NTNT RACE 10-World Finals 3
Wrapping up the "Vegas Tour" section on the NTNT schedule was World Finals 3. We have another great field of trucks on hand to battle it out, fifteen trucks in all. Let's meet our field of trucks:
-Robby Haught (Skitso 4)
-Robby Haught (Freak of Nature, subbing for Bill Haught)
-John Everett (Blue Thunder)
-Josh Rhodes (Half Breed 3)
-Dustin Hart (Pure Adrenalin
-Slickster (Sudden Impact 2003)
-Robbie Milburn (Black Stallion 2000)
-Eric Thiele (Grave Digger 20th Anniversary)
-Corey Davis (Reptoid)
-John Everett (Team Meents, subbing for Mike Alston)
-David Stewart (Hot Shoe)
-Halid Kurtic (The Rock)
-Alex Weber (Bear Foot)
-Eddie Carmichael (Bigfoot X)
-Glen Milburn (Demolition Man)
RACING:
One of the big stories in the pits was the absence of two top NTNT competitors, Mathew Williams and Pure Breed and Cory Schwab and Bigfoot T-Wrecks. With these two gone, anything could happen in the points. Several drivers are on the bubble of making or not making the NTNT World Finals, and the intensity was evident from the start. The fans would see some great racing and freestyle action for sure, with the superstars of the NTNT circuit on hand to rock the house. Let's get right to round one action.
ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Robby Haught drove two trucks tonight, his normal Skitso 4, and his brother Bill's Freak of Nature truck. Bill was sick and asked Robby to take over for the night. One problem though, with one driver and two trucks, there was the possibility of the two trucks facing each other in the first round, and wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what happened. Under NTNT rules, when this happens, the driver drives his or her normal truck and designates someone to drive in the other truck. Robby picked Corey Davis to drive Freak of Nature, and he beat out Robby by a full truck length on the long course...but wait, after the run Robby gets out of control, and over he goes! Robby hopped out of Skitso 4 unharmed, but dejected at being put on the trailer so early. He went back to the pits to prepare for round two in Freak of Nature, and Corey moved on to the next round in Reptoid also, taking out Eric Thiele.
Tonight's fast qualifier was John Everett, driving Team Meents for Mike Alston in addition to his duties in Blue Thunder. He looked very strong tonight in both trucks, but Blue Thunder especially. He would advance both trucks to the next round. Also winning in the first round were Josh Rhodes, Alex Weber, and David Stewart.
ROUND 2 HIGHLIGHTS
The racing got closer in round 2, and the first matchup saw Robby Haught in Freak of Nature just get edged out by Corey Davis, back in the seat of Reptoid...uh-oh, Corey is up on two wheels...and he can't save it, Reptoid is over! That's two flips in two rounds of racing now. Corey was OK and acknowledged the crowd, and his truck was fine also, enabling him to move on to the semis.
Slickster in Sudden Impact won last week's racing in his NTNT debut, and this week he looked headed toward the finals as well, taking out a hard-charging Alex Weber in Bear Foot to move on. David Stewart's Ford Hot Shoe took out Eddie Carmichael's Bigfoot 10 also, among others.
SEMI-FINALS HIGHLIGHTS
Eventually the field narrowed down to these four trucks and drivers-Slickster and Sudden Impact, Corey Davis and Reptoid, John Everett and Blue Thunder, and Josh Rhodes and Half Breed 3. Slick and John would move on, making it an all-Ford final.
FINALS
The crowd was on its feet in anticipation of a great final, and the drivers didn't disappoint. John had won before in MDRAGS at World Finals 3, and he jumped out to a slight lead...Slick makes up the lead in the turn, and the trucks are dead even heading into the final jump...OH MY! What a close race! Officials reviewed the replay, and John Everett was declared tonight's racing winner in Blue Thunder! Congratulations to John on his first racing win of the season.
