LUBBOCK, TX (June 27) – The Traxxas T-Maxx® raced into the semifinals in two of three events during last weekend’s USHRA Summer Heat Monster Jam® at Lubbock Motor Speedway.

USHRA Fan Choice Award winner John Seasock drove the T-Maxx past Pit Bull® in the consolation round on both Thursday and Saturday to increase his record of semifinal appearances to 13 in 17 United States Hot Rod Association events in 2005.

Seasock, the second-fastest qualifier, lost to Iron Outlaw® in the first round, but defeated Pit Bull on opening night at Lubbock’s semi-banked, 1/3-mile oval racetrack. Grave Digger® beat the T-Maxx and Iron Outlaw across the finish line to win Thursday’s racing competition.

Seasock persevered through a tough Friday-night event, as mechanical problems plagued the full-size version of Traxxas’ #1-selling R/C monster truck. A solenoid malfunction in the rear steering kept the T-Maxx from completing his qualifying run and a flat tire shortened its freestyle performance.

“The battery charger malfunctioned and it ended up ruining the battery in the T-Maxx,” Seasock said. “When the battery voltage dropped too low, it smoked a couple of solenoids in the rear steering. That locked the rear steering to one side.”

Grave Digger advanced when the T-Maxx was unable to take the green flag, and defeated Pit Bull by three truck-lengths in the finals.

“We tried our best to get through it so we could run freestyle,” Seasock said. “We got some big air on the first jump in freestyle, but when we came down it blew the right rear tire off the rim.”

Crew chief Mike Hoy worked meticulously on the T-Maxx Saturday and Seasock came through with a performance similar to Thursday’s.

“We got a new battery charger and new batteries Saturday morning and had the T-Maxx ready,” Seasock said. “We qualified well that night, but lost to Iron Outlaw in the first round. Iron Outlaw was really tough to beat all weekend. We beat Pit Bull in the consolation round, but lost to Grave Digger in the semifinals. It was a lot like Thursday night.

“Then we went out and had a good time in freestyle. We popped some good wheelies, got some big air on the jumps and put on a good show.”

Seasock, a 15-year monster truck veteran, sets extremely high standards for himself. Despite reaching the semifinals in two of three shows, he knew he could perform better.

“It was as rough weekend,” Seasock said. “You have to experience those every once in a while to appreciate the good times. It was just one of those weekends where we were a little off. We won a couple of rounds, but it wasn’t one of our better weekends. We’re looking forward to running at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL, next weekend.”