Monster Truck Wars in South Texas
Monster Truck Wars is an independent monster truck tour that preforms shows all across the southern Midwest. They bring in other talent to further enhance the shows' experience with performances from dwarf racing cars to four wheelers. They made their tour pit stop in South Texas in March this year.
It's Show Time
Sheriff, driven by Adam Wilson, sits awaiting for the start of the show in Beeville, Texas on March 2, 2019. Wilson has been a monster truck driver for the past five years. Prior to that he found himself racing cars on the dirt tracks. Wilson also mentioned how he loves the interaction with the crowd, and with the kids just as much as he enjoys the driving part. He loves the reactions he sees in the kids when they get to experience events like these. When asked what it takes to become a monster truck driver he stated, "just follow your dreams. Ya know it doesn't...there is no end of the road, you can go as far as you want with it."
Behind the Scenes
Steven Cooley, left, and Cash Kieffer stand by waiting for the show to begin in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Cooley is a first timer with the team as part of the pit crew. He loves the chance he has to be up close and personal with the trucks and events like this. He enjoys the experience of also getting to work on something like monster trucks. He enjoys the experience as a whole. "Yeah definitely being able to sit down here in the arena while running the monster trucks is really cool" Cooley mentioned.
Shots Fired
One of the members from Team Texas shows some attitude toward one of her fellow competitors after one of the 4 wheeler races in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. During the show there were a number of quad bike races between Teams Oklahoma and Texas. They performed several times in qualifying races then did their championship race toward the end of the show.
No Flash Photography Please
Albert Trevino is hard at work capturing video of the shows to be used for promotional purposes for the show in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Trevino has been a fan of monster trucks since 1991. As of recently, however, he has begun getting more involved through his video making talents. He started out as a content creator roughly 18 years ago. He began in the skate scene and filmed videos for that. "I grew up skateboarding, and every skateboarder wants to make their own video. I got into it for that reason, but now I get to use it for this" he stated. He hopes to build off of these new opportunities and make something of it.
Everybody Look Out
The Outlaw truck, driven by Michael Harper, is beginning to make a jump during the donuts and wheelie portion of the show in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Unlike, the racing competition, the winner of the wheelies and donuts portion of the show is determined by the crowd. Harper would go on and win over the crowd with his performance in this category.
Family Support
André Bardin looks on in support of his little brother, the driver of El Oso Loco, in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Bardin has been an avid supporter of his brother's love of monster trucks for the past twenty years. He also mentioned some of his favorite parts to the shows are when things go wrong. He likes when things go awry or someone crashes leaving a little bit of the mystery in the air as to what will happen next. For this particular show he did, however, mention that he hoped his brother had better luck than the previous weeks. El Oso Loco has run into a number of mechanical issues during the previous couple of shows. "I'm super proud of my brother Alex. This has been a life long dream for him. Being able to come out to this show and see him drive his truck, ya can't beat that" Bardin also said.
I'm Getting Dizzy
Michael Harper in the Outlaw truck is in the middle of ripping through the dirt during his performance in the donuts competition in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Harper won the donuts competition against his competitors with a solid performance as he even began leaning onto three of the four wheels. He would be picked as the favorite to win show overall.
My Turn
Gary Porter in the Carolina Crusher puts on a good show of talent in his run during the wheelies and donuts competition in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. He would not go on to win the competition, however. He would take second place behind the Outlaw truck, and beat out the El Oso Loco truck.
Around the Bend
The number 44 dwarf car drifts around one of the corners during a race in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. The dwarf cars came out to perform inbetween the various monster truck performances. Other side performances during the show would involve 4 wheerlers, and young kids with their toy electric cars.
Close Behind
A Team Texas 4 wheeler racer is followed closely behind one of Team Oklahoma's members in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Team Texas would go on to win the race, but not before Team Oklahoma tries to call them out for cheating. The rivalry would heat up in the following races.
Start Your Engines
One of the racing officials prepares to start the final race of the 4 wheelers in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. For the race, the racers would only do a single lap. It was a sudden death style race and winner takes all. Team Texas would go on to win the final race with the support of the home crowd cheering them on.
Job Well Done
Outlaw driver, Michael Harper, is congratulated after having won one of the competitions in the show in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 16, 2019. Harper, also the promoter for the show, would go on to win both the wheelies and donuts competition, and the freestyle portions of the show. His truck would later break at the end of the 7:30 pm show. This truck break down would end his truck's ability to perform in the next couple of shows in the following weeks.