TNT Motorsports
Encyclopedia
TNT Motorsports was a popular promoter of monster truck
races, tractor pulls
, and occasionally mud racing in the 1980s. Events were shown on Powertrax on ESPN
, Trucks and Tractor Power
on TNN
and the syndicated
Tuff Trax
.
. Champions were crowned in the four-wheel drive truck, two-wheel drive truck, unlimited tractor, super stock tractor, and pro stock tractor divisions. Notable pullers were "The Professor" Dr. Wayne Rausch with his "Yellow Model T" and "Little Red Truck" two-wheel drives, the Banter Brothers' several unlimited tractors, Tim Engler's "Mission Impossible" unlimited tractor, and the "Stitches" team of trucks owned by Jim Lyons.
Renegades tobacco sponsored the Monster Truck Challenge series, which became a championship (the first monster truck racing championship ever) in 1988. Bigfoot
, USA-1
, Awesome Kong, Equalizer, Carolina Crusher, and King Krunch were among the most competitive trucks, while Dennis Anderson
and Grave Digger
became the most popular truck on the circuit, sending them to eventual superstardom.
Only a handful of events would feature Pro Modified Mud Bog Racing.
1988- USA-1
Rod Litzau and USA-1 take the championship in the last event of the year over Bigfoot in Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. While racing Bigfoot, USA-1 flipped and broke off its front axle. The truck would flip again many times over the next 2 years.
1989- Equalizer
Rookie David Morris and Equalizer beat out Gary Porter's Carolina Crusher for the championship. This was the biggest points victory in the 3 years the series ran, as the championship basically wrapped up for Equalizer entering the final event at Freedom Hall. Equalizer was the first truck on the series to use coilover shocks as opposed to the leaf-spring suspension systems used on other trucks at the time. The new suspension system gave each wheel more independence and the truck was able to minimize bouncing as a result. USA-1 was still the fastest truck in the series in 1989, and was nearly unbeatable on long straight courses- the exception being when the truck flipped. USA-1 flipped multiple times during the 1989 season which kept the truck out of the points race as it had to take many races off for repairs. Carolina Crusher on the other hand was the most consistent truck in 1989, almost always making it to the semi-finals or finals.
1990- Bigfoot
After taking off 1989 to develop a new truck, Team Bigfoot came out for 1990 in controversial fashion in Bigfoot 8. The new tube frame truck (a first in monster truck racing) featured a suspension system that gave it roughly 2 feet of suspension travel and was the lightest (10,000 lbs.) truck on the circuit (although Jack Willman's Taurus ran for a couple races on the circuit at 9,000 lbs.) Due to its dominance on the circuit, it was banned for a period of time to give the other trucks a chance to catch up. During this ban, Bigfoot 4 (built in 1984) ran in its place. It was a two-truck points race for most of the year between Bigfoot and Equalizer, although Carolina Crusher and Scott Stephens' King Krunch pulled somewhat close at times midway through the season.
sanctioning body, and all former TNT events became USHRA events. Most vehicles continued to compete in the USHRA, however some monster truck owners, notable Everett Jasmer of USA-1, did not as they wished to only compete in open-qualifying races (as TNT was) rather than invitation-only events.
Monster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
races, tractor pulls
Tractor pulling
Truck and Tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition, popular in America, Europe , Australia and Brazil, which requires modified tractors to pull a heavy sledge along a 35ft. wide and length of 100 metre or 300ft+ track, with the winner being the tractor that pulls...
, and occasionally mud racing in the 1980s. Events were shown on Powertrax on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, Trucks and Tractor Power
Trucks and Tractor Power
Trucks and Tractor Power was a long running weekly television show on TNN featuring mud bogging, tractor pulling and monster trucks. The show's original hosts were Stan Rhoads and former Bigfoot driver Rich Hooser, along with pit reporter Mike Goss. Gary Lee replaced Stan Rhoads...
on TNN
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
and the syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
Tuff Trax
Tuff Trax
Tuff Trax was a popular syndicated television show featuring monster trucks and tractor pulling. The show first aired in 1989 and was one hour long, split between TNT Motorsports' pulling and monsters. The original hosts were Army Armstrong and Scott Douglass, with Kris Chapman later added as a...
.
Series
TNT's truck and tractor pulling championship was sponsored by Red Man smokeless tobaccoSmokeless tobacco
Smokeless Tobacco may refer to:* Dipping tobacco, a type of tobacco that is placed between the lower or upper lip and gums.* Chewing tobacco, a type of tobacco that is chewed.* Snuff, a type of tobacco that is insufflated or "snuffed" through the nose....
. Champions were crowned in the four-wheel drive truck, two-wheel drive truck, unlimited tractor, super stock tractor, and pro stock tractor divisions. Notable pullers were "The Professor" Dr. Wayne Rausch with his "Yellow Model T" and "Little Red Truck" two-wheel drives, the Banter Brothers' several unlimited tractors, Tim Engler's "Mission Impossible" unlimited tractor, and the "Stitches" team of trucks owned by Jim Lyons.
Renegades tobacco sponsored the Monster Truck Challenge series, which became a championship (the first monster truck racing championship ever) in 1988. Bigfoot
Bigfoot (truck)
Bigfoot, introduced in 1979, is regarded as the original monster truck. Other trucks with the name "Bigfoot" have been introduced in the years since, and it remains the most well-known monster truck moniker in the United States. Bigfoot 4x4, Inc. is owned and operated by its creator, Bob Chandler.-...
, USA-1
USA-1 (truck)
USA-1 is a monster truck that was competing during the eighties and nineties, named after a Chevrolet ad campaign. It competed against Bigfoot in the first televised monster truck race on the American television show That's Incredible! in 1983. The truck was initially painted blue before it was...
, Awesome Kong, Equalizer, Carolina Crusher, and King Krunch were among the most competitive trucks, while Dennis Anderson
Dennis Anderson
Dennis Anderson is a professional monster truck driver. He is the creator and driver of "Grave Digger" on the USHRA Monster Jam circuit. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, he now resides in Poplar Branch, North Carolina. In Poplar Branch, he has his own shop where he signs autographs and shoots...
and Grave Digger
Grave Digger (truck)
Grave Digger is the name of a team of monster trucks currently racing in the USHRA Monster Jam series. There are several Grave Diggers being driven by different drivers to allow them to make appearances at more events, but their flagship driver is creator Dennis Anderson...
became the most popular truck on the circuit, sending them to eventual superstardom.
Only a handful of events would feature Pro Modified Mud Bog Racing.
Champions
Champions on the Renegades Monster Truck Challenge:1988- USA-1
Rod Litzau and USA-1 take the championship in the last event of the year over Bigfoot in Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. While racing Bigfoot, USA-1 flipped and broke off its front axle. The truck would flip again many times over the next 2 years.
1989- Equalizer
Rookie David Morris and Equalizer beat out Gary Porter's Carolina Crusher for the championship. This was the biggest points victory in the 3 years the series ran, as the championship basically wrapped up for Equalizer entering the final event at Freedom Hall. Equalizer was the first truck on the series to use coilover shocks as opposed to the leaf-spring suspension systems used on other trucks at the time. The new suspension system gave each wheel more independence and the truck was able to minimize bouncing as a result. USA-1 was still the fastest truck in the series in 1989, and was nearly unbeatable on long straight courses- the exception being when the truck flipped. USA-1 flipped multiple times during the 1989 season which kept the truck out of the points race as it had to take many races off for repairs. Carolina Crusher on the other hand was the most consistent truck in 1989, almost always making it to the semi-finals or finals.
1990- Bigfoot
After taking off 1989 to develop a new truck, Team Bigfoot came out for 1990 in controversial fashion in Bigfoot 8. The new tube frame truck (a first in monster truck racing) featured a suspension system that gave it roughly 2 feet of suspension travel and was the lightest (10,000 lbs.) truck on the circuit (although Jack Willman's Taurus ran for a couple races on the circuit at 9,000 lbs.) Due to its dominance on the circuit, it was banned for a period of time to give the other trucks a chance to catch up. During this ban, Bigfoot 4 (built in 1984) ran in its place. It was a two-truck points race for most of the year between Bigfoot and Equalizer, although Carolina Crusher and Scott Stephens' King Krunch pulled somewhat close at times midway through the season.
Buyout
In late 1990, TNT was bought out by SRO/Pace, the promoter who at the time owned the competitor United States Hot Rod AssociationUnited States Hot Rod Association
The United States Hot Rod Association is an organization owned by Feld Entertainment that markets various motorsports. These include monster trucks as well as motocross, quad racing and others...
sanctioning body, and all former TNT events became USHRA events. Most vehicles continued to compete in the USHRA, however some monster truck owners, notable Everett Jasmer of USA-1, did not as they wished to only compete in open-qualifying races (as TNT was) rather than invitation-only events.