Kodiak was a Chevrolet & GMC monster truck owned and driven by Mark Bendler out of Waukesha, Wisconsin, originally New Berlin, Wisconsin.
History[]
Kodiak was first constructed by Mark Bendler in 1983. At the time of its debut, the original truck featured a 1980 GMC body style, with two frames stacked on top of an additional subframe. This resulted in the truck featuring a height of almost fifteen feet (with tires added). Mark had stated he intended to run the tundra tires after discovering a set, with the price at the time being the largest deterrent, and Bob Chandler eventually buying them first. It was later reconstructed, with most of the additional weight removed to allow the truck to be used in competition.
The second Kodiak constructed featured a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado body. This truck would eventually become Shockwave, which was intended to have his wife, Kerri Bendler, drive. However, the plans fell through, and the truck was eventually sold overseas. Bendler would later build a similar truck for a customer, which became Screamin Eagle. It was later scrapped after a fire caused too much damage to the truck.
The third Kodiak was built in 1992 as a tube frame leaf spring race truck similar to the original Bear Foot Racer but with a longer wheelbase. This truck's time as Kodiak would only last a year, as Bendler sold the truck in 1993 due to frequent drivetrain breakages at high horsepower. Mark also made a highlight rolling the truck over in New Orleans, LA at the Superdome racing Grave Digger in round 1. It would later become Phantom Crusher and Phantom under Paul Winkleman and last ran as Mud Monkey in 2022.
Also in 1993, Bendler would acquire the last First Blood truck from Rob Fuchs and completely overhaul the frame to convert the truck into the final variant of Kodiak. This truck would eventually be sold to Tony Farrell in 1995, who continued to drive the truck under the Kodiak name for select events before converting the truck into Blue Ribbon Bandit.
USHRA World Finals appearances[]
- 1993 - Mark Bendler
- 1994 - Mark Bendler
Trivia[]
- Kodiak was intended to have a character on USHRA Monster Wars. Two renderings were done, with only one being recently made public. The idea was ultimately cancelled, due to the fact that Bendler was working with a local McDonald's to try and establish a toy and sponsorship deal, both of which ultimately fell through.
- Bendler has 4 major crashes. He rolled over 2 of his trucks: Kodiak 2 in Slinger, WI 1989, Kodiak 4 in New Orleans, LA 1993. He hit a wall in Pueblo, CO in 1993 a couple of days later.
- According to Bendler's social media, he has thought of possibly reviving the name on a classic build, but has yet to start it.
Gallery[]
