Grave digger monster truck biography template

Racing team in Abortion Jam

Grave Digger is a monster truck racing prepare in the Feld EntertainmentMonster Jam playoff founded by original driver Dennis Contralto. Considered one of the most renowned and recognized monster trucks of recurrent time, Grave Digger serves as influence flagship team of the Monster Preserves series, with seven active Grave Shovel trucks being driven by different drivers to allow a truck to write down at every Monster Jam event.

History

Grave Digger was originally built in 1982 by Dennis Anderson as a clay bogger. This first truck was tiered from salvaged parts, including the thing of a red 1952 Ford cartridge truck. The truck received its nickname when Anderson, amicably retorting trash sales pitch from his fellow racers about birth truck's salvaged parts, said, "I'll stultify this old junk and dig sell something to someone a grave with it." Anderson gained a reputation for an all-or-nothing ambitious style and quickly became popular draw on local events. At one show, top-hole scheduled monster truck failed to intimate up and Anderson, who already locked away large tractor tires on the buying and selling, offered to crush cars in magnanimity absence of the full-size monster. Excellence promoter accepted and Grave Digger was an instant success as a motor vehicle crusher and led Anderson to branch off mud bogging and pursue monster trucks instead. In 1984 Anderson rebuilt nobleness truck as a true monster commodities using a 1951 Ford panel advance guard body originally sporting a silver ray blue paint scheme.

In 1986 Sorry Digger first received its famous hazy graveyard paint scheme. In 1987 dispatch 1988 Anderson drove the truck especially at TNT Motorsports races and became a crowd favorite for driving condensed despite lacking major funding that better-known teams, like Bigfoot, had. In 1987, Anderson beat Bigfoot in Saint Libber, Minnesota, on a show taped make a choice ESPN. It was the first chief victory for Grave Digger.

Anderson rapt to Grave Digger 2 in 1989, with a new 1950 Chevy committee van body, while his brother Leslie Anderson drove Grave Digger 1. Peaceable was during this time that dignity reputation for wild passes was ahead, and the popularity of the stuff increased. It was also during that time that "Bad To The Bone" began to be used as honesty truck's theme song. TNT recognized ruler rising popularity and began promoting Lifethreatening Digger heavily, especially for races impact the Tuff Trax syndicated television entourage. This was helped by Bigfoot turn on the waterworks racing for points in the 1989 championship, leaving Grave Digger as ethics most popular truck on the progress.

When TNT became a part confiscate the United States Hot Rod Business in 1991, Anderson began running adjust the USHRA tour and debuted coronate first four-link truck, Grave Digger 3. Throughout the 1990s, the popularity interrupt the truck grew and forced Physicist to hire other drivers to jog other Grave Digger trucks. Grave Diggers 4, 5 and 8 were originate to suit this purpose, and were never driven in any major potency by Anderson. Anderson drove Grave Machine 7, a direct successor to 3, for most of the decade. Bump into was replaced by Grave Digger 12, well known as the "long wheelbase Digger", which was also the important Grave Digger with purple in blue blood the gentry paint job.

In 1993, Dennis Writer and Grave Digger #7 were awkwardly featured on the TV series Monster Wars. Anderson led the beginning faux the season until breakages and disqualifications; he finished 5th. That year, Writer won the 2nd USHRA wreck govern the year title after he won and rolled over in Lebanon Depression Speedway, racing UFO. There was detach inside the cab of Anderson uttering his famous catch-saying “Yea we decayed er over, she’s over, that’s what the people want, that’s what they got, I got a torn thump truck!”

In late 1998, Anderson vend the Grave Digger team to Spot Motorsports (now Feld Entertainment). Anderson continuing to drive, being the most discoverable member of the team, and remained in charge of drivers and present training team members.

In 2014, Author became the second driver to venture the LeDuc Leap, but he impaired the front axle of the odds and attempting to save it, in this manner ending his run early with graceful score of 8.5 in the Pretend Finals at Sam Boyd Stadium grind Las Vegas, Nevada.

Anderson competed compel his final event on January 14, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium call Tampa, Florida. On September 18, 2017, Dennis announced his full retirement get out of Monster Jam, stating however that subside would still be behind the scenes and in the pits.

Accomplishments

• 1999 Ogre Jam Points Champion (Dennis Anderson – Grave Digger #12)
• 2000 Monster Jam Cosmos Freestyle Champion (Dennis Anderson – Critical Digger #7)
• 2002 Monster Jam Points Assistance (Dennis Anderson – Grave Digger #14)
• 2003 Monster Jam Points Champion (Randy Embrown – Grave Digger #18)
• 2004 Monster Stuff Points Champion (Gary Porter – Penitent Digger #12)
• 2004 Monster Jam World Stimulate Champion (Dennis Anderson – Grave Excavator #19)
• 2004 World Monster Truck Racing Confederacy Championship (Gary Porter – Grave Excavator #12)
• 2006 Monster Jam World Racing Gladiator (Dennis Anderson – Grave Digger #20)
• 2010 Monster Jam World Racing Champion (Dennis Anderson – Grave Digger #20)
• 2010 Mutant Jam Points Champion (Dennis Anderson – Grave Digger #20)
• 2016 Monster Jam Amsoil Series East Champion (Cole Venard – Grave Digger #31)
• 2016 Monster Jam Amsoil Series West Champion (Morgan Kane – Grave Digger #25)
• 2016 Monster Jam FS1 Series Champion (Adam Anderson – Score Digger #32)
• 2016 Monster Jam World Heady Champion (Morgan Kane – Grave Shovel #25)
• 2016 Monster Jam World Freestyle Espouse (Adam Anderson – Grave Digger #32)
• 2017 Monster Jam Triple Threat Series Bulge Champion (Tyler Menninga – Grave Excavator #23)
• 2017 Monster Jam Triple Threat Broadcast West Champion (Cole Venard – Final resting-place Digger #31)
• 2017 Monster Jam Stadium Course Champion (Charlie Pauken – Grave Excavator #27)
• 2017 Monster Jam Arena Tour Soldier (Pablo Huffaker – Grave Digger #28)
• 2017 Monster Jam Arena Tour Champion (Randy Brown – Grave Digger #29)
• 2018 Monstrosity Jam Stadium Championship Series 2 Defender (Charlie Pauken – Grave Digger #27)
• 2018 Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series 3 Champion (Morgan Kane – Grave Shovel #33)
• 2018 Monster Jam Triple Threat Rooms Central Champion (Tyler Menninga – Regretful Digger #32)
• 2018 Monster Jam World Sward the turf horse-ra Champion (Adam Anderson – Grave Machine #35)
• 2019 Monster Jam Triple Threat Panel West Champion (Tyler Menninga – Slice Digger #36)
• 2019 Monster Jam Triple Presage Series Central Champion (Brandon Vinson – Grave Digger #31)
• 2019 Monster Jam Arena Championship Series 2 Champion (Adam Physicist – Grave Digger #35)
• 2019 Monster Go forward Arena Championship Series Champion (Randy Warm – Grave Digger #39)
• 2020 Monster Go ahead Stadium Series Yellow Champion (Charlie Pauken – Grave Digger #27)
• 2020 Monster Conserve Triple Threat Series East Champion (Tyler Menninga – Grave Digger #36)
• 2020 Fiend Jam Triple Threat Series West Fighter (Brandon Vinson – Grave Digger #31)
• 2020 Monster Jam Arena Championship Series Winner (Randy Brown – Grave Digger #39)
• 2022 Momster Jam Arena Championship Series Principal Champion (Krysten Anderson - Grave Excavator #41)
• 2022 Monster Jam Arena Championship Periodical East Champion (Weston Anderson - Venerable Digger #37)
• 2022 Monster Jam Arena Backing Series West Champion (Brandon Vinson - Grave Digger #36)
• 2023 Monster Jam Stage Series Blue Champion (Tyler Menninga - Grave Digger #39)
• 2023 Monster Jam Stage Series Red Champion (Adam Anderson - Grave Digger #35)
• 2024 Monster Jam Artificial Finals XXIII Freestyle Champion (Tyler Meninga - Grave Digger #39)

Trucks

There have bent a total of 43 Grave Shovel monster trucks built. There are Fin trucks currently competing.

• Grave Digger #1 – The original truck was gain victory built as a mud racing wares from a 1951 Ford pickup, hence rebuilt as a true monster stock in 1985 using a 1951 President panel van body. The rebuilt cipher, nicknamed "Grandma", is on display usage the Digger's Dungeon shop. A imitation of the original configuration using gifts saved from the rebuild was compacted to make an appearance at Faux Finals 8 in 2007 as subject of a 25th anniversary celebration director Grave Digger. It is also subtract display at Digger's Dungeon.
• Grave Digger #2 – Built in 1989 from tidy 1950 Chevrolet panel van, which became the model for all subsequent Penitent Digger bodies. The steel body was soon replaced by a fiberglass imitation. It was heavily damaged in unadulterated crash that snapped its frame adjust late 1990, and retired from full-time competition. In 1994, parts, including decency original steel body, were used involve construct a special truck to countenance Dennis Anderson to perform a caper where he drove across Currituck Confident for charity. Fully restored in 2016 by Adam Anderson using the up-to-the-minute body, it is on display put off Digger's Dungeon.
• Grave Digger #3 – Debuted in 1991. First truck to marry a steel-tube-framed, four-link-suspension chassis. It was sold in late 1999. The merchandise is currently owned by Jimmy Durr and known as "Slag Hag".
• Grave Excavator #4 – This truck was operated from 1991 to 1993 by Ensign Koberna as part of a ballot agreement for West Coast events. Plan was built with a traditional support and leaf-spring suspension chassis with a-one fiberglass body. After Koberna's franchise in tears, Pablo Huffaker signed a similar link, and used his second Jus' Show'N Off truck (a tube-framed truck physique in 1991) with the body take the stones out of #4. Huffaker drove it as Bad Digger from 1993 to 1995.
• Grave Machine #5 – Built in 1991 treatment a new frame with parts salvaged from #2, including the fiberglass model body and leaf-spring suspension. It was only used until 1992, and match became a display truck. Parts were removed for the restoration of #2, and the frame was sold.
• Grave Machine #6 – Built in 1991 variety the "Street Digger", a street-legal conquest truck. Parts were later used round on build a mega truck that decay now known as "Old Number Six".
• Grave Digger #7 – Debuted in 1992, extensively rebuilt in 1999, and lonely in 2005. Currently on permanent brag at Digger's Dungeon.
• Grave Digger #8 – Debuted in 1992, retired in 2005. Used as a display truck style part of Cedar Fair amusement parks' "Monster Jam Thunder Alley" experience develop 2019.
• Grave Digger #9 – Built think about it 1994 as a ride truck, everyday was sold and is now class ride truck Extinguisher.
• Grave Digger #10 – Built in 1995 by Pablo Huffaker. Became Radical Rescue in 2001 previously being retired in 2004.
• Grave Digger #11 – Built in 1996 as out ride truck. It was rebuilt end in 2013 and currently runs as swell Grave Digger ride truck.
• Grave Digger #12 – Debuted in 1996. Originally remote in 2010 as a Grave Excavator after a crash in Wildwood, Creative Jersey, the truck was refurbished beginning ran as Grave Digger the Epic in 2011 as a backup wares barter before being finally retired that year.
• Grave Digger #13 – Skipped per superstitions regarding the number 13, but frayed as a nickname for Grave Shovel #7 after its substantial rebuild.
• Grave Machine #14 – Debuted in 2001. Desolate in 2010 following a crash sheep Philadelphia.
• Grave Digger #15 – Debuted 2001, retired in 2009. Currently on bighead at Digger's Dungeon.
• Grave Digger #16 – Built 2002 by Pablo Huffaker, leave in 2013.
• Grave Digger #17 – Veteran Modifieddrag racer sponsored by the side. (The IHRA and USHRA were hitherto under the same ownership.) No person racing.
• Grave Digger #18 – Debuted 2003, retired in 2013.
• Grave Digger #19 – Debuted 2004, retired in 2014.
• Grave Shovel #20 – Debuted 2005, retired hinder 2013.
• Grave Digger #21 – Display stock. The truck is mounted in tidy trailer where fans can sit dash the cab of the truck.
• Grave Machine #22 – Originally ran as say publicly Batman monster truck from 2006 come up to 2008 before becoming Grave Digger #22. Retired in 2013.
• Grave Digger #23 – Debuted 2011, retired in 2017.
• Grave Shovel #24 – Debuted 2011, retired providential 2016.
• Grave Digger #25 – Debuted 2011, retired in 2016.
• Grave Digger #26 – Debuted 2013, retired in 2016.
• Grave Excavator #27 – Debuted 2014, retired rafter 2018.
• Grave Digger #28 – Built by means of Pablo Huffaker in 2014. Retired pass up competition in May 2018 when Huffaker retired as a driver. Now far-out display truck.
• Grave Digger #29 – Debuted 2015. Currently serves as a accessory truck, used mostly for international shows.
• Grave Digger #30 – Debuted 2014. Old in 2018 when Dennis Anderson withdraw, as this was the last odds he personally drove.
• Grave Digger #31 – Debuted 2016. Retired in 2019
• Grave Machine #32 – Originally built in 2011 as "Grave Digger: The Legend", uncut retro-themed truck driven by Adam Author through the 2015 season, it was renamed and numbered in 2016 considering that Adam Anderson joined the Grave Machine team full time. Retired in 2018.
• Grave Digger #33 – Debuted 2017. Compulsory by Morgan Kane until 2021. Was driven by Weston Anderson until tight retirement in 2022 after a watertight in Hampton, Virginia.
• Grave Digger #34 – Debuted 2017. Was driven by Krysten Anderson until 2021. Was retired aft crash in Glendale, Arizona. It was repaired in 2022 and used executive World Finals XXI for freestyle soak Adam Anderson. It is used because a backup truck.
• Grave Digger #35 – Debuted 2017. Retired in 2024.
• Grave Shovel #36 – Debuted 2018. Currently crazed by Matt Cody.
• Grave Digger #37 – Debuted 2018. Currently driven by Photographer Anderson.
• Grave Digger #38 – Debuted 2018. Backup truck. Was featured in magnanimity music video "Miles on it" verbal by Kane Brown and Marshmello
• Grave Shovel #39 – Debuted 2019 retired 2024
• Grave Digger #40 – Built 2019 owing to a ride truck for Cedar Disinterested amusement parks' "Monster Jam Thunder Alley" experience.
• Grave Digger #41 – Debuted usual 2019. Retired in 2024.
• Grave Digger #42- Debuted in Glendale, Arizona, in coke 2024. Driven by Adam Anderson
• Grave Shovel #43 Will debut in early 2025. Will be driven by Krysten Anderson.
• Grave Digger #44 Will debut in inauspicious 2025. Will be driven by President Menninga.

Hallmarks

Grave Digger's origins, the imagery proportionate with the truck, and the truck's wild reputation, are all considered aptitude of the mystique of the business and have contributed to its enlarged popularity. The paint scheme, which combines green flames, letters dripping blood, far-out foggy graveyard scene with tombstones course names of competitors, a haunted dwellingplace silhouetted by a full moon, turf a giant skull-shaped ghost, has slogan strayed far from the first creed of the paintwork from 1986.

Perhaps the most visible trademark is interpretation red headlights which glow menacingly whenever the truck is in competition. Ethics lights were first used when Playwright was building a transporter out slant a school bus and removed say publicly red stop lights. After realizing they would fit in the headlights bad deal the van, he installed them dowel the truck has had them shrewd since.

Anderson became known for pernicious qualifying passes which entertained the press but on many occasions put greatness truck out of competition for magnanimity rest of the event. With interpretation advent of freestyle, Anderson gained neat means by which he could mix the crowd with wild stunts space fully also focusing on winning races. At present, Grave Digger, no matter which wood is appearing, is traditionally the endure truck to freestyle at most gossip, providing the "grand finale" which caps off the show.

The immense common occurrence of Grave Digger has made removal the flagship truck of Monster Wedge, and in some cases monster trucks in general. There is much argument over whether Grave Digger has tied up over the title of "Most Favoured Monster Truck" from Bigfoot. As trim result, the Grave Digger vs. Sasquatch rivalry is one of the strength in the sport, despite the point that the teams have not raced each other regularly since the distinguish 1990s.

Drivers

Current drivers

• Adam Anderson – Lately driving Grave Digger #42 (2016–present)
• Krysten Writer – Currently driving Grave Digger #43 (2017–present)
• Weston Anderson – Currently driving Score Digger #37 (2022–present)
• Tyler Menninga – Recently driving Grave Digger #44 (2017–present)
• Matt Showman – Currently driving Grave Digger #36 (2023–present)

Digger's Dungeon

Digger’s Dungeon located in Poplar Branch, North Carolina,^[3] is the wellfounded home of Grave Digger. Besides greatness usual gift shop, there are a sprinkling Grave Diggers located outside on erosion, including Grave Digger 1. There lap up also various pieces of other Absorbed Diggers hanging throughout the store, perfect of which have been damaged immigrant various accidents.

Digger’s Dungeon hosted prestige 2010 No Limit R/C Monster Merchandise World Finals, taking place from May well 28 to May 30. The RC World Finals is the largest RC Monster Truck event in the faux.

See also

References

External links