Monster Truck Madness Show Comes To Bristol Motor Speedway

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Tim Hall is a master of mayhem.
He knows how to make kids jump and adults stare in wide-eyed wonder.

And Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the 47-year-old Illinois resident plans to work his magic in one of the wildest sideshows in motorsports: the Thompson Metal Monster Truck Madness.
“We hope to bring some thunder to Thunder Valley,” Hall said.

The colorful and loud spectacle of monster truck racing has been a passion since 1986 for Hall, and he chases it across the country.

“You can’t go wrong with grassroots motorsports,” Hall said.

Fueled by the popularity of iconic machines such as Bigfoot and Grave Digger, monster trucks have gradually built a devoted audience with universal appeal. There are toys, video games and television shows devoted to the genre.

Eight trucks are scheduled to appear tonight at BMS, including Samson, Ragin’ Rebel and the Bristol-based War Wizard driven by Randy Moore, son of Bristol Motor Speedway co-founder Carl Moore.
Hall and his bother, Mark, will drive the Hall Brothers Racing trucks dubbed Raminator and Rammunition.

The Hall brothers grew up around racers and radical rides, catching a serious case of racing fever.

“Our father worked as the track announcer for tractor pulls, motorcycle races and other events around the Midwest,” Hall said. “We just kind of tagged along, and gradually started getting involved into four-wheel drive trucks.”

Monster trucks have evolved from a 500-horsepower novelties into 10,000-pound, 2,000 horsepower beasts with 30 inches of wheel travel.

“We thought we were some bad dudes when we had our first monster truck,” said Hall, who has a degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Illinois. “With all the refinements in suspension and power train, it’s amazing what these trucks can do.”

Hall, who normally serves as crew chief, describes the modern day monster truck as a funky cross between an ear-splitting National Hot Rod Association Funny Car and a highly maneuverable desert racing truck.

Competing on both the nationally-televised Monster Jam and Monster Truck Challenge series, the Halls have competed in small and huge venues across the United States and Canada. Tonight will be their stop at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“I’ve only seen Bristol on TV, with the NASCAR and [NHRA] drag races,” Hall said. “This is a pretty big event for our series.”

Like all forms of motorsports, the monster truck world has been smacked by the struggles of the national economy. Both of the Hall Brothers Racing trucks were once fully sponsored by Chrysler.

“Our sport is like every other form of racing, we’re all out there looking for some help,” Hall said.

Hall feels the crossover appeal and economical ticket prices have helped keep the fast-paced Monster Truck shows thriving.

“Every American is struggling, but attendance at our event was up all winter long and crowds have remained steady,” Hall said. “I definitely feel we give fans more bang for their buck.
“We offer something for the NASCAR fan, soccer mom and kids. Every kid likes big trucks.”

Meanwhile, Hall said he’s eager to continue his joy ride.

“I’m fortunate enough to get paid for doing something I love,” Hall said.

Tonight’s event will also include a demolition derby along with performance by the Team FMX freestyle motocross team. 

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What: Thompson Metal Monster Truck Madness

Where: Bristol Motor Speedway

When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:30

On the Net: bristolmotorspeedway.com

Tickets: $20

Notes: The Hall brothers have been featured on various cable networks, including the Travel Channel and the Discovery Channel. Along with Randy Moore and his War Wizard, the Halls will compete in the Monster Truck Bash Aug. 15 at the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.