The Bob & Tom Show (also known simply as Bob & Tom) was a 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty monster truck sponsored by the radio show of the same name. Originally starting as a one-off truck for the 2005 Indianapolis event (the hometown of the radio show personalities), it became a full-time truck in 2006, running the whole winter season at events around the northern Midwest area where the radio show was most popular, but was once again relegated to a reserve for Indianapolis events from 2007 until its retirement. The body was run on multiple chassis over the course of its lifespan, with it mostly serving as a teammate truck to Tom Meents's Maximum Destruction.
History[]
2005[]
Bob & Tom makes its debut in Indianapolis on January 29th, 2005, driven by Guy Wood[1] on the Hot Wheels chassis, thus the name is campaigned by Team Meents. Guy wins the racing competition by defeating Allen Pezo and Predator in the finals, but misses a chance to double down, as the transmission blows out afterwards, ultimately sitting out of the freestyle competition. In the meantime, one of its knuckles is borrowed for Maximum Destruction after it had broken one of its own during introductions. Bob & Tom proves to be a one-off truck for the 2005 season, with Guy continuing to campaign Hot Wheels thereafter.
2006[]
The Bob & Tom identity is brought back, this time as a full-time competition truck, with Guy once again serving as the driver. The truck runs on the Bulldozer chassis, that name being shelved for the season. Bob & Tom makes its first appearance since Indianapolis 2005 almost one year earlier, in Pontiac, managing to compete in freestyle.
Guy goes on to drive Bob & Tom at Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit, though the truck misses freestyle at the former two shows. Guy and Bob & Tom almost look to win racing again in Indianapolis, advancing into the finals, but a rollover after the semi-final victory over team leader Tom Meents and Maximum Destruction cost Guy his chance to repeat.
Bob & Tom also competes at some arena shows during the season, mostly under Guy, however Chuck Werner would also have his turn for a few shows, along with Team Meents crew member Kevin Lewis one time in Roanoke.
After the winter season, Bob & Tom competes at Salinas with Kasey Christensen driving.
2007[]
Bob & Tom was no longer a full-time truck, however the name was revived once more for Indianapolis. Guy had retired at the end of the 2006 season, so Bob & Tom was driven by Chuck Werner. Chuck utilizes the Hot Wheels chassis to run the name, the truck he was driving during the rest of the season. Chuck performs well, advancing to the semi-finals of racing, losing to Tony Farrell and Blue Thunder, and finishing joint-third in freestyle with ironically enough, Tony and Blue Thunder.
For this occasion, Bob & Tom sported an Andy Mohr Ford flag, a local car dealership based in the city.
2008[]
The Bob & Tom name returns again for Indianapolis during the 2008 season in January. Chassis builder and part-time driver Paul Cohen is selected to drive the truck, running the name on a FELD chassis, which was formerly Lyle Hancock's Blue Thunder.
The truck also receives a brand-new body style in the form of a 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty, replacing the former 1999 Ford Super Duty body, though the decal layouts remain the same.
In May, the name is run again, this time for the Monster Truck Thunder Drags independent show in Springfield, Illinois. Frank Krmel runs the name on Linsey Weenk's C-29 Blue Thunder chassis, winning racing on one of the shows.
2009[]
The Bob & Tom truck makes its final appearance, once again in its hometown of Indianapolis. The name was campaigned by Randy Brown Motorsports on the Pure Adrenaline chassis driven by Ricky Brantley. The truck ends up with a minor infamous moment, scoring a 5 despite filling the clock.
After this show, Bob & Tom is retired.
Events competed[]
| 2005 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Driver | Notes |
| January 29th | Indianapolis, IN | Guy Wood | Debut show Won Racing |
| 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Driver | Notes |
| January 7th | Pontiac, MI | Guy Wood | |
| January 20-22nd | Kansas City, MO | ||
| January 28th | Indianapolis, IN | ||
| February 3-4th | Peoria, IL | Won Freestyle, Show 3 | |
| February 10-12th | Roanoke, VA | Kevin Lewis | |
| February 17-19th | Rosemont, IL | Guy Wood | |
| February 25th | St. Louis, MO | ||
| March 4th | Detroit, MI | ||
| March 17-19th | Bridgeport, CT | Chuck Werner | |
| April 7-9th | Fresno, CA | ||
| April 28-30th | Santa Rosa, CA | Won Racing, Shows 1 and 2 | |
| May 5-7th | Roseburg, OR | ||
| May 21st | Salinas, CA | Kasey Christensen | |
| 2007 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Driver | Notes |
| January 27th | Indianapolis, IN | Chuck Werner | |
| 2008 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Driver | Notes |
| January 26th | Indianapolis, IN | Paul Cohen | |
| May 3-4th | Springfield, IL | Frank Krmel | Won Racing, Show 3 |
| 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Driver | Notes |
| January 24th | Indianapolis, IN | Ricky Brantley | Final show |
Trivia[]
- Bob & Tom is the third longest running radio-sponsored truck in Monster Jam, with 106.7 and The Rod Ryan Show lasting longer, the latter having been used for a decade.
- Bob & Tom is also the only radio sponsored truck to run a full season.
- Bob & Tom's paint scheme was essentially the base look for the 2005 version of Hot Wheels, as the name was originally a one-off and was temporarily sported on its body. It utilised the black base and orange tailgate, this look even being carried over to its new body style.
- Despite being the 'hometown truck' for Indianapolis, Bob & Tom did not freestyle at the RCA Dome until 2007, two years after its debut. In 2005, the truck did not freestyle as its knuckle was salvaged for use on Maximum Destruction and it also did not freestyle in 2006 after rolling over in racing and was not able to be repaired in time.
- Though the truck was retired in 2009, the Bob & Tom name did still make an appearance at the 2010 Indianapolis show as a flag being sported by El Toro Loco.
- All of the truck's stadium appearances would be televised. The 2006 and 2007 Indianapolis events were televised both in Around the USHRA segments and Europe, while the 2008 Indianapolis was Europe exclusive.
Gallery[]
