Orlando 2002

Orlando 2002 was an event held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando as the eighth event of the 2002 Monster Jam Season. This event would mark the final televised appearance for Bustin Loose and Ron Nelson (until 2011) and Scott Stephens. This would also be the second and final event of the 2002 season not featuring Tom Meents in Team Meents

Field of Trucks
Eradicator- Andy Slifko

Power Forward- Chad Fortune

Ragin Steel- Steve Reynolds

Reptoid- Jim Jack

Gunslinger- Scott Hartsock

Firemouth- Scott Stephens

Bustin Loose- Ron Nelson

Avenger- Jim Koehler

Sudden Impact- John Seasock

20th Anniversary Grave Digger- Dennis Anderson

Pre Race
In qualifying Bustin Loose broke parts in the transmission which would end his night early. In the next pass a bad landing would break the axle giving Firemouth only two wheel drive which would end Scott Stephen's run in Firemouth as Charlie Pauken drove the truck the following weekend

Round 1 Racing
20th Anniversary Grave Digger vs. Power Forward

A battle of power this one came to the Digger

Winner- 20th Anniversary Grave Digger

Ragin Steel vs. Eradicator

A surprising win as Eradicator leaps high across the finish for the win

Winner- Eradicator

Sudden Impact vs. Reptoid

Another close race, Jim Jack had just a bit more to move on past Seasock

Winner- Reptoid

Gunslinger vs. Avenger

Again to horsepower, Hartsock was low and fast to snatch the win

Winner- Gunslinger

Semi Finals Racing
20th Anniversary Grave Digger vs. Eradicator

Eradicator couldn't repeat another surprising win, this one all Digger

Winner- 20th Anniversary Grave Digger

Reptoid vs. Gunslinger

Florida natives head to head this one went to the Chevy

Winner- Reptoid

Finals Racing
20th Anniversary Grave Digger vs. Reptoid

A dead heat as Reptoid came back hard at the finish but wasn't enough for the Digger

Winner- 20th Anniversary Grave Digger

Freestyle
Eradicator

After an impressive racing week Andy was looking to back it up. Andy began with a good sky wheelie and a couple big hits over the vans but a bad bounce would shut the truck off early

Score- 6+5+6= 17

Ragin Steel

Reynolds followed suit like Eradicator with a bit more momentum and bigger air to step it up

Score- 7+6+7= 20

Reptoid

The truck seemed a bit under powered as it could not match the elevation of the previous two trucks

Score- 7+5+7= 19

Sudden Impact

A huge sky wheelie would start the run for Seasock big. A huge leap and slap wheelie over the van would get the crowd going but the truck then shuts down early.

Score- 8+7+8= 23

Power Forward

Fortune came out with a couple solid hits over the cars and vans, then launched in a big sky wheelie but a bad bounce would send him on his lid early

Score- 8+8+9= 25

Gunslinger

Hartsock looking for redemption from last week came out big by soaring over the racing lanes. A good sky wheelie over the van then Hartsock leaped over the dirt hill, first one to do so the whole night. A powerful slap wheelie over the vans would close what was arguably Hartsock's best run of the season

Score- 10+10+9= 29

Avenger

Koehler came out looking to go big with some good air over the cars and the van then launching the truck higher than Slinger over the dirt hill. However a wonky landing over the van would shut him down early

Score- 9+9+9= 27

20th Anniversary Grave Digger

Anderson came looking to sweep Orlando and continue a freestyle streak went big over the cars to start. A huge leap over the vans would get the crowd on their feet and then soared over the cars. Dennis went even bigger over the vans again and then attacked the dirt hill even rooster tailing the truck across the track to end another classic Digger run

Score- 10+10+10

Damage Report
Bustin Loose- Broken transmission

Firemouth- Broken front axle and lost front drive

Power Forward- Blown tire and body panels (roof and sides)

Sudden Impact- Engine issues