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 to David Smith of Flame Motorsports in 2000. 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.
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[]
1982[]
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, which was called "Eliminator" for a short time. 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.
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.
1994[]
Jason Childress drove the truck in Pontiac.
1997[]
King Krunch would receive a new turquoise and purple paint scheme.
In June, the original chassis would be totaled following a devastating wreck at the U.S. Truck Fest in Concord.
1998[]
The crash 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.
2000[]
David Smith would join the team.[1]
In March, King Krunch would be one of sixteen trucks to be invited to compete at 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. He would sell the entire operation to David Smith out of Spring, Texas, and would begin competition under the truck later that year as the truck received a new Chevrolet Silverado body style the year afterward.
In November, Smith would get his televised debut in Houston.
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.
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.
2004[]
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.
2007[]
King Krunch would receive a new playing card-themed paint scheme which was first used at Monster Jam World Finals VIII.
2009[]
A brand-new chassis was constructed for the truck, with its previous one serving as a new chassis for El Matador.
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.
2012[]
King Krunch would receive another new chassis, as well as a new Chevrolet Silverado trophy truck body style. Lionel Easler drove the truck in Mobile, Alabama.
2013[]
The truck would receive a brand-new black paint scheme, as Smith began sharing driving duties with Daron Basl.
In Phoenix, Daron drove both King Krunch, as well as Nitro Hornet after Sky Hartley was unable to compete in freestyle.
In November, original owner Scott Stephens was inducted into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame.
2014-2015[]
King Krunch would receive yet another new paint scheme, 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.
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.
2017-2018[]
This 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.
Following Smith's retirement, King Krunch would be stored from competition until June 4th, 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.
2019[]
King Krunch would debut another new design, featuring a new Lone Star design.
2021[]
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.
2022[]
King Krunch celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new paint scheme.
2024[]
Sean Duhon would drive the truck in Gonzales, Louisiana as a fill-in for Fenley.
Drivers[]
Current driver[]
- Dillon Fenley (since 2018)
Former drivers[]
- Scott Stephens (1982-2000)
- David Smith (2000-2018)
- Daron Basl (2013)
Fill-in drivers[]
- Seth Caldwell (Lufkin 2021)
- Brian Christensen (unknown)
- Sean Duhon (Gonzales 2024)
- Kevin Crocker (Waco, Texas)
World Finals appearances[]
Year | Driver | Results | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Scott Stephens | unknown | ||
1994 | Jason Childress | Defeated in Round 1 by Bigfoot | ||
1999 | Scott Stephens | Defeated in Round 1 by Reptoid | ||
2000 | Qualifying: n/a | Racing: Defeated in the Semi-finals by Gunslinger | ||
2004 | David Smith | Qualifying: 10th (18.29) | Racing: Defeated in Round 2 by Grave Digger | Freestyle: 6th (27) |
2005 | Qualifying: 12th (18.50) | Racing: Defeated in the Semi-finals by Madusa | Freestyle: 3rd (27) | |
2006 | Qualifying: 17th (18.57) | Racing: Defeated in Round 1 by An Escalade | Freestyle: 5th (26) | |
2007 | Qualifying: 18th (17.37) | Racing: Defeated in Round 1 by An Escalade | Freestyle: 16th (19) | |
2008 | Qualifying: 7th (16.78) | Racing: Defeated in Round 3 by Captain's Curse | Freestyle: 19th (13) | |
2009 | Qualifying: 19th (17.65) | Racing: Defeated in Round 1 by An Escalade | Freestyle: 10th (23) | |
2010 | Qualifying: 17th (16.93) | Racing: Defeated in Round 3 by El Toro Loco |
Notes[]
- 1Did not freestyle due to blowing the engine in racing.
- 2Did not freestyle due to damaged sustain in racing.
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
Trivia[]
- The truck was originally named "Eliminator" however TNT Motorsports would deem the name "too hateful".[2]
- 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.