Grave Digger 7 was the seventh Grave Digger chassis, and the sixth built by Dennis Anderson. The truck ran from 1992-1996, and then again from 2000-2005 after it was rebuilt.
History[]
Dennis campaigned Grave Digger 7 as his main truck from 1992-1996, until Grave Digger 12 debuted. Doug Spanier drove the truck in Virginia in 1992.
The truck would be unused from 1997-2000.
2000[]
The truck was rebuilt and re-debuted as Dennis Anderson's main truck once again. However, the season would not go well for Dennis, as frequent breakage would prevent him from performing at a high level for most of the season. Not to mention, Dennis' nagging back injury caused him to take time off for part of the season, leading to drivers such as Joe Payne, Lyle Hancock, and Charlie Pauken to fill in for him. Regardless, the truck was still plagued with issues. Despite the difficult season, it would go on to win the first ever Monster Jam Freestyle championship at World Finals I that year, piloted by Dennis Anderson.
2000-2002[]
By mid-2000, Dennis had briefly switched back to Grave Digger 12, leading to Charlie Pauken becoming the driver of Grave Digger 7 for the rest of the year and until 2002 (once more in France during that year).
2002-2004[]
Rod Schmidt took over as the driver of Grave Digger 7 from 2002-2004. During this time, the truck would be modified multiple times, with the back half of the chassis being shortened twice.
2005[]
The truck ran its final season under Rod Schmidt, with its last known appearance being on display at Arbuckle Park in Brownsburg, Indiana as part of the Haunted Hayrides event.
By the end of the 2000's, the truck was put on permanent display outside Digger's Dungeon where it remains to this day.
World Finals Appearances[]
- 1993 - Dennis Anderson
- 1994 - Dennis Anderson
- 2000 - Dennis Anderson (won freestyle)
- 2001 - Dennis Anderson (encore only)
Trivia[]
- The truck was the first Grave Digger to run the Jolly Roger, running it in 1993.
- The truck was nicknamed "Grave Digger 13" after its substantial rebuild in 1999, partly due to it being unlucky.
- The truck formed the basis for the plastic chassis used by Hot Wheels Monster Jam toys, and its mold is still used to this day.
- The truck was the first to win a Monster Jam freestyle championship and the only to get a perfect score at the World Finals.
- The truck was famous for doing power wheelies, in which the truck would pop up on its rear tires from a complete standstill.
- Eldon DePew drove the truck at a 1996 Houston Astrodome show when Dennis Anderson was unable to make the event.
Gallery[]
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_25-47_screenshot.png "Grave Digger 20th Anniversary (VHS) 25-47 screenshot.png (1.77 MB)")
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_0-27_screenshot.png "Grave Digger 20th Anniversary (VHS) 0-27 screenshot.png (1.82 MB)")
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