Photos credited to USA-14x4.com
As everyone that has read my blog or at least seen my header, I am a huge fan of monster trucks. The success these machines have seen since they were first created has been unbelievable.
However, most people don't realize that some have lost success. It's not because of not performing on the track, because every driver and team gives everything to perform at their best. In one very big instance, it's because one didn't feel the path these behemoths were going on was the best for success.
I'm speaking of the USA-1 monster truck, the first world champion of monster truck racing. Owner Everett Jasmer got out of the industry in the early 1990s when it became, in his own words, "professional wrestling on wheels." He longed for strictly racing, and has been firmly against the aspect of "freestyle," where drivers push their equipment sometimes beyond the point of breaking just because the fans expect it.
What that has done is strained him financially, as he only does local shows in his home state of Minnesota, some just to pay off the fuel it takes to get the truck to an event.
Last year, Jasmer put his team up for sale, but not many buyers came. Finally, after over a year since first putting the business up for sale, someone made the buy.
The USA-1 monster truck team has been sold to Chandler Lloyd, who is going to use the truck in his new promotion company. Lloyd is going to be doing events using both old-school and modern trucks, some with old-school names.
The aspects of freestyle will not be involved. Like Jasmer, Lloyd will be focused on bringing back real monster truck racing that the sport had early on.
However, Lloyd will not be the one behind the wheel. Instead, the man that will be taking the wheel of "America's Monster Truck" will be Rodney Tweedy. Tweedy himself has vast experience in monster trucks, as he's driven Bear Foot, Carolina Crusher, Monster Patrol, and most recently he was a driver for Team Bigfoot.
Lloyd himself was the one that called Tweedy to see if he would drive USA-1, and he didn't have to think twice.
For Jasmer, this was a long time coming, and he is very excited about the new venture of USA-1.
"He (Lloyd) has much the same vision for the monster truck sport as I do and I am excited to see USA-1 and monster truck racing getting another chance," Jasmer said in a press release.
Jasmer himself is going to stay involved with the team, but more of an advisor until the transition to new ownership is complete. He will still continue his mission, "America Needs The Spirit of Christ," but he will be also attending many of the events the USA-1 truck will be attending.
For Jasmer, it was a long time coming for one of the originals in monster trucks. His beliefs in the direction monster trucks should have gone has cost him nearly everything. He still owns his original USA-1, a 1970 Chevrolet, as well as the truck that won the 1988 National Championship.
However, he pulled out all together when the sport went into what he called "professional wrestling on wheels." Jasmer is excited about the new opportunity USA-1 will be taking on.
Ultimately, it's not him that will decide if this new adventure is a success. It is the people.
For the official press release and more photos of the new owners of USA-1, visit the official website. More details and comments will be on the website as they become available.
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