NTNT RACE 2-IMMJ Mid-Season Madness
Welcome back to NTNT for race number two on the tour. Eleven trucks showed up to compete on the long J-style course. Let's meet our field of trucks:
-Robby Haught (Skitso 4)
-Robby Haught, subbing for Bill Haught (Freak of Nature)
-Eddie Carmichael (Bigfoot 10)
-Josh Rhodes (Half Breed 3)
-Sam Gemmet (Bigfoot Firestone Centennial)
-Joe Smith (High Roller)
-John Everett (Blue Thunder)
-Dustin Hart (Pure Adrenalin)
-Halid Kurtic (Bulldozer)
-Zachary Prochera (Whiskey Business)
-Mathew (Grave Digger 20th Ann.)
RACING:
If you'll remember back to last race's qualifying session, Robby Haught set the fast pace in Skitso 4 for the day on a St. Louis-style course. Tonight, however, he was a busy man, subbing at the last minute for his brother Bill in his Freak of Nature truck, as well as doing his normal driving duties in Skitso 4. He ended up knocking over a pole on each of his qualifying attempts, one in Skitso 4 and one in the Freak. John Everett lost to Robby after working the problems out of his new bead lock rims, but he came to Mid-Season dialed in and qualified second, setting the tone for the night. Josh Rhodes took fast qualifier, and Halid Kurtic's Bulldozer also came in looking strong.
ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Half Breed 3 debuted last week at East Coast Monster Jam and had a very strong start, and Josh "Dig" Rhodes was taking no prisoners tonight either. He won his first round matchup against Zachary Prochera's Whisky Business. Mathew and his Grave Digger 20th Anniversary truck were able to knock off a hard-charging Dustin Hart and Pure Adrenalin to move on, and Halid Kurtic came out of a close race against Eddie Carmichael and Bigfoot 10 victorious. We mentioned earlier that Robby Haught was having trouble of all kinds getting used to running two trucks at a time, and it showed in his first round matchup against Joe Smith. Joe was able to beat Robby by a wheel's length after qualifying well yet again in his High Roller. Sam Gemmet, making his first NTNT appearance in the Bigfoot Firestone Centennial Ford, drew Robby in the first round as well, but this time Robby was in the Freak of Nature.
Robby was dejected about doing so poorly, but complimented Joe's great driving in a quick interview with NTNT before running over and hopping into the Freak of Nature truck for a showdown with Sam, Ford against Ford. Robby took the measure of Sam and was able to advance.
ROUND 2 HIGHLIGHTS
John Everett and Blue Thunder got a bye in the first round, but in the second, he faced a big, angry Bulldozer, driven by Halid Kurtic. Normally John is the favorite in these matchups, but Halid was able to pull off a minor upset, putting Blue Thunder on the trailer and moving on to the semi-finals. He seemed to be on a mission tonight.
After a close race like that, the drivers knew they would have to give it their all, and they all rose to the occasion. Joe Smith has been making some noise in his rookie season, and it seems that each week he improves in racing. Tonight he went up against Robby Haught and the Freak of Nature, who finally seemed to have found their groove. Robby took the win and had these comments for NTNT after the race:
"Joe gave me an awesome race out there. He will be one to watch in the future, he just keeps getting better every week. I am finally getting used to Bill's truck, but anything can happen with unfamiliar equipment."
SEMI-FINALS HIGHLIGHTS
Josh Rhodes and Mathew have had many great races against each other, and their semi-final matchup lived up to the hype, with Mathew and his 20th Anniversary Grave Digger winning and moving on to the finals. The other race was a toss-up with two trucks we normally associate with freestyling well racing against each other-Robby Haught (usually Bill) and Freak of Nature, and Halid Kurtic and Bulldozer. With this long of a track, you'd expect some not-so-close races, but Robby gave Halid a great race and fell just short. NTNT interviewed Halid about the run.
"Man, that was a good race! I'm really excited to be in the finals against Cart, and hopefully I can take the win."
FINALS
Bulldozer and Grave Digger were set to clash in the racing finals. Cart had knocked over a pole and qualified toward the back of the field on his run, and wanted to stay away from the poles. Halid surprised everyone with another solid racing effort and wanted his first NTNT racing victory of the season. With neither of last week's finalists (Dan Defalco and Corey Davis) able to make it to the show, they knew a huge jump in points was to be had if they could win. The trucks are staged, the green light given, AND THEY'RE OFF! Cart has the advantage on the straight, into the turn, Bull bobbles! Cart makes a great turn and sails to the win!
The crowd saw some great racing action, and they stayed right in their seats with their eyes glued to the track, because they knew the event was only half over. What was the other half? FREESTYLE!