Instigator Monster Truck » racing

Sunrise, FL Update

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:05:32 +0000

A busy weekend it was, with 3 shows in 2 days. Lionel started out, Friday, placing 5th in wheelies and 3rd in donuts. Not what he had hoped for, but all that changed come racing. Lionel ended up going to the finals against Blue Thunder, in what was the closest race of the evening. Weenk defeated him by inches. Saturday afternoon started out a little better earning 3rd place in both wheelies and donuts. His luck in racing didn’t carry on as he was taken out during the first round. The Saturday evening show appeared to be a much better night for him. Pulling off the best wheelie of the weekend, with lots of air gave him his first win. Having a hard time getting started in donuts hurt his score, ended with him in 4th place. He didn’t quit there. He went onto racing. He was taken out by El Toro Loco, but came back in his place due to him breaking. Defeating Gunslinger in the semi-finals took Lionel into the finals, where he was again defeated by Weenk in Blue Thunder.

Winning Wheelie

Update from Fort Myers, FL at Germain Arena

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:28:24 +0000

What a weekend for Lionel. He had a hard time getting to the show due to mechanical issues with his hauler. Thanks to Joey & Malissa Stathas of Monsters on a Mission, lending him a tractor, he was able to make it just in time for the pit party. He was determined not to let the fans or the promoter down. With 3 shows and 3 pit parties in 2 days, he was staying busy.
Friday started out with a close call in the wheelie competition, according to the audiences cheers. Lionel went through the racing bracket for his first win of the weekend. Feeling good and hoping for a win in freestyle was his next defeat. But he cut himself a little short when he rolled the truck over after hitting the van stack. The audience still loved it, but not enough to take first place.
He was very consistent for the remaining 2 shows on Saturday. Wheelie competition was based on crowds enthusiasm. They were excited, but not enough to put him on top. Again, he sped his way through the bracket, bringing home 2 more wins in racing. Freestyle ended with the crowds applause cutting him a tad short of first place. The fan that received the K & N flag at the end of the evening was definitely cheering him on.

Erie, PA Update

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:25:16 +0000

Lionel went on to the semi finals in racing during both shows at the Lake Erie Speedway. The number 3 must have been his number for the weekend. He finished out both donuts and wheelies in 3rd place at both shows and captured 3rd in freestyle on Friday.

Bangor, ME and Halifax, NS Updates

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:34:32 +0000

BANGOR, ME – SPEEDWAY 95
On Thursday night, Lionel took first place in wheelies with his tailgate dragging.
He came back fast loser and went all the way to the racing finals on Friday, but lost by a bumper to Randy Brown in the Grave Digger truck. He also took 2nd place place in wheelies. His slap wheelie that ran the distance of the front stretch during freestyle earned him another 2nd place for the night.
During the wheelie competition on Saturday afternoon, Lionel received a standing ovation after he stood his truck on the tailgate and walked it across the cars, earning him 1st place in wheelies. He was also able to win racing and finish out freestyle in 2nd place.
Saturday evening had brought some ran, which made for a muddy track and tough course to maneuver the trucks on. He was still able to pull off 3rd palce in wheelies and 2nd in freestyle.

HALIFAX, NS – SPEEDWORLD
Liojel took his first win of the weekend on Saturday night when he won the donut competition. He placed 2nd at the Saturday afternoon show and Sunday show. Racing took hime to the semi finals on the early show Saturday and on Sunday. Saturday night he made it to the finals. During freestyle Saturday night, Lionel was able to capture 2nd place. Finishing out in 3rd at the other shows.

Thank you to the family who provided me with the plaque that displayed my picture from the newspaper. I would also like to thank Dwayne Harvie for the pictures.

Naples, FL Update

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:03:04 +0000

Lionel pulled off an awesome wheelie on Sunday. He did a sky wheelie on the back stretch of the track, brought the truck around to the front and finished with a slap wheelie, walking the truck truck down the long front stretch.

Thanks Mike Nix for the pictures.

Lousiana Updates

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:56:34 +0000

Baton Rouge, LA (March 12-13)
The event at took place at the Baton Rouge River Center, with 3 shows taking place over two days. Friday night ended well for Lionel, with a 2nd place finish in wheelies and donuts. He made it the semi-finals in racing. The weekend was starting out great. With two more shows to go , he was hoping to have a win under his belt. And that he did on Saturday afternoon, when he won racing. He aslo took 2nd place in wheelies, staying consistent with the nigth before. Struggling a bit with his donut, didn’t fair well, but he stepped it up during freestyle and tied for 2nd. On Saturday night, he earned another win, this time in the wheelie competition. He was able to pull off a better donut than earlier in the day, finishing with a tie for 2nd palce. The semi finals is as far as he made it in racing, and he finished out the evening with a 4th in freestyle. Not it was time to pack up and head for Lafayette.

The next week was going to go well, as Lionel was happy with his performance in Baton Rouge. So he thought. As they were arriving in New Orleans to hang out for the week, the hauler began to have problems. Luckily, another team lent us a hand. With that being said, we would like to send out a special thanks to all guys at Sudden Impact Racing for helping us out and getting us to Lafayette.

Lafayette, LA (March 19-20)
With only 2 shows being held at the Cajun Dome, Lionel was hoping his bad luck with the hauler wouldn’t ruin his weekend. Fortunately, he was able to have another great weekend. He was consistent in wheelies, placing 2nd on both nights. In racing, he made it to the semi finals at both shows. Friday evening ended with him placing 5th in freestyle, but he was able to step it up Saturday night with a 3rd place finish.

Alexandria, LA (March 26-27)
While Lionel was in Lafayette, he picked up another event (2 shows) at Rapides Parish Coliseum. On Friday and Saturday night, he placed 2nd in wheelies and won racing. Firday night ended with Lionel at the top during freestyle. And on Saturday night, freestyle score tied with another competitor. Audience applause designated him as the runner up.

Jacksonville and Pensacola Updates

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:47:28 +0000

The day started out beautiful in Jacksonville, with nice weather during the pit party. As it became closer to show time, the temperatures began to drop. Lionel didn’t do so hot in Jacksonville, being defeated in the first round of racing. Though he had a decent freestyle run, the judges only scored him a 15.

Lionel went on to Pensacola the following weekend ready to have some wins. And that he did. Friday evening, Lionel did an awesome wheelie, bringing the crowd to their feet as the truck almost went over backwards. This gave him the win in the wheelie competition for that evening. Although he was taken out in the first round of racing, he put on a good freestyle that ended with him in 3rd place.
He earned another win on Saturday afternoon, racing his way through the bracket. The afternoon ended with 3rd place in wheelies and 4th place for freestyle.
Saturday evening was the final show of the weekend. Lionel finished off the weekend placing 3rd in donuts, 4th in wheelies and freestyle, and making it to the semifinals in racing.

Miami, FL

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:40:15 +0000

Lionel didn’t have near the luck, that he had in Kansas City. During the Miami show, he went out first round of racing, and placed 8th in freestyle.

Kansas City, MO

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:33:21 +0000

It was a cold weekend in Kansas City. They had 4 shows in 3 days. Lionel was pumped up and ready for racing, going on to the final round on Friday night and Saturday night. Saturday afternoon, he made it to the semi-finals. Wheelie competition also took place, with him taking the win on Sunday afternoon. Saturday afternoon he tied for 2nd, and placed 3rd on Friday and Saturday evening. During his freestyle run on Saturday afternoon, he shot out early, setting the score high, and holding the lead until the second to last truck came out. He ended up tied for 2nd. Friday night and Sunday afternoon he tied for 4th, with a 6th place finish on Saturday night.

Tampa and Orlando, FL Updates

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:06:36 +0000

Tampa, FL (1/23/10) Racing hasn’t been his thing this season. Lionel was knocked out first round of the bracket in a Chicago-style race. Putting on a decent freestyle landed him with a 7th place finish. And a decent weekend it was with no major damage to repair before Orlando.

Orlando, FL (1/30/10) A hometown event makes for more pressure, but Lionel was giving it all he had. Quick off the line in racing was what everyone wanted to see, but the final turn had him sliding in the corner, losing his lead and going out first round. Max D was repaired in time, keeping Lionel from coming back as fastest loser. Things weren’t in his favor in freestyle. Halfway through his time, the front steering broke. He tried to continue, but the next hit tore apart the rear steer, too. The night ended for him with 12th place in freestyle.

Tampa, FL (2/6/10) Racing wasn’t in his cards, but freestyle was. He came out to please the crowd with some big air. And big air he got before his run ended with a roll over. A lucky fan received the K& N flag that was flying on the back of his truck during the event. He didn’t win freestyle, but he was happy placing 5th.

Video courtesy of William Greene