Team Hot Wheels Firestorm was a monster truck owned by FELD Motorsports and sponsored by the Hot Wheels toy line, owned by Mattel. It was driven by Scott Buetow. Following its introduction in 2012, the truck was a major staple of and a fan favorite in Monster Jam for its various designs. The truck also competed in every Monster Jam World Finals up until its retirement by the end of the 2018 season.
History[]
Team Hot Wheels Firestorm was originally announced in late 2011, as one of six new trucks for the 2012 Monster Jam season, with Dan Evans as the driver. At the time of its announcement, the truck would be branded as simply “Team Hot Wheels.”
Team Hot Wheels would compete in its first full season in 2012 with Evans. The truck would later be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals XIII, with Neil Elliott driving the truck on his Maximum Destruction chassis. Following the World Finals, the truck would be referred to as "Team Hot Wheels Firestorm."
Team Hot Wheels Firestorm would receive an updated paint scheme for the 2013 season. That same year, Evans would move to the recently-revived Blue Thunder, and Scott Buetow took over the driving duties. Both Buetow and the truck would be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals XIV. The truck would receive a new chassis the following year as it and Buetow would again be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals XV, finishing second in freestyle behind Todd LeDuc in Metal Mulisha.
Linsey Read's first show would be driving the truck in San Antonio of 2015.
Buetow and Team Hot Wheels Firestorm would experience a great amount of success throughout the 2016 Monster Jam season. Aside from being invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals XVII, where they would complete a total of three backflips in their freestyle performance, they would set a record for the most consecutive freestyle championships in one season. Meanwhile, Morgan Kane would drive the truck exclusively in the Philippines. Brandon Vinson drove the truck in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2017, Team Hot Wheels Firestorm competed in the FS1 Championship Series West. During the series, Buetow and the truck would win the wheelie competition in Atlanta and finished seventh in the series standings. They would later be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals XVIII, where the truck debuted a new chrome “graffiti'' design, which would run for the remainder of the season. During the freestyle competition, Buetow and the truck would complete four backflips during their performance, breaking the record for the most attempted backflips in a freestyle performance. Meanwhile, Alx Danielsson drove the truck in Saudi Arabia.
In 2018, Team Hot Wheels Firestorm debuted a new split gold-blue design in celebration of Hot Wheels’ 50th anniversary. Buetow and the truck competed in Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series 2, and would later be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals XIX. There, the truck would debut another new design, this time being based on a Hot Wheels car. That year would also be Team Hot Wheels Firestorm’s final year in competition, as FELD Motorsports ended their contract with Mattel by the end of the season, and Spin Master would become the new toy contractor for Monster Jam. The truck was officially retired after Buetow moved to El Toro Loco Ice, with the chassis being converted into said truck.
Body styles[]
- 2012 - Original paint scheme (Extended Cab) F-150 Team Hot Wheels
- 2013-April 2017 - New paint scheme (Standard Cab) F-150 Team Hot Wheels Firestorm
- March 2017-December 2017 - Graffiti F-150 Team Hot Wheels Firestorm
- January 2018-March 2018 - Hot Wheels retro style F-150 Team Hot Wheels Firestorm
- March 2018-December 2018 - Blue Hot Wheels '68 car
World Finals appearances[]
- 2012 - Neil Elliott
- 2013 - Scott Buetow
- 2014 - Scott Buetow
- 2015 - Scott Buetow
- 2016 - Scott Buetow
- 2017 - Scott Buetow
- 2018 - Scott Buetow
Video game appearances[]
- Hot Wheels World's Best Driver
Trivia[]
- Team Hot Wheels Firestorm was created as part of an online fan vote in 2011. Other entries included in the vote were Motor Mauler, Jaw Crusher, Wrecker Breaker, and Gasket Case, with Firestorm ultimately winning the vote. The winning name was officially announced at Monster Jam World Finals XIII.
- The body used for Team Hot Wheels Firestorm was made up of carbon fiber, kevlar, and e-glass fibers, indicating that the weight is half of that of a standard fiberglass body.
- Throughout the first quarter of 2018, Team Hot Wheels Firestorm began featuring red rims, which was also showcased in diecast releases of the truck. This was done as a reference to the original Hot Wheels diecast releases from 1968, which featured distinct red lines on their tires, earning them the nickname "redline" cars.
- The Team Hot Wheels Firestorm body at Monster Jam World Finals XIX was designed by Tyler Charest, who designed multiple Hot Wheels cars.
Gallery[]
Main gallery[]
Merchandise gallery[]
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Miscellaneous[]
