The Destroyer

The Destroyer (mostly just called Destroyer) was a Ford monster truck originally owned and operated by Dan Evans out of Scottsville, Michigan from its creation up until being sold to Roger Stidell in late 2011. The truck has been held by Tony Canedo since 2016. Under Evans' ownership, the truck was best remembered for its signature reverse moves in freestyle. The truck also competed in six Monster Jam World Finals events.

History[]

Dan Evans era (1999-2011)[]

The Destroyer was originally created by Dan Evans in 1999, when Dan Evans purchased the previous Blue Max truck from Larry Nukaya. At the time of its debut, the truck featured a blue paint scheme, which was replaced by the iconic red paint scheme, as a new truck was constructed the following year. It was also that year in which Evans would begin performing his signature reverse move in freestyle.

Evans and The Destroyer would be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals II in 2001. During the said event, they would be eliminated in the semi-final round of racing by Tom Meents in Goldberg and finished eleventh in freestyle.

In 2004, The Destroyer received a new red-black paint scheme. The truck received a new reverse-colored paint scheme the following year. That same year, Evans and the truck would be invited to compete in Monster Jam World Finals VI, where the truck received a special yellow paint scheme for the occasion.

The original Destroyer chassis continued to compete until 2007, when it was (fittingly enough) destroyed after Evans performed his signature reverse move during the freestyle competition at Monster Jam World Finals VIII. A brand-new Destroyer would be constructed afterward, featuring a new Ford F-150 body style and PEI chassis. Meanwhile, the previous chassis would be sold to Chad Mathison the following year and converted into T-Rex.

2009 would mark the last year in which Evans and The Destroyer were invited to compete in the Monster Jam World Finals. There, they were eliminated in round one of racing by Alex Blackwell in Captain’s Curse and finished seventeenth in freestyle. Dan's son Deric would drive in Grand Rapids in 2010.

Evans would continue to operate The Destroyer until 2011, when he joined FELD Motorsports to drive the recently introduced Team Hot Wheels Firestorm for the 2012 Monster Jam season. He then sold the entire ownership of The Destroyer to Roger Stidell out of Washington.

Roger Stidell era (2012-present):[]

After Stidell acquired ownership of The Destroyer, the truck began its first full year of competition under his ownership in 2012. It was also that year in which the truck began touring alongside Canedo Motorsports. The following year, The Destroyer received an all-new design, featuring a Ford F-150 trophy truck body style. Stidell would continue to drive The Destroyer until 2016.

Following an appearance at Monster Jam in Oakland, the truck was placed on hiatus due to financial issues, as well as a falling out with Canedo Motorsports because of disputes involving unpaid money from a motor that Tony Canedo let Roger borrow.

As of 2023, the truck is currently sitting inside a garage in California with no foreseeable plans to return.

World Finals appearances[]

2001 - Dan Evans
2005 - Dan Evans
2006 - Dan Evans
2007 - Dan Evans
2008 - Dan Evans
2009 - Dan Evans

Video game appearances[]

Trivia[]

The Destroyer's freestyle performance at Monster Jam World Finals II was cut from DVD airings of the show, along with Sudden Impact.
In the video games Monster Jam (2007) and Monster Jam: Urban Assault, The Destroyer uses its paint scheme from 2008-12, with the previous Chevrolet S-10 body style. It would be corrected in the Path of Destruction video game.
The 2007-2012 paint job had a warship on the side which, fittingly, was called Destroyer.
Despite being officially named The Destroyer, the truck were rarely, if ever, referred to by this name, with announcers and television broadcasts only calling it Destroyer.