Tony Farrell.
Driver, Ford "Blue Thunder" Monster Truck

"They are actually paying me to go out and tear this truck up."

Story and Photos by Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

Monster Truck racing has been drawing crowds and thrilling kids and parents across the US in recent years for many reasons including low admission price, pit accessibility to driver and trucks, an exciting evening featuring a "smoke and roar" show where huge trucks fly. Zoomster found Tony Ferrell firmly on the ground at an autograph display during Homestead-Miami Speedway's Ford Championship Week.

What do you like best about your job and by the way is it a job?

"Oh yeah. This is a paying job. This is what we do for a living. I love meeting the fans, that's what it's all about. If it weren't for the fans we wouldn't be here. I love this sport. It's growing more and more every day. It's getting safer and safer. We have more technology on the trucks and they are handling a lot better and riding a lot better. I just love doing it and they are actually paying me to go out and tear this truck up."

"Probably my back. You have to remember we are taking a 10,000 pound truck and jumping it 20 feet in the air going over school buses, air planes, tug boats. It's getting crazy, but the fans love it and we love entertaining. It's a growing sport. We go to places like the Pontiac Silverdome before 68,000 people for a one-night show. The sport has been really good for us. We just renewed another three-year contract and I can't say enough about Ford. This Ford built tough truck is running really strong. We're putting on a third truck this year. Ford wants another Blue Thunder out there. We're having a ball."

"We do several shows in Florida, Tampa, Orlando, Miami. We race all over the US coast to coast. The first quarter of the year is our busiest season. I may be in Miami Florida one weekend and the next weekend in San Diego, California. There are three trucks now and I mainly run where the TV is. We'll be on Speed Vision this year and that's a plus for us. Millions of fans can stay home and watch it. If you've never seen a Monster Truck show in person, if you've never been there, you just got to see it. It's something unbelievable.

"The fans can't believe what these trucks are doing. A lot of the big stadium shows will have a pit party before the show. A pit party is where they have the trucks sectioned off, drivers will be in uniform and they actually let the kids and families come down and meet the drivers in person. That's what I like. The fans get to meet the drivers face to face. Without the fans being here we wouldn't be here. They can touch the trucks. They get autographs. Any body in the show racing monster trucks, four-wheel drives, motorcycles, cars you're on that floor giving autographs. It's a meet and greet. That's what I like. You get to meet the people and hear their response to our sport.

"We have Web site that fans can go on…USHRA.com. They can go on there and find out where and when each individual truck and driver will be in what stadium. They'll know my schedule probably before I do.

"Not really. I've been coast to coast racing Monster Trucks since 95. I mud raced and won two world championships, but kids just love these big trucks. We're doing more now than we ever have and I don't see it peaking. I think the sport is going to keep on growing."

"We're all friends. We're here to put a show on. We're here to entertain. If there is a driver beside me with a truck down, my crew will help him just as his crew would help. Everybody pitches in. It reflects on all of us. If he is out, it makes the show look bad. We're all good friends. Don't get me wrong. When you strap that helmet on it's race time…there ain't no friends there, OK?"