Monster Truck Grand Nationals back in Pocatello for 20th anniversary
The Monster Truck Grand Nationals are back in Holt Arena in Pocatello. This year marks the 209th anniversary for the show.
This year organizers say to expect a “motor sports buffet.”
The show will have jumps over school buses, a demolition derby, a dinosaur eating the tops off cars, and even power wheels races for kids.
Ed Beckley, promotions and organizer with Checkered Flags Promotions, said the show brings in drivers and spectators from all over the U.S.
He said as of Friday afternoon, already the show had sold 8,000 tickets to people from at least five states.
“There’s a big huge economic impact that comes for this,” Beckley said. “It’s all because they want to see something that’s fun, something that’s wild, something that’s crazy, maybe something that’s maybe a little bit of both fun and wild and crazy. And families – they want to bring their families to it. What you’re going to see is completely different from what you though you were gonna see.”
One of the drivers this year is a female driver – Shannon Quick.
Quick has been driving monster trucks for six years. She said she married into it because her husband is also a driver.
She said she started out as a monster truck mechanic after they got married, but then eventually convinced her husband to teach her to drive.
She said it can be challenging to learn because it’s very invovled but she said it’s fun and it’s a big adrenaline rush.
She said people are very supportive of her as a female in the sport. She said the other drivers treat her like one of the guys and make sure to never take it easy. She said one of the best things is to be able to be a role model for other females.
“Honestly, that’s my favorite part is showing other women and little girls that as women we can do anything boys can do if you choose,” Quick said. “If you want to mechanic and you want to get your hands dirty, and you want to drive a monster truck, that’s just as available to you as it is to any boy.”
The show is Saturday night at 7 p.m. Tickets are between about $10 and $30, depending on age and where you sit.
Doors open around 6 p.m. for the “pit party” where the public can meet the drivers and get autographs.
