The Cook Out Monster Truck Bash was a smashing success, as fans from across the country — even as far as Ireland — packed The Dirt Track at Charlotte for a night of total chaos and high-flying destruction.
In a rare feat, Terminal Velocity, piloted by John Zimmer Jr., dominated the competition — winning both the three-round racing bracket and freestyle showdown to take home both trophies in one unforgettable night.
Eleven monster trucks rolled into the dirt track ready to rumble, but only the top eight advanced to the night’s high-stakes elimination race. After qualifying second, Terminal Velocity went head-to-head with his own father, Uproar, in the semifinals, edging him out to move on to a final clash with David Olfert with Dirt Crew.
Dirt Crew gave it everything he had, but Terminal Velocity proved unbeatable, clinching his second straight Cook Out Monster Truck Bash race win — sending the crowd into a frenzy with a jaw-dropping freestyle performance.
“I had a wild ride last year, but I’m glad I came back to redeem myself and finish racing,” Zimmer Jr. said. “Freestyle is what I love — it’s what I grew up watching. Racing is fun, but freestyle is where the real excitement is.”
For Zimmer Jr., freestyle was where the real excitement kicked in — and it showed. Terminal Velocity closed out the night with a dirt-flying, car-crushing, backflip-sticking finale that earned him a second trophy and sealed the sweep. Despite the pressure of going last, Zimmer Jr. delivered a high-octane performance that left the crowd roaring and the track littered with twisted metal.
“Going last was a lot of pressure,” Zimmer Jr. said. “I’ve never been last at an event this big, and I knew I had to make it count. Man, we threw down — trucks, piles, body parts everywhere.”
In the Best Trick category, Smashasourus roared to victory, outshining Blockhead, Jurassic Attack and Dirt Crew. Tim Missentzis earned the trophy by opening with a snap wheelie and nailing the night’s first backflip off the newly added Cook Out backflip wall.
UP NEXT:
The Cook Out Monster Truck Bash kicked off a busy fall season at America’s Home for Racing. Upcoming events include the SuperMotorcross, Sept. 6; NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, Sept. 19-21 and the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 Oct. 5. Visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com for a complete schedule of events, information on tickets and camping and all the latest news and information.
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