Hooked is a Chevrolet Silverado monster truck owned by Steve Sims of Monster Trucks Unlimited out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was originally driven by Sims' son, Steven Sims, but has also been driven by Bryan Wright from 2012 - 2022. Both drivers originally shared driving duties together until 2016, when Sims left the team to join FELD Motorsports. Since its debut in 2012, the truck has served as the primary teammate to Stone Crusher, replacing Monster Magic. Sims was also well known for his aggressive driving style, which earned him multiple championships throughout his career.
History[]
Hooked debuted on May 13, 2012 at Monsters on the Beach in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with Steven Sims behind the wheel. Hooked would enter its first full year of competition the following year, with Sims and Bryan Wright sharing the driving duties. Sims and the truck would be invited to compete in the Young Guns Shootout in Monster Jam World Finals XIV. In the fall, the truck received a slight update to the design, with the hood being changed from orange to blue.
In 2014, Sims and Wright would share driving duties again, with the former driver again being invited to compete in the Young Guns Shootout at Monster Jam World Finals XV. The following year, Wright would temporarily leave the team to drive Backwards Bob for FELD Motorsports, leaving Sims to assume full-time driving duties that season. Both he and the truck would compete in the inaugural Fox Sports 1 Championship Series. During said series, Sims would win his first freestyle championship in Tampa. Both truck and driver would again be invited to compete in the Young Guns Shootout at Monster Jam World Finals XVI. Eric Swanson and Kevin Lewis would fill in for Sims for the Anaheim and Oklahoma City shows that year due to him being ill. The truck’s chassis would also be used to run as Doom’s Day for that year’s Path of Destruction tour.
In 2016, Sims left the team to drive Pirate’s Curse for FELD Motorsports. Wright would return to the team to assert full-time driving duties for the truck. Both truck and driver would compete in the Fox Sports 1 Championship Series. The following year, Wright and Hooked would compete in the FS1 Championship Series East, winning three wheelie championships in both San Antonio shows, and in Arlington. In the summer, Hooked received a new body style, being a Chevrolet Silverado.
In 2018, Hooked would run as El Toro Loco for the first quarter, competing in Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series 1. The following year, Hooked would compete in Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series 1, where it would win its first racing championship in Detroit on Sunday over Ryan Anderson in Son Uva Digger.
In 2020, Hooked competed in Stadium Championship Series Red. The following year, Hooked would compete in select Monster Jam shows. Throughout the season, Wright would share driving duties with Shane Phreed, while Morgan Kane also drove the truck in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
In 2022, Phreed drove Hooked in the Monster Jam Arena Championship Series East, where he finished 6th. Chad Tingler would drive the truck for the Monsters On The Beach events & the Back To School Bash in Charlotte. He would unfortunately suffer a back injury on the final day during freestyle, and was taken to the hospital. In New Orleans, Chad drove Hooked again, when he was originally supposed to drive Stone Crusher. Bryan Wright returned to driving for the Prattsburg, New York shows. For the Sunrise Florida shows, Chad Tingler once again drove the truck. In Dayton, Ohio, Jon Zimmer Jr. drove the truck. Hurricane Force driver Steven Thompson drove the truck in Bridgeport.
In 2023, the truck would be used as Zombie on Arena Championship Series East during the 2023 Monster Jam Points Championship Series, Hooked is still primarily used for indie events and Q2 Monster Jam events. Steven Sims drives the truck for the Monster on the Beach shows and dominates show 2 by winning all three competitions. He would drive it again in Delmar, DE & for the Charlotte Back To School Bash. Frank Krmel drives the truck for a few shows.
In 2024, the truck will run as Zombie again, but with Frank Krmel driving this time.
World Finals appearances[]
- 2013 - Steven Sims (Young Guns Shootout only)
- 2014 - Steven Sims (Young Guns Shootout only)
- 2015 - Steven Sims (Young Guns Shootout only)
Trivia[]
- According to an interview with Bryan Wright, he stated that Hooked received the Chevrolet Silverado body style, due to his preference of the Silverado over the previous Cadillac Escalade body and because the former body took less time to place on the chassis.
- The truck has a website, which is hookedmonstertruck.com. The site hasn't been updated since late 2018.
Gallery[]
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