The Bob & Tom Show (referred to simply as Bob & Tom in television broadcasts) was a Ford Super Duty monster truck that competed from 2005 to 2009 and was 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 made its debut in Indianapolis on January 29, 2005, driven by Guy Wood on the Hot Wheels chassis, thus the name is campaigned by Team Meents. Wood 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 Wood continuing to campaign Hot Wheels thereafter.
2006-07[]
At the beginning of 2006, the Bob & Tom identity is brought back, this time as a full-time competition truck, with Wood 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, at Pontiac, managing to compete in freestyle. Wood goes on to drive Bob & Tom at Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit, though the truck misses freestyle at the former two shows. Wood 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 Wood his chance to repeat. Bob & Tom also competes at some arena shows during the season, mostly under Wood, 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.
By 2007, Bob & Tom was no longer a full-time truck, however the name was revived once more for Indianapolis. Wood had retired at the end of the 2006 season, so Bob & Tom was driven by Chuck Werner. Werner utilises the Hot Wheels chassis to run the name, the truck he was driving during the rest of the season. Werner 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, Farrell and Blue Thunder. For this occasion, Bob & Tom sported an Andy Mohr Ford flag, a local car dealership based in the city.
2008-09[]
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, Later in the year in May, the name is ran again, this time for the 4-Wheel Jamboree independent show in Springfield, Illinois. On this occasion, Frank Krmel runs the name on his chassis, winning racing at the event.
The Bob & Tom truck makes its final appearance in 2009, once again in its hometown of Indianapolis. For this last show, the name is campaigned by Randy Brown Motorsports on the Pure Adrenaline chassis driven by Ricky Brantley. The truck ends up with a minor infamous moment, scoring incredibly low despite filling the clock. After this show, Bob & Tom was retired.
Drivers[]
- Guy Wood (Indianapolis 2005, 2006)
- Chuck Werner (2006, Indianapolis 2007)
- Kevin Lewis (Roanoke 2006)
- Kasey Christensen (Salinas 2006)
- Paul Cohen (Indianapolis 2008)
- Frank Krmel (4-Wheel Jamboree Springfield 2008)
- Ricky Brantley (Indianapolis 2009)
Events competed[]
2005[]
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 29
2006[]
- Pontiac, MI, Jan 7
- Wichita, KS, Jan 13-15
- Kansas City, MO, Jan 20-22
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 28
- Peoria, IL, Feb 3-4
- Roanoke, VA, Feb 10-12
- Rosemont, IL, Feb 17-19
- St. Louis, MO, Feb 25
- Detroit, MI, Mar 4
- Bridgeport, CT, Mar 17-19
- Fresno, CA, Apr 7-9
- Santa Rosa, CA, Apr 28-30
- Roseburg, OR, May 5-7
- Salinas, CA, May 21
2007[]
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 27
2008[]
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 26
- Springfield, IL (4 Wheel Jamboree), May 3-4
2009[]
- Indianapolis, IN, Jan 24
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.
Hot Wheels at the Monster Jam World Finals 5, prior to the decals being added, featuring the same base decals as The Bob & Tom Show.
- 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.
Gallery[]
