Every year on Mother’s Day weekend the Stone Crusher team comes home for one of the most unique events in the country, the annual Monsters On The Beach. The four show weekend on the huge sand course is something driver Steve Sims looks forward to every year. With friends, family, and many local sponsors on hand, Sims lived up to expectations all weekend long. The Stone Crusher was strong in racing, making it to the semi-finals three out of four events as well as being the fastest qualifier on Sunday. In freestyle is where Sims let it all hang out. While the freestyle was not judged like most events, the drivers were still very competitive throughout the weekend. Sims pushed the Stone Crusher to the very limits each time out, in an effort to out do his fellow drivers. With massive leaps, big saves, and crossthreads, Sims gave the hometown crowd plenty to cheer for all weekend long. Next weekend the team heads back to Florida for two shows at the Hernando County Fairgrounds in Brooksville. Stay tuned to the site for our updated summer schedule!
Stone Crusher Springs Into Action in Naples
Naples, Florida would be the first stop following the long first quarter season. The Florida Sports Park, known for it’s legendary swamp buggy racing, would play host to a three show Monster Jam weekend. After a great winter indoors it was time to get outside and leg out the Stone Crusher. Driver Steve Sims had a great weekend in the Stone Crusher. Sims was consistent in racing, making the semi-finals on Friday and Saturday, before breaking through on Sunday to pick up the racing victory on Sunday over Scott Hartsock and Gun Slinger. In freestyle, Sims was also strong throughout the weekend finishing in third place during all three freestyle competitions. The Stone Crusher team will remain in Florida this week as they travel north to Ocala Speedway for a four show weekend.
Monster Trucks Unlimited Wins Big at Awards Banquet
Following the biggest event in the sport, every year Monster Jam hold it’s annual awards banquet the Sunday after the World Finals. After a great season the entire Monster Trucks Unlimited team (Stone Crusher and Mopar Magic) were rewarded for their efforts. For the third time in four years the team was awarded with the Monster Jam Team Of The Year award for their excellence throughout the year. Also, after a fantastic season piloting the second Stone Crusher, driver Darren Migues was given the Rising Star award. With several wins, including a double down in Houston, Migues had clearly earned the honor as one of the brightest new stars in the sport.
(Photos Courtesy of Chris Cleveland)
Stone Crusher Tears Up Sam Boyd Stadium in the World Finals
As the regular season came to a close the Stone Crusher team embarked on the journey west to Las Vegas, Nevada. For the fourth year in a row driver Steve Sims was invited back to compete in the Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam to square off with 24 of the best drivers in the sport. The festivities kicked off on Friday with the Double Down event where thousands of the most die hard Monster Jam fans came out for the private pit-party and qualifying. After hours of signing autographs Sims geared up for qualifying. During his two practice runs Sims was very consistent and improved considerably on each pass. In his Qualifying pass Sims picked up a great amount of speed with a 16.70 second effort for 12th place.
On Saturday it was time for the biggest spectacle in monster truck racing. The packed Sam Boyd Stadium was electric as the event got started. In the first round of racing Sims had a tough opponent in Jon Zimmer and Amsoil Shock Therapy. When the light turned green, the Stone Crusher flew down Thunder Alley towards the turn with the lead. Sims made a smooth run and sailed to victory. Unfortunately after the finish it became clear something wasn’t right with the truck. Despite the crew’s best efforts the truck was unable to be repaired in time to make the call for the second round.
After a disapointing early exit in racing the Stone Crusher was ready for freestyle. Sims traversed the tough track as he got to work early in his freestyle taking on everything in his path. With massive air and some great vertical leaps the truck lasted throughout regulation and bonus time. In his last jump in bonus time the truck suffered some breakage to the steering, but that wouldn’t stop Sims. The determined driver wouldn’t stop there as he continued on for all the fans. The truck finally came to a stop a minute later after Sims got crossed up over the center hill and ended up on it’s side. The run would earn a score of 24 which was good enough for 10th place at the end of the night.
Once again, it was a great showing on the sport’s largest stage as Sims and the Stone Crusher performed well. Another grueling first quarter was in the books and the team wrapped up another awesome winter season.
Big Night For Stone Crusher in Syracuse
For the first time since 2009 the Stone Crusher team headed north to Syracuse, New York this past weekend. The last time the team was in Syracuse, driver Steve Sims picked up a huge racing victory over Tom Meents and Maximum Destruction at the State Fairgrounds. This visit however brought the team to the Carrier Dome for its first ever Monster Jam event. Sims was on his game in Syracuse with just one event before the World Finals in Las Vegas. In racing Sims picked up a first round victory over Brutus. In the second round Sims was beaten by Madusa, but she pushed her truck too hard, and suffered heavy damage giving the Stone Crusher a reprieve into the semi-finals. Sims took advantage and knocked out Superman to advance to the finals. The final round match up pitted Sims against Dennis Anderson and Grave Digger. The two squared off for a great race but in the end it was Anderson coming away with the racing victory over the Stone Crusher. Following a great performance in racing it was time for freestyle. Sims rocked the Carrier Dome with a fantastic run from the Stone Crusher. The over two minute long run featured plenty of big air leaps, a nice save after getting crossed up over a van stack, and some spectacular crossthreads. The run scored a 26 which would tie for third place with Brutus and the Lucas Oil Crusader.
This week the team returns back home to Virginia Beach as they will spend the next week getting the truck ready for the trip out west to Las Vegas for the World Finals.
(Photo Courtesy of Kyle Carr)
Stone Crusher Travels To Tupelo
Steve Sims and Stone Crusher rocked the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi over the weekend. Sims ran the Stone Crusher hard during the two show weekend picking up a wheelie contest win on Saturday night. Sims also was strong in freestyle picking up two third place finishes to round out the weekend.
Next weekend the Stone Crusher team is off to Syracuse, New York for the first ever Monster Jam at the Carrier Dome. The event is also the last stop before the team returns to Las Vegas to compete in the Monster Jam World Finals.
Steve Sims Qualifies For World Finals In Jacksonville
The Stone Crusher team returned to familiar territory as they traveled south to Jacksonville, Florida’s EverBank Field for one of the largest Monster Jam events of the season. With a sell out crowd of over 70,000 fans the atmosphere was electric for a great night. The action started off with racing where Sims picked up a first round win over Avenger, before falling to El Toro Loco in the second round.
Before freestyle Steve Sims was presented with his qualifier flag for the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas. The invite marks the fourth year in a row that the Stone Crusher will be competing in the World Finals. With the qualifier flag flying, Sims put the Stone Crusher to the test in freestyle. As always, Sims pushed the truck hard with several big leaps along with a number of crossthreads over the span of two minutes. The always consistent Sims scored well picking up a 24 for his efforts.
From Jacksonville, the team heads to Tupelo, Mississippi for a two show weekend at the BancorpSouth Arena. Check out the rest of our dates on the schedule page here.
(Photo Courtesy of Andrew Fielder)
Migues Goes All Out In Oakland
Darren Migues came off a great weekend in Spokane as he brought the Stone Crusher to the Oakland, California for a major stadium event at the Oakland Coliseum. The chilly temperatures didn’t slow Migues down at all as he started off the night strong in racing with a round one victory over Mark Schroeder and The Felon. From there Migues took out M2D Thunder in the second round for a semi-final match up with Charlie Pauken and Grave Digger. The Digger was no match for Stone Crusher as Migues would meet a familiar foe in Nick Owens and Iron Outlaw for the final round. The race was tightly contested as Migues looked to take the lead in the final corner, but he cut the turn too tight, clipping a turning car and coming up just shy of the victory.
After the narrow racing defeat Migues brought the Stone Crusher back in freestyle for a great freestyle run. Migues delivered a performance packed with plenty of big air and wheelies as he pushed the Stone Crusher to the limit. After nearly three minutes Migues finally came to a stop with a flat right rear tire. The run scored a 23 in regulation along with 2 bonus points for a total of 25. The score would land Migues and Stone Crusher a third place finish in freestyle.
(Photo Courtesy of Chris Cleveland – C.D. Imaging)
Sims and Migues Dominate Racing in Memphis and Spokane
While Steve Sims and Darren Migues were on opposite ends of the country, the veteran drivers both had great weekends behind the wheel of their Stone Crusher’s. Sims brough his Stone Crusher to Memphis, Tennessee’s for two shows at the Fed Ex Forum. The action kicked off on Friday night where Sims picked up a racing win in the finals over teammate Morgan Kane and Mopar Magic. Other results from the night saw Sims tie for second in the wheelie competition and an out right second place finish in freestyle. Saturday night saw similar results as Sims once again picked up a racing win over Mopar Magic. Once again Sims came up just short of the freestyle victory taking second place.
Meanwhile, in Spokane, Darren Migues was at the Spokane Arena for a grueling four show weekend. Migues started off the weekend on a high note with a spectacular wheelie contest win on Friday night. Saturday afternoon saw Migues take a tough route on his way to the final round. After a first round loss, Migues returned as a fast loser to face Tony Farrell and Grave Digger The Legend. Migues took advantage of the reprieve, taking out Grave Digger The Legend for a rematch with Iron Outlaw in the finals. This time it was Migues with the upper hand picking up the final round win. The two saw each other once again in the first round during the Saturday night event. The Stone Crusher fell to Iron Outlaw but once again would return as the fast loser. Migues took advantage once again, picking up a win over Captain USA, before taking out Grave Digger The Legend in the finals. Sunday saw a similar story play out again. Migues lost in the first round to Iron Outlaw and once again was able to come back as the fastest loser. Yet again, Migues was able to capitalize and take out Grave Digger The Legend in the semi finals. In the finals Migues piloted the Stone Crusher to its third racing win of the weekend as he took out Charles Benns and the Monster Mutt Rottweiler.
This coming weekend will be busy for all members of the Stone Crusher team with major stadium events on both coasts. Steve Sims will be in Jacksonville at EverBank Field, while Darren Migues will be at the Oakland Coliseum in California.
Steve Sims Soars Stone Crusher in Miami
The Stone Crusher team returned to Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida for another major stadium event. Two years ago driver Steve Sims had a breakout performance in Miami as he picked up a racing win along with a second place freestyle. Sims looked at home on the sandy racing surface and quickly proved to be a threat once again to win in Miami. In the first round Sims knocked out Predator to face off with Grinder in round two. The Grinder was no match for Stone Crusher as Sims advanced to the semi finals. Sims was able to take out Michigan Ice Monster in the semi finals to move on to square off with Mohawk Warrior in the final round. Sims got the lead early and held on until the final corner as the truck slid wide, causing one tire to just miss fully hitting the final ramp, giving Sims a five second penalty and handing the win to Mohawk Warrior.
After a disappointing final round result Sims sought redemption in freestyle. Sims didn’t waste any time getting to work as he came straight out of his pit spot and jumped the first obstacle in his path. The run saw the Stone Crusher sail over all the freestyle stacks and some great crossthreads as well. Just seconds into bonus time Sims took an awkward bounce that pitched the truck over and onto it’s lid. Despite his run getting cut short, Sims managed to score a 22 which was good enough for a fourth place finish.
From Miami, it’s on to Memphis, Tennessee for the Stone Crusher team as they get ready for a two show weekend at the Fed Ex Forum. For more info on all of our events check out our schedule.