Seasock, T-Maxx Turn up the Heat in Ocala Monster Jam

OCALA, FL (May 23) – John Seasock and the Traxxas T-Maxx™ were on fire in the United States Hot Rod Association’s Summer Heat Monster Jam® at Ocala Speedway last weekend!

Seasock, the USHRA’s Fan Choice Award winner, raced into the semifinals in all four events while reaching the finals once and winning the Sunday afternoon finale. The full-size replica of Traxxas’ award-winning R/C monster truck also scored 25 or more points in each freestyle competition.

“We’re getting more comfortable with the T-Maxx every time out,” Seasock said Monday. “It was phenomenal over the weekend. Mike (Hoy, the team’s crew chief) gave me a really good truck. It looked great, too. It was really a mess after last weekend’s event in Lima, OH, but he had it looking really good. We spent a lot of time power washing it. I couldn’t ask for a better truck. Knowing Mike has done such a good job getting the truck ready gives me the confidence to push it harder.

“All the trucks in Ocala were top quality. Gary Porter (who drove Grave Digger®) is one of the best drivers in the country, in my opinion. He doesn’t make mistakes. When I started in the business, I tried to copy certain drivers who I thought were the best and he was one of them. I’ve always admired him for the way he carries himself, the way he runs his operation and how he drives. To be able to race against him is an honor; let alone beat him. We beat him twice in Ocala, so we were really pleased. There was a really good crowd in Ocala. It was a typical USHRA show – professional and well organized. It was a great weekend. Ocala Speedway was packed with an enthusiastic crowd. We made plenty of new T-Maxx fans there.”

Seasock beat the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle® and Gun Slinger® before losing to Grave Digger in the finals Friday. Seasock defeated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in the first round Saturday afternoon. The T-Maxx beat Grave Digger across the finish line in the semifinals, but was disqualified when it hit a boundary pole. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle came back as the fast loser and won the Saturday afternoon racing competition. The T-Maxx defeated Gun Slinger and Destroyer® Saturday night before losing to Grave Digger in the finals. Seasock beat Grave Digger in the semifinals and Eradicator® in the finals Sunday afternoon.

“We came close to having another wreck like we did in New Orleans in the finals,” Seasock said. “We were coming around the corner against Eradicator. He runs hard all the time, so we didn’t want to take any chances. I laid into the T-Maxx, went high over a jump and the truck turned right instead of left as it did in New Orleans. The truck bicycled for 80-to-85 feet before it came back down on all four tires. It was over so far, Mike and others in the pits got a good view of the roof and the hood. The sidewalls of the tires were white and scuffed up. The crowd loved it.

“The truck was working really well – everything was clicking – so it turned out to be our weekend. Many of the fans thought our freestyle scores were lower than they should be, but that happens. You have to take that with a grain of salt. We went out and busted some big wheelies, some slap wheelies and some big doughnuts Sunday. We really stepped it up in freestyle Sunday afternoon. Everybody told us we got some big air and we pulled an awesome slap wheelie. I felt like I could keep it going forever, but I also knew I was running out of room. The crowd was going wild and we scored a 29. The louder they cheer, the crazier we get. We feed off their energy.”

Seasock is pleased with the way the Traxxas T-Maxx team is progressing in its first year.

“We debuted the T-Maxx in January and we’ve made it to the semifinals in about 80% of the races,” Seasock said. “Every time we go out, we get a little more comfortable. We keep getting better and I think we’re going to go out in 2006 and take the world by storm. We’re out to prove the T-Maxx is here to stay and a force to be reckoned with.”