag racer when he was young and they have a speed shop. He started competing as a child and was in shows. He raced mud cars and street raced. Currently he runs a marina. His goal for this season is to take home every award. He got a couple last year but this year he wants them all. His career highlight was winning the 2003 world finals. The fact that he is one of two that has been to all the finals since the beginning is also an accomplishment for him. His favorite stop on the Monster Jam series is Indy and Jacksonville, FL. He says they both have a wildness to them. He also enjoys Las Vegas because it is such a big deal. The advice he would give to kids and those looking to get into monster truck racing is to stick to your dreams and you can make it. He is no special/different than anyone else. He just really wanted to do it and he found a way to make it happen. |
| FUN FACTS | |
| Favorite food: | Steak and Lobster |
| Favorite color: | Green |
| Type of music you listen to: | Metal/ Rock n' Roll |
| Favorite song: | Anything from Metallica and/or Kid Rock |
| Hobbies: | Monster Trucks, Jet Skiing, Canoeing, outdoor stuff |
| Superstitions? | Not at all, was born on the 13th. |
| Favorite movie: | Pirates of The Carribean |
| Favorite TV show: | Monster Garage |
| DRIVER INFORMATION | |
| Driver name: | Linsey Weenk |
| Residence: | Tonganoxie, Kansas |
| Birthplace: | Devil's Coulee, Alberta, CANADA |
| Date of birth: | April 22, 1979 |
| Years competing: | Competing since 2000 |
| DRIVER HISTORY | |
| One of a handful of Canadian drivers, Linsey Weenk from Devil's Coulee, Alberta has been the driver of the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder® Monster Truck since 2007. But the one time Junior League Hockey standout has been a "rising star" in the Monster Jam® Series since 2000. In addition to numerous Monster Jam wins and major motion picture and television appearances, Linsey set a monster truck wheelie record in 2004. His trademark throttle control had the front wheels off the ground for 603', an accomplishment that still stands today. In 2006, Linsey was victorious in 20 straight round appearances and clinched five event titles. The SPEED channel camera's captured the unprecedented winning streak, making Linsey Weenk a household name to all Monster Jam fans. In 2007, Linsey joined the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder team and walked away with a win at his first appearance. And he hasn't looked back since. In January 2008, Linsey helped unveil the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 at the North American International Auto Show. In 2009, Linsey also participated in the launch of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. In addition to starring in a Raptor "walk-around" video, he was selected by Ford as a celebrity driver for the Best in the Desert Terrible's 250 race in Primm, NV along side Steve Olliges and Rob MacCachren. Despite all his success, Linsey remains humble, acknowledging the people that helped him into the sport and respecting the legends that have come before him. |
| DRIVER INFORMATION | |
| Driver name: | Damon Bradshaw |
| Residence: | McCall, ID |
| Birthplace: | McCall, ID |
| Date of birth: | July 19, 1972 |
| Years competing: | Since 2007 |
| DRIVER HISTORY | |
| Damon Bradshaw is clearly one of the most impressive rookies Monster Jam® has ever seen. The former Supercross legend came out of his motocross retirement to debut as a Monster Jam driver in Minneapolis in 2007. From that point on, Bradshaw proved to be one of the quickest learners soaking up all information and advice from former Air Force Afterburner driver, Paul Cohen, as well as the likes of Dennis Anderson and Tom Meents. By late in his rookie season, Bradshaw was a contender at every competition and closed the season strong with his debut performance at the 2007 Monster Jam World Finals, putting Air Force Afterburner near the top of the standings with one of the best freestyles Monster Jam has ever seen. His amazing performance as a rookie driver earned him the title of the 2007 Monster Jam Rookie of the Year. Bradshaw’s winning mentality has transferred over well from two wheels to four wheels and it wasn’t long before he beat out all the other competitors and soared his way to the top. In 2009 at the Monster Jam NGK Spark Plugs World Finals, Bradshaw beat out all other contenders and took home the first freestyle award of his career - beating out the likes of veteran drivers Dennis Anderson and Tom Meents. “I never expected to win this title this year. To pull off the freestyle championship you need a lot of luck and a lot of skill. I have been putting in some really solid runs this year on the Monster Jam tour and I just looked at the World Finals as another stadium event. I want to put on the best show for the best fans in the world. I mean that, it’s all about the fans, if I win or don’t win, I just need to make that U.S. Air Force Afterburner complete the best run possible.” It is no easy task competing against the many veterans in the sport, but Damon has definitely proved he can hang with the big guys. Many people feel that Damon will be a top contender for future world titles, and he’s definitely off to a good start. His stellar performane in two wheels has contributed greatly to his success and have only opened up endless opportunities for this motosport legend in the years to come. |
| DRIVER HISTORY | |
| Alex Blackwell started out his career in motocross as a pro rider for 16 years until an injury forced him to retire in 2002. Blackwell first got involved in the monster truck industry in 1992, when his truck club was asked to coordinate the infield activities at the Bloomsburg (PA) Jamboree. It was there that he met Andy Slifko, owner and driver of the Eradicator monster truck. He began traveling with Slifko as part of the Eradicator team. Six months later, after one of the events, Slifko let Blackwell drive Eradicator over a few cars and the rest was history. “I knew I wanted to be involved in motorsports after my motocross career, and monster trucks seemed like the perfect fit,” he said. Blackwell began to attend events with the Eradicator crew on a regular basis. As part of the crew, Alex made a huge contribution to the monster truck business with his creation of the “Gazoo Motor” – a rear steer motor that spins 2 ½ times quicker than the typical motor. Blackwell mounted the first motor on Eradicator in late 2003. Today – the “Gazoo Motor” can be found on more than 40 of the top monster trucks in the country - including Grave Digger®.
After crewing for a year and a half, Blackwell took on driving duties for Randy Brown Motorsports in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle™ truck. January 2005 marked Alex’s professional monster truck driving debut at the Monster Jam® in Birmingham, AL. In the same year, he earned a Rookie of the Year nomination for his creation of the “Gazoo Motor.” In 2007, Blackwell took on the driving duties for Bulldozer® before taking over Captain’s Curse® in 2008. Blackwell is a great driver and shows a lot of promise as a young driver in a business poised to give veterans a run for their money. |
| DRIVER INFORMATION | |
| Driver name: | Alex Blackwell |
| Residence: | Elizabeth City, NC |
| Birthplace: | Frackville, PA |
| Date of birth: | June 2, 1973 |
| Years competing: | Since 2005 |
| FUN FACTS | |
| Favorite food: | Tacos and Mom's meatloaf |
| Type of music you listen to: | Country |
| Favorite TV show: | CSI, Law & Order SVU, and House |
| TRUCK INFORMATION | |
| Driver(s): | Jeremy Slifko |
| Engine: | 540 CI |
| Horsepower: | 1400-1500 |
| Transmission | Coan 2-Speed |
| Tires | 66" Terra Tires |
| SPONSOR INFORMATION | |
| Lucas Motor Oil, Pat's Converters, J&W, Transmissions, Mr. Gasket, Mini Inductor, Swayaway |
jeremy slifko
2003 dodge ram rescue
| TRUCK HISTORY | |
| 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! |
| TRUCK INFORMATION | |
| Driver(s): | Lupe Soza |
| Engine: | 540 CI Merlin |
| Horsepower: | 1500 |
| Transmission | Coan 2 Speed |
| Tires | 66" Tera |
| SPONSOR INFORMATION | |
| Advance Auto Parts |
| TRUCK HISTORY | |
| Advance became the primary sponsor of the brand new monster truck, Grinder™ in 2009, which will be driven by Lupe Soza, the 2004 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion. Previously, Soza drove El Toro Loco®, of which Advance was an associate sponsor. He has been racing for 23 years, with the last eight of those years being in Monster Jam. The Advance Auto Parts Grinder Race Team, piloted by Soza, made its Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam debut at the Minneapolis Metrodome Saturday, December 5 2009. |
