NTNT RACE 6-Tampa Bay Monster Jam 2002
Tampa is usually a place for sunshine and beaches, with warm weather and calmness. Tonight though, fourteen of the best NTNT trucks stormed into Raymond James Stadium for some monster truck excitement. Let's meet our field of trucks:
-Robby Haught (Skitso 4)
-Bill Haught (Freak of Nature)
-John Everett (Blue Thunder)
-Eddie Carmichael (Bigfoot 10)
-Mike Alston (Half Breed 3, subbing for Josh Rhodes)
-Cory Schwab (Bigfoot T-Wrecks)
-Pure Adrenalin (Dustin Hart)
-Justin M. (Rampage 1995)
-Corey Davis (Reptoid)
-Mike Alston (Team Meents [WF3])
-Corey Davis (Hot Shoe, subbing for David Stewart)
-Halid Kurtic (The Rock)
-Alex Weber (Bear Foot)
-Mathew Williams (Pure Breed)
RACING:
The racing course in Tampa was a J-drag, the second of this young season, and the course proved to be tough for some drivers who usually excelled. Mike Alston poled in qualifying with Team Meents, his normal truck, but subbing for Dig he laid down a great run. John Everett in Blue Thunder seemed to be putting his early-season troubles behind him, and he qualified first with a time of 8.56. Josh Rhodes, the overall points leader, may not be attending this race, but he's no dummy-he hired Mike Alston, who can drive just about anything well. How will the points shake out after this race? We'll just have to find out. On to first round highlights.
ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Halid Kurtic and his Rock truck started off the racing by defeating Bill Haught and Freak of Nature. After that, it was newcomer Justin M. and Rampage knocking off Dustin Hart and Pure Adrenalin, then John Everett and Blue Thunder defeating Corey Davis' Reptoid. Mathew Williams also took out Hot Shoe, among others.
ROUND 2 HIGHLIGHTS
The best race of round 2 came with John Everett and Mathew Williams' matchup. The trucks ran to a tie in the first running of the race, a rarity that has happened twice in two weeks in NTNT, where the competition is tough. The second time, however, John got the win and moved on to the semis, putting Matt on the trailer.
Mike Alston and Robby Haught had both won against their opponents so far, with Mike's win coming in Half Breed 3, Dig's usual truck. These two moved on to the semi finals, with Robby's win coming on an unusual event-he and Halid Kurtic's Rock truck BOTH poled, but Robby crossed the line first, giving the win to him.
SEMI-FINALS HIGHLIGHTS
John Everett showed his fast qualifying time was no fluke, but he had to go against Robby Haught in Skitso 4. Both drivers knew it would be a good race because past races have always been tough. It had to be rerun because of both drivers missing the cars the first time going all out, and in the second running, John poled, handing the win to Robby. The other semifinal matchup was a rematch of last week's final, Cory Schwab against Mike Alston. Last time Mike took the win racing in his Team Meents, but this time he was in Half Breed 3, subbing for Dig. It was an incredibly close race and the replay had to be viewed to determine the winner, but it was Cory Schwab with the narrow margin of victory, moving on to the finals for the second straight week.
FINALS
Final time had arrived, and both drivers have been here before. Robby made his third final appearance on the year, still looking for his first win in the Skitso 4 Chevrolet, although he took a win earlier in the season subbing. Cory made the finals in his debut last week but wanted his first win badly. The trucks left the line even, but Cory made a perfect turn while Robby bobbled, and Cory Schwab takes the win in Bigfoot T-Wrecks!!!
