Maximum Destruction

Last updated

Maximum Destruction
Max-D Jacksonville 2014.jpg
Max-D's current body used since 2014.
Owner and driver information
Owner Tom Meents
Driver(s) Tom Meents
Blake Granger
Home city Paxton, Illinois
Truck information
Year created2000
Previous name(s) Goldberg (2000–2001)
Team Meents (2002)
Body styleFuturistic SUV
ChassisWillman-style
Engine540 CID Merlin
TransmissionCoan 2-speed
TiresBKT

Maximum Destruction, also known as Max-D, is a monster truck team owned by Feld Entertainment and operated by Tom Meents that runs as part of the Monster Jam circuit.

Contents

History

Maximum Destruction's original paint scheme used from 2003 to 2012 Maximum Destruction Truck 2008.jpg
Maximum Destruction's original paint scheme used from 2003 to 2012

In 1999, then-Monster Jam parent company Clear Channel Communications signed a cross-promotional deal with World Championship Wrestling to create monster trucks based on professional wrestlers. In order to ensure the success of the truck of Bill Goldberg, one of the most popular WCW wrestlers, Clear Channel contracted the team of Tom Meents (who was already popular from driving Monster Patrol and Bulldozer) to build and campaign the "Goldberg" truck. Meents debuted in the truck in January 2000 at the Georgia Dome, where he won racing and finished third in freestyle. As the year progressed, and as Dennis Anderson struggled in Grave Digger, Meents dominated and capped the year by winning the first Monster Jam World Finals Racing Championship. The following year saw a continuation of the dominance, when Meents won the world racing and freestyle championships.

In 2001, WCW was bought out by the World Wrestling Federation and the deal with Clear Channel was dropped. For 2002, Meents kept the same truck and body but renamed the truck Team Meents, even retaining much of Goldberg's color scheme and graphics. Neil Elliot began driving a second truck for the team that year as well. Once again, Meents swept both the racing and freestyle at World Finals 3.

In 2003, saw the truck change both name and image to become Maximum Destruction, a name which Meents had intended to run the year before until he delayed those plans out of respect for the September 11 attacks. The team has remained significantly popular, and is now generally regarded as the chief rival of Grave Digger, the tour's most popular team.

Tom Meents signing autographs in front of Maximum Destruction Maximum destruction.JPG
Tom Meents signing autographs in front of Maximum Destruction

In 2005 Meents jumped Maximum Destruction over his old house, before destroying the house with the truck. [1]

In 2013, Maximum Destruction celebrated 10 years. The trucks were decorated in a new livery featuring spikes around the body and a large robotic face on the side and the truck began to be known as "Max-D". At World Finals 14, Meents won freestyle in Max-D, earning his 11th World Finals Championship.

In 2016, Meents's two stepsons, Colton and Jared Eichelberger, joined the team. At World Finals 17, both Meents and Colton competed in the main events while Jared competed in the Young Guns Shootout. During the racing encore, Meents jumped his truck over five monster trucks. In an attempt to break this record, he tried to jump over six trucks in April at Levis Stadium, though the trucks were positioned to either side of the area Meents was jumping, thus not breaking the record. This was mainly because of the conditions of the muddy track. He later reattempted this, successfully jumping over six trucks later in the same month at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

In 2017, Meents sustained an injury and was unable to compete. Due to his injury, Meents did not compete in World Finals 18. Dennis Anderson also sustained an injury, making this the first time where Meents and Anderson both did not compete in the World Finals; Anderson would retire after that season.

In 2018, at World Finals 19, the Max-D team celebrated their 15-year anniversary of the truck with a special encore after competition ended, featuring all the Max-D truck designs throughout the past years, including the original Maximum Destruction appearance.

Signature elements

Since the truck debuted as Goldberg, the truck has become known for bouncy and wild rides, and for its ability to make large jumps and take several hits during freestyle runs and not suffer significant damage. The truck is also known for its numerous crashes, often simply as a result of Meents' full-throttle driving. Meents' driving style is emulated by the other drivers, who are said to have graduated from the "Tom Meents School of Monster Truck Driving".

Maximum Destruction is one of the few teams in the modern monster truck industry to use front-mounted engines as opposed to the more common mid-frame position.

Backflips

During the freestyle portion of a European tour event in Gothenburg, Sweden, Meents hit the backside of a 'step up' jump which caused the truck to rotate backwards, land on the roof at the top of the obstacle and then continue to roll backwards back onto the wheels where Meents continued his run. This inspired drivers to attempt a complete aerial backflip. Travis Pastrana made an attempt during a Season 1 episode of Nitro Circus using a purpose-built ramp. However, the truck did not get enough rotation and slammed down onto the roof from about 40 feet in the air; Pastrana was uninjured.

In 2009, at World Finals 10 in Las Vegas, Meents rolled on to the floor during the encore in Maximum Destruction. Nobody knew what he was going to do until he launched his truck off the backside of the center jump, which was almost a solid wall of dirt. The truck instantly bounced up into the air and managed to rotate one and half times backwards until landing on the tailgate, resulting in the truck rolling onto its roof. Although spectacular, it did not technically count because he did not land on his tires. It was later revealed in a special DVD release about Meents' build up to the backflip at the World Finals, that he had, in fact, landed a complete backflip in his backyard during testing. Therefore, Meents was the first to land a successful backflip. In 2010, Cam McQueen, driving Pastrana's Nitro Circus truck, completed a backflip in Jacksonville, Florida. This was the first backflip landed in competition.

Since then, there have been many successful and unsuccessful attempts from several drivers. A few drivers have even completed corkscrew type flips where the truck backflips and lands facing the opposite direction.

After George Balhan, driver of Mohawk Warrior, landed two consecutive backflips at the 2012 Monster Jam World Finals, Meents was driven to land the double. After months of preparation at his shop in Paxton, Illinois, on June 16, 2012, at the last show of the Monster Jam Path of Destruction Tour at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Meents came out in a modified Maximum Destruction stunt truck, built specifically for the double backflip. When Meents hit the jump, his truck completed one rotation, but started to twist in the second rotation then landing on the roof, coming up just short. Then, on Saturday, March 23, 2013, he attempted it again in the encore portion of Monster Jam World Finals 14. The truck landed on the sides of the left side tires, and bounced back on all four wheels. This would not count as a double backflip as he did not complete both rotations. Meents would try again in 2015 at Foxborough's Gillette stadium with an all chrome Max-D body. He would land on the right front tire and bounce back. Again, he would not complete 2 rotations. A double backflip has yet to be landed.

Trucks

10th Anniversary Max-D: Decade of Destruction body, which ran exclusively in 2013 Max D.jpg
10th Anniversary Max-D: Decade of Destruction body, which ran exclusively in 2013

Since the debut of the Maximum Destruction name in 2003, there have been 9 trucks fielded by the team:

(Driver current as of the 2022 season.)

Additionally, a truck with a modified design used only for special stunts debuted in 2012. Also, the Maximum Destruction body design has been used on chassis owned by Monster Jam parent Feld Entertainment for international tours; these do not feature the front-mounted engine usually used by the team.

Drivers

Current

Former

Monster Jam World Finals championships

NOTE: All racing, freestyle, and 2-wheel skills championships have been won by Meents. Blake Granger won the 2019 ATV racing championship.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster truck</span> Vehicle modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension

A monster truck is a specialized off-road vehicle with a heavy duty suspension, four-wheel steering, large-displacement V8 engines and oversized tires constructed for competition and entertainment uses. Originally created by modifying stock pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), they have evolved into purpose-built vehicles with tube-frame chassis and fiberglass bodies rather than metal. A competition monster truck is typically 12 feet (3.7 m) tall, and equipped with 66-inch (1.7 m) off-road tires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Toro Loco</span>

El Toro Loco is a monster truck currently racing in the Monster Jam series. The truck was created in 2001 as a variant of the 3-D molded body of the Bulldozer design, but as El Toro Loco has increased in popularity, it has become the primary truck for the body style. The truck is commonly known for "snorting" smoke out of its nose, which is toggled by a button inside the truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grave Digger (monster truck)</span> Racing team in Monster Jam

Grave Digger is a monster truck racing team in the Feld Entertainment Monster Jam series founded by original driver Dennis Anderson. Considered one of the most famous and recognized monster trucks of all time, Grave Digger serves as the flagship team of the Monster Jam series, with seven active Grave Digger trucks being driven by different drivers to allow a truck to appear at every Monster Jam event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2Xtreme Racing</span>

2Xtreme Racing is a monster truck owns a National Touring show called the 2 X Monster Truck Live Tour, executing and performing at over 45 shows per year. Trucks include Bounty Hunter, Scarlet Bandit and five finger death punch inspired Knuckle Head, Hot Tamale, and new comer Brutal, all of which compete at the various events on the annual schedule. The team is owned by Jimmy Creten, the two time Monster Jam World Champion and includes Creten, his wife Dawn Creten, who is the longest running female driver in the monster truck industry, Michael Brister, and Rob Poutre and more. Each truck features a different theme, with the headliners featuring an old west theme with a character based on the truck's name. All three vehicles have competed in the Monster Jam World Finals, and Bounty Hunter was the 2005 World Finals Freestyle Champion and the 2019 World Finals Racing Champion. Jimmy Creten and Trent Montgomery currently drive the two Bounty Hunter trucks, Dawn Creten drives the Scarlet Bandit truck, and Todd Morey drives Iron Outlaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Jam</span> Live motorsport event tour and television show

Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour operated by Feld Entertainment. The series began in 1992, and is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association. Events are primarily held in North America, with some additional events in other countries. Although individual event formats can vary greatly based on the "intermission" entertainment, the main attraction is always the racing, two-wheel skills competition, and freestyle competitions by monster trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Thunder (truck)</span>

Blue Thunder is a monster truck that races in the USHRA Monster Jam series. It was originally sponsored by the truck division of Ford Motor Company and Live Nation. The truck has several similarities with the monster truck Bigfoot. Some fans saw Blue Thunder as a replacement for Bigfoot in the Monster Jam series. The truck has been moderately successful and won several major events during its existence. However, it has not yet won a championship. Blue Thunder was used by Ford Motor Company for promotional purposes along with competition. The truck is currently driven by Todd LeDuc. The truck did not compete in 2012 when Todd LeDuc moved to Metal Mulisha after driving Blue Thunder in 2011, but as of 2022, he began driving Blue Thunder again due to the Monster Energy truck not operating anymore. With Ford dropping its sponsorship in 2012, the truck was redesigned and brought back in 2013 with veteran driver Dan Evans; former owner/driver of the Destroyer monster truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Seasock</span>

John Michael Seasock is a retired professional monster truck driver. He competed on the USHRA circuit with his truck, Batman, where it was the 2007 and 2008 Monster Jam World Racing Champion. He last drove Grinder sponsored by Advance Auto Parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Meents</span> American monster truck driver

Thomas William Meents is an American former professional monster truck driver. He drove Max-D in Monster Jam. He has won 14 Monster Jam World Finals championships during his career. Tom is often referred to as the professor, and the GOAT of monster trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Anderson</span> American monster truck driver (born 1960)

Dennis Montague Anderson is an American former professional monster truck driver. He is the creator, team owner, and former driver of "Grave Digger" on the USHRA Monster Jam circuit. Anderson is from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, where he currently resides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Pastrana</span> American racing driver and stunt performer

Travis Alan Pastrana is an American professional motorsports competitor and stunt performer who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several disciplines, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, rally racing and offshore powerboat racing. He runs a show called Nitro Circus and the rallycross racing series Nitrocross.

Gary Porter is an American former monster-truck driver that races on the United States Hot Rod Association circuit. He is a former member of the Grave Digger team but returned to his Carolina Crusher truck in 2015. In July 2017, Gary Porter retired from monster truck driving after spending 32 years in the sport. In 2013 he was inducted in the international monster truck hall of fame. He was inducted again in 2021 in the Monster Jam Hall Of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freestyle motocross</span>

Freestyle motocross is a variation on the sport of motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Anderson (monster truck driver)</span> American monster truck driver (born 1985)

Adam Anderson is an American professional monster truck driver. He currently drives Grave Digger on the Monster Jam circuit. Adam is the son of Grave Digger creator Dennis Anderson and the older brother of fellow drivers Ryan, Krysten and Weston Anderson. He is a 5-time Monster Jam World Champion. Adam currently resides in his hometown of Poplar Branch, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Mutt</span> Specialized competition off-road vehicle

Monster Mutt is a monster truck from West Chicago, Illinois, competing in the United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) Monster Jam series since 2003. Originally styled after a 1950 Mercury, and later a custom body, the truck has a canine motif, complete with big ears, tail and tongue. It is painted in two tones of brown, with a dog mouth drawn in the front. The truck has three spin offs, two of which are currently competing. It is currently driven by Chris Koehler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain's Curse</span>

Captain's Curse was a monster truck created by Monster Jam and FELD Motorsports, and competed in the Monster Jam series from 2007 through 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avenger (truck)</span> Monster truck

The Avenger, piloted by Columbus, Michigan native Jim Koehler, was created in 1997. The original monster truck sported a forest green Chevrolet S10 body style and a teal chassis and rims. With the exception of the design featured at World Finals 14, the Avenger truck has always sported at least three flaming skulls and flowing flames running from the wheel wells. As time passed, the S10 body was replaced by a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air body with bright green headlights, which is the same body style that is run today by "Mr. Excitement."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohawk Warrior</span>

Great Clips Mohawk Warrior is a monster truck currently racing in the Monster Jam professional monster truck racing series. It is currently driven by Bryce Kenny, and was originally driven by George Balhan, former An Escalade driver, who debuted in 2010 during the Monster Jam World Finals XI Encore in the Obsession Chassis. It features one of the first trucks a decoration on the roof, which is a giant mohawk. The truck is also a successor to An Escalade. It has been sponsored by Great Clips since Bryce Kenny became the new driver of Mohawk Warrior after Balhan retired from Monster Jam.

Lucas Oil Crusader was a monster truck that raced in the Monster Jam professional monster truck racing series. It was driven by Linsey Weenk, former Blue Thunder driver, who debuted in 2011 in Houston, Texas. It featured one of the first trucks to change its roof artwork, which is the medieval knight decal and the truck's logo, and then after a while, it was replaced with the Lucas Oil logo. It also had the Lucas Oil flags at the back of the truck. It was sponsored by Lucas Oil since its debut in Houston, Texas, 2011. The truck was supposedly retired on July 28, 2019, but returned in 2020 to compete in Stadium Championship Series Red.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Anderson (monster truck driver)</span> American monster truck driver (born 1989)

Ryan Anderson is an American professional monster truck driver. He currently drives Son-Uva Digger on the Monster Jam circuit. A second-generation monster truck driver, Ryan is the son of Grave Digger creator Dennis Anderson and the younger brother of fellow driver Adam, and the older brother of Krysten and Weston Anderson. He is a four-time Monster Jam World Champion. Ryan currently resides in his hometown of Poplar Branch, North Carolina.

References

  1. Hinton, Dave (December 14, 2011). "Still going strong: Meents still having fun driving monster trucks". Paxton Record. Retrieved August 28, 2015.