**Opinions and descriptions of the Team Demolition Derby Tournament of Destruction on MidwestMonsters.com are those of I, TDA Photographer Jason Twite, and do not necessarily represent those of the Team Demo Association, its affiliates or sponsors. All information has been presented as accurately as possible, with respect to race analysis and results. However, specific race details should not be considered as hard facts. If you have a correction, please email it to my attention. Thank You! **
All photos Copyright Team Demolition Derby Association/Creative One, Inc., 2007.
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION!
2007 Team Demolition Derby
Tournament of Destruction
Presented by series sponsor Speedway Auto Parts & Wreckers in Chicago Heights, IL
September 1st: Round 3
Havoc wins again; control their own destiny into the Finals!
The start of the 2007 season was put on hold due to rain, and Round 3's original August 18th date met the same fate. The two week delay did not hamper the season's momentum, in fact, I think the extra time propelled the Championship chase to even greater heights. An extra 2 weeks to sit, wait, stew, and plot a course of chaos, revenge, and victory!
After Round 2, the log-jam in the point standings meant the title was still within everyone's reach. But, after Round 3, Havoc sliced off the arms of 5 hopefully teams and re-staked their claim as the best team and took back the point's lead with the Junk Yard Dogs and Killer Bee's left looking up.
Fred Sibley's Lil' Red Beer Hauler was back again to melt down another victim.
Round 1
Mean Green Machines vs. Havoc
Havoc began their trek back to the Finals with a battle against the winless Mean Green Machines. #42 Johnny Ryan escaped the early traffic and put his wagon out front. #1 Greg Meisch slowed down Ryan, but could not hang with him after the first lap. #4 Brian Anderson stepped up and knock Meisch off the chase for good. One of the big green wagon's caught up with Ryan on Lap 3, but could not do anything from an outside position. Ryan darted around Turn 2 on the inside and left a clear lane for #44 Rich Wilson to barrel his wagon right into a big head-on smash with the #15 MGM wagon! The MGM could not mount a comeback and Havoc marched on.
Team Xtreme vs. Stranglehold
If either team were going to make a serious run at the Championship, they needed a win here. Havoc advancing meant a loss would all but eliminate their hopes. Team Xtreme fell behind immediately after a collision on the back stretch left the #26 dead in the mud for the remainder of the race! Stranglehold took advantage, pounding Team Xtreme every chance they got. #27 Josh Van Allen felt the brute force of the beating from a sick side shot delivered by #50 Chris McGuire. The two cars were entangled for several minutes and McGuire made sure Van Allen went nowhere, pushing him from one side of the oval to the other. #54 Steve Gursky, Jr. claimed the lead for Stranglehold and scored the win in reverse! Maybe this was the Stranglehold revival that was bound to happen.
Junk Yard Dogs vs. Killer Bee's
Bee's: 1, JYD: 1. This third encounter was just like the previous two; all-out, balls to the wall driving and ruthless attacks in every direction. But, this time, it went beyond that. It went to a new level of excitement, drama, and pain, one of which many Team Demo fans had never seen. This was the race of the night...of the year...of the decade..."of the Century," according to fans whom have watched this sport grow for longer than I've personally been alive.
Carnage commenced at the drop of the flag and never let up through 3+ minutes of pure auto wrecking Hell!. Parts were flying and punishments were dealt so fast there was no way anyone, especially this photographer, could keep up with the action. I know there at least three enormous hits I missed simply because there was another one at the same time! Somehow through all the insanity, the Bee's managed to keep Tom "Brickman" Lewis out front and with relatively little damage to his car. The Bee’s had it wrapped up as “Brickman” led into Lap 4. But, out of Turn 2, the engine let loose! #30 Rob McCay seized the chance for a comeback and drove a head-on nail into the Bee’s coffin! McCay did not make it far and was smashed by #7 Steve Scarbro! #35 Ryan Bleuer took over the lead for the JYD, avoided two final blocks and completed the incredible comeback for the win! The teams left to a standing ovation for their brutal, thrilling and unbelievable efforts displayed. Simply awesome. Ask anyone 5 years from now if they remember the 2007 season and they'll point right to this race.
Orange Crush vs. Damage, Inc.
Both teams were winless coming into Round 3, but, at least someone HAD to win now. Turned out, two winless teams could put on a heck of a race! Damage, Inc. recruited some extra muscle in the form of #83 Joe Snow and he paid immediate dividends. Snow kept Orange Crush at bay, dealing hits at all corners of the track. Snow is known as a one-man wrecking crew, but he can't win a race 4-on-1. Eventually, Orange Crush caught up with him and side-smashed Snow into the wall, leaving the big man paralyzed momentarily. It was enough to put #69 out front and Damage, Inc. was back on defense. Snow re-fired and blasted the #65 wagon on a full speed run, but it left both cars twisted at the bumpers! #81 missed a crucial block on Lap 5 and the #69 car squeezed through to take the win and leave Damage, Inc. without a first round victory since June 2005!
Round 2
Stranglehold vs. Havoc
In the first heat of the Semi-Finals, Stranglehold sought revenge on Havoc for their first round loss back in June and were in a must-win spot if they hoped to remain in the title picture. Johnny Ryan sprinted out of the hole and took an early lead for Havoc. Stranglehold could not stop the run and missed shot after shot while Ryan continued to tick away laps. Stranglehold again threatened on the last lap, but #44 Rich Wilson slammed the door shut on Stranglehold's #54 Steve Gursky and Ryan crossed the finish sending Havoc back to the Final Round!
Orange Crush vs. Junk Yard Dogs
The payback minded Orange Crush faced off against the Junk Yard Dogs in the second Semi-Final race. The ‘Dogs tore up Orange Crush back in June and had visions of a repeat performance. JYD dodged a couple big blows early on and Ryan Bleuer was out front in the #35 with #3 along side for smashing! He made it two laps and then lost his blocker thanks to a wicked shot from the #67 car. Bleuer continued alone and paid the price! The #67 met him with a vicious head-on blast, knocking Bleuer completely around. #6 Ron Tyrakowski broke free from the melee and took over the lead, only to be T-boned into the wall by Bleuer! The battle turned in favor of Orange Crush yet again as #67 finally eliminated Bleuer and gave Tyrakowski a push towards the finish. The #6 slipped by a last ditch reverse shot from #3X and scored the win putting Orange Crush in the Finals for the first time since June 2006!
Fred Sibley's Lil' Red Beer Hauler lit up the sky with an awesome car meltdown during intermission.
Final Round
Orange Crush vs. Havoc
The Final Round became another must-win for Orange Crush as a victory would keep them in the title chase and leave Havoc severely vulnerable going into the Nationals Finals. Tyrakowski’s ’62 Chrysler returned for it’s 4th tour of pain on the Team Demo battlefield and Orange Crush would need it and every other trick, skill or stroke of luck up their sleeve in order to preserve their prayer of a first ever National Championship. Havoc already guaranteed themselves the points lead, but the slim margin was not safe from Orange Crush nor three other teams. If Havoc wanted breathing room, they needed to shatter the dreams of Orange Crush to save their own.
Orange Crush dominated the opening minutes and #67 secured a lead through two laps. Havoc needed to attack quickly; Crush was not slowing down with the goal in sight. Pete Millette, Jr. put the leader in his cross hairs and rocked the #67 car with perhaps the most important hit of his career. #4 Brian Anderson seized the opening for Havoc and took the lead into Lap 3!
Anderson crossed into Lap 4 as the leader but was met with a stiff shot from the resilient #67 Orange Crush car. Anderson escaped further punishment and watched Millette scream across the track and wipe out the #67 to keep the lead intact. Orange Crush was succumbing to damage and the numbers game shifted in favor of Havoc. The super power of the ’62 couldn't rescue Crush this time. Anderson squeezed through one last block attempt and the Havoc fans went wild for the winners!
Speedway Auto Parts & Wreckers Point Standings
After 3 Events
Havoc 24
Junk Yard Dogs 20
Killer Bees 19
Team Xtreme 16
Orange Crush 16
Stranglehold 16
Mean Green Machines 12
Damage, Inc. 12
Aftermath
What a night. Just incredible action from start to finish. Every race had twists, drama, and the sheer car crashing chaos Team Demolition Derby is all about. The first round match between the Bee's and Dogs was worth the price of admission alone. For anyone, anywhere, at anytime to top it would be next to impossible. I could ramble on about that race for several pages, but words won't do any good. If you missed it, you need to beg, borrow, or steal a copy of the video from anywhere possible. Your Team Demo experience won't be complete without seeing this race.
Congratulations to Havoc on their 2nd event win in 2007! The first win was no fluke, and they held the point's lead going into the National Finals on September 22nd. Havoc would control their own fate for the Finals. All they needed to do was stay one round ahead of the Killer Bee's and Junk Yard Dogs. If they were to falter and either the Bee's or Dogs won the event, Havoc would not be the National Champions.
A haunting scenario that Havoc surely did not want to think about, but come September 22nd, it was one that hit them
head-on...
The conclusion to the 2007 Team Demolition Derby Tournament of Destruction is coming soon!!
Click Here for ROUND 4: September 22nd!
**Opinions and descriptions of the Team Demolition Derby Tournament of Destruction on MidwestMonsters.com are those of I, TDA Photographer Jason Twite, and do not necessarily represent those of the Team Demo Association, its affiliates or sponsors. All information has been presented as accurately as possible, with respect to race analysis and results. However, specific race details should not be considered as hard facts. If you have a correction, please email it to my attention. Thank You! **
All photos Copyright Team Demolition Derby Association/Creative One, Inc., 2007.
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION!