MOTORSPORTS: A Monster Show Is Coming To Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn.—Allen Pezo loves to make kids scream and adults chuckle.

His method is madness, motorized madness.

For the past 25 years, the Brentwood. Tenn. resident has delighted crowds of all ages with his monstrous exhibitions.

“This is a great way to have fun. In fact, it’s probably the most fun you will ever have with your clothes on,” said Pezo, an owner-driver of monster trucks.

Pezo and his colorful creations will be the star attractions in Saturday’s Monster Truck Madness program at Bristol Dragway. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the first round of monster truck action set for 7:27.

Thanks in part to the popular television show Monster Jam on Speed, the monster truck game has evolved from a somewhat crude spectacle to a marquee event.

“Our sport is getting to be as big as NASCAR,” Pezo said. “Just look at the attendance for the shows we do throughout the year.
“There’s a standing-room-only crowd almost every place we go. It’s phenomenal.”

Even casual motorsports fans are familiar with the names of monster trucks such as Grave Digger, Carolina Crusher and Bigfoot.

Pezo is the owner of the Predator, Prowler, Pouncer and Lone Eagle trucks. He entertained a crowd of nearly 8,000 on May 30th during the Night of Fire program at Bristol Dragway.
Bluff City resident Larry Archer and his seven-year-old son Justen were among the fans fascinated by the brutish power of Predator.

“We watch Monster Jam all the time, and my son just loves watching those big trucks crunch cars,” Archer said.
As for Larry Archer, he admitted to enjoying the unique form of motorsport.

“If it’s got wheels and makes a noise, I’m there,” Archer said
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Chad Starnes, 36, has a similar need for speed and raw power.

“I’ve come to the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Bristol, and I like something different,” Starnes, of Morristown, Tenn.  “When NASCAR went to the COT [Car of Tomorrow], all the cars looked the same. “I love the horsepower of these big trucks.”

In addition to Pezo’s stable, Saturday’s event at Thunder Valley will feature the Bristol-based War Wizard monster truck driven by Randy Moore.

Pezo’s Predator features a panther-inspired paint scheme, while Prowler resembles a tiger and Pouncer favors a cheetah.

From the early days of simple car-crushing to the current racing and freestyle aspects of monster truck shows, Pezo has been in on the ground floor of the colorful craze.
And while it seems the driver takes a pounding in each event, Pezo enjoys controlling a truck which features 1,500-horsepower and 66-inch tires.

“Compared to the old days, the new style of monster trucks ride ride like a marshmallow,” Pezo said. “Once you’ve got the shocks and suspension tuned in, nine times out of 10 you don’t even feel the truck land.
“The old trucks barely drove over cars. Now, we’re flying 200 feet in distance at over 50 feet in the air. It’s amazing the changes technology has brought.”

And Pezo is eager to amaze Bristol Dragway with his monster.

“Coming to Bristol is definitely a cool thing,” Pezo said.  “We did an event here around four years ago
“We travel the country, so it’s nice to come back our home state.

“I want to give the fans exactly what they came to see. It will definitely be fun.”

(276) 645-2544.

What: Monster Truck Madness

When: June 14

Where: Bristol Dragway

Fast Facts: A pit party featuring autographs, pictures and spectator rides will be held at 6 p.m. The event will also feature motocross and bike exhibition from Team FMX.

Times: Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-15.  Children 5-under will be admitted free. The first 500 kids (12 and under) receive a 1/64th scale monster truck replica.

More information: Call (423) 764-DRAG.