King Krunch is a 1982 Chevrolet Silverado monster truck currently owned and driven by Dillon Fenley of DRF Motorsports out of Conroe, Texas. Originally created by Scott Stephens in 1982, the truck continued to operate under his ownership, until selling the entire operation. Then driver David Smith of Flame Motorsports in 2001 taking over driving duties. Smith would eventually become the most recognized owner of the truck because of media, driving the truck until retirement in 2018 when Fenley took over. Meanwhile, King Krunch is one of the oldest names in the monster truck industry, having competed for over forty years and becoming a staple of multiple monster truck leagues, including Monster Jam, where the truck competed in nine Monster Jam World Finals events, and has even been featured in various merchandise and video games. The truck has also become a fan favorite for its legacy, as well as its various paint schemes worn over the course of its career.
History[]
Scott Stephens era (1982-2000)[]
King Krunch was originally created in 1982 by Scott Stephens - with help from Pablo Huffaker - to advertise Stephen's first off-road shop, Lone Star. Despite owning the shop, Stephens had a relatively low budget, so he was unable to create a more noticeable identity for the truck. Luckily, he was able to do just that with help from TNT Motorsports, who paid for the name change and design. Because of this, King Krunch was able to gain more recognition, and would tour frequently with USA Motorsports, leading to a partnership with USA and Stephens along with Coors, and the building Coors Silver Bullet and Brewser jet engine trucks. This helped out with later team finances, as well as Huffaker to branch out on his own.
Several years later, a brand-new King Krunch was constructed to compete in the TNT Monster Truck Challenge that would be repeatedly modified or changed to be competitive on the racing circuit.
In 1990, King Krunch received a sponsorship from Auto Value Parts and debuted a new paint scheme. Another new chassis would be constructed for the truck a few years later.
In 1994, Jason Childress drove the truck in Pontiac.
In 1997, King Krunch would receive a new turquoise and purple paint scheme. That same year, the original chassis would be totaled following a devastating wreck in Charlotte Motor Speedway. This resulted in a brand-new King Krunch being constructed and completed in time for the start of the 1998 season, featuring a lone star paint scheme.
In 2000, King Krunch would be one of sixteen trucks to be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals I in Las Vegas. During the said event, Stephens and the truck would be eliminated in the Semi-Final Round of Racing by Scott Hartsock in Gunslinger. The truck would also blow its engine in the process, resulting in it being unable to compete in the freestyle competition. Meanwhile, Stephens would continue to drive the truck until his retirement the following year.
David Smith era (2001-18)[]
Following Stephens’ retirement in 2001, he would sell the entire operation. Giving David Smith out of Spring, Texas the driving duties. Smith would begin competition under the truck later that year as the truck received a new Chevrolet Silverado body style the year afterward.
In 2002, Stephens returned to drive Firemouth before re-retiring before World Finals III, late in the year, King Krunch would receive an all-new Racesource chassis.
In late 2003, the truck would receive a slight update to the paint scheme, featuring flames on the front of the truck. The truck ran as TexasOffroad.Com before becoming El Matador. As for the original chassis, it would become King Krunch's new teammate El Matador. This chassis would also later become a 2nd King Krunch for the 2004 season. Meanwhile, Smith and the truck would be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals V. For that occasion, the truck would debut a new design, featuring a cartoon king character on the side.
In 2007, King Krunch would receive a new playing card-themed paint scheme which was first used at Monster Jam World Finals VIII. Two years later, a brand-new chassis was constructed for the truck, with its previous one serving as a new chassis for El Matador.
In 2010, King Krunch would receive a new body style, being a Ford Super Duty. Smith and the truck would then be invited to compete at World Finals XI, which also happened to be the truck's final World Finals appearance. During the said event, Smith would be eliminated in round three of racing by Marc McDonald in El Toro Loco. The truck would also crash in the process, resulting in it being unable to compete in Freestyle.
King Krunch would receive another new chassis in 2012, as well as a new Chevrolet Silverado trophy truck body style. In Mobile, Alabama, Lionel Easler drove the truck. The truck would receive a brand-new black paint scheme the following year, as Smith began sharing driving duties with Daron Basl.
King Krunch would receive yet another new paint scheme for 2014, which was actually reused from the previous Lone Star body that was used as part of Robby Gordon's Super Stadium Trucks. Meanwhile, the truck would continue to alternate between both bodies throughout the season, as well as the season following, when it also competed in the inaugural More Monster Jam series as N.E.A. Police, with Aaron Basl driving.
In 2016, King Krunch would receive an all-new chassis that was built by Dark Knight Performance. The truck would also receive a brand-new design, which was reminiscent of the original King Krunch design from the 1980s. Said design originally featured a 1984 Chevrolet Blazer as the body style, but would later be changed to a GMC Sierra. Meanwhile, Smith and the truck competed in the FS1 Championship Series.
2017 would be King Krunch's final year of competition under Smith's ownership. During that season, the chassis would run as Monster Mutt Rottweiler for the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series East, with Daron Basl driving. Afterward, King Krunch would compete exclusively in the Toughest Monster Truck Tour, and continued to compete in select events until Smith's retirement by the start of the 2018 season.
Dillon Fenley era (2018-present)[]
Following Smith's retirement, King Krunch would be stored from competition until June 4, 2018, when it was announced that DRF Motorsports owner Dillon Fenley had acquired Flame Motorsports. Following the acquisition, King Krunch would receive a new white paint scheme as Fenley took over the driving duties.
In 2019, King Krunch would debut another new design, featuring a new Lone Star design. The truck would begin competing in Monster Truckz two years later, where it would debut its alter-ego, Lonestar Throwdown. Seth Caldwell & Brian Christensen have also filled in driving the truck.
In 2022, King Krunch celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new paint scheme.
In 2024, Sean Duhon would drive the truck in January as a fill-in for Dillon.
Drivers[]
Current driver(s)[]
- Dillon Fenley (2018-present)
Former drivers[]
- Scott Stephens (1982-2000)
- David Smith (2000-2018)
- Daron Basl (2013)
Fill-in drivers[]
World Finals appearances[]
- 1993 - Scott Stephens
- 1994 - Jason Childress
- 1999 - Scott Stephens
- 2000 - Scott Stephens
- 2004 - David Smith
- 2005 - David Smith
- 2006 - David Smith
- 2007 - David Smith
- 2008 - David Smith
- 2009 - David Smith
- 2010 - David Smith
Video game appearances[]
- Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction
- Monster 4X4: Masters of Metal
- Monster Jam (video game)
- Monster Jam: Urban Assault
- Monster Jam: Path of Destruction
Fun Facts[]
- The truck also ran as nWo once. It never competed. It appeared on a WCW episode.
- The Truck & Fenley appeared in an Episode of the Hit TV show “Texas Metal in Season 5.
Gallery[]
Scott Stephens[]
.jpg "000-0-0-0-0-AUTO VALUE KING KRUNCH VS BAD MEDICINE 1992 download (5).jpg (419 KB)")
David Smith[]
Dillon Fenley[]
Merchandise[]
.jpg "2009 SE-EB King Krunch (2).jpg (434 KB)")
.jpg "2012 King Krunch (2).jpg (425 KB)")
.jpg "2017 King Krunch (1).jpg (417 KB)")
