Story & Photographs by Diane Fleischman
Monster Truck fans filled the PPL Center Friday night for the opening performance of the Monster Truck Triple Threat series. The mechanical rasp of engines revving filled the arena as the show opened with each Monster Truck taking a couple of laps around the dirt track.
Participating in the competition is Kristin Hope, Monster Mutt Dalmatian, Jared Eichelberger, Max-D, Tristin England, Earth Shaker, Bernard Lyght, Alien Invasion, Jack Brown, Megalodon, Krysten Anderson, Gravedigger, Armando Castro, El Toro Loco, and Joe Urie, Zombie.
Besides their Monster Trucks with elaborate and unique character designs, each athlete also competed in ATV and Speedster racing, with their individual vehicles completely branded.
The competitions were thrilling to watch. As the fans cheered for victory to their favorite driver, the adrenalin of the drivers went into overdrive. The ATV race winner was El Toro Loco, and Max-D took first place in the Speedster Obstacle course.
As the athletes returned to their Monster Trucks, there were two events that the crowd chose the winners on a smart phone app. The criteria in judging the Two Wheel Skills Challenge was based on the completion of attempts, was the truck vertically inverted, and for how long. EarthShaker won the competition with awe-striking performance, matched by an astounding score of 9.436.
The Freestyle Competition had additional judging tips like how long the vehicle maintained control, creativity/wow factor, the variety of tricks, technical moves, completion of time, within the 75 second time frame per truck. There is some irony to the fact that these 12,000-pound trucks can look so graceful flying through the air at up to 125 to 130 feet out and up to 35 feet in the air. After another spectacular performance, EarthShaker took the win with a score of 8.888. Zombie followed in a close second with a score of 8.699, and El Toro Loco rounding out third place with 8.475.
At the end of the competition, Armando Castro was awarded the Event Winner. Castro remains ranked third within current points standing, and a fan base growing in the crowd. Who will today’s winners be? Don’t miss Saturday and Sunday shows now playing at the PPL Center.
EVENT: MONSTER JAM PIT PARTY
Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24
Pit Party Early Access starting at 10:30am
Pit Party from 10:30am-12:00pm
Show dates and times:
Friday, February 22 at 7:00pm
Saturday, February 23 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, February 24 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm
LOCATION:
PPL Center (Pit Party Entrance at Air Products Gate)
701 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Tickets & Pit Passes start at $15 each and will be available for purchase at www.PPLCenter.com, charge by phone at 610-347-TIXX, or in-person at QNB Box Office at PPL Center.
*Ticket prices subject to change – additional fees may apply.
