Watson leads a strong contingent of Monster Energy-backed athletes that descend upon Orlando and take it to the world’s best rail riders
CORONA, Calif., (May 12, 2008) – Monster Energy’s Shawn Watson was crowned king of the rails this past weekend at the Carnival, the nation’s premier wakeboarding rail event held at the Projects on the outskirts of Orlando.
Watson showcased his best stuff all weekend long in taking the Carnival win – arguably the biggest rail win of his career. “To win the Carnival is huge,” said Watson. “We had a bunch of guys from Monster there competing and all had each other’s backs. The competition level was insane. I was fortunate to have won because there were ten guys that were killing it all weekend.”
In the opening round Watson got by fellow Monster Energy wakeboarder Kevin Henshaw, then topped Aaron Rathy and edged Keith Lidberg in a close match. In the finals Watson was pitted against defending Carnival champ, Parks Bonifay. Again Watson stepped up and laid down a colossal finals run that included a switch toeside 270 to back lip slide/270 off the Fox transfer box. Watson then nose pressed the entire Hyperlite A-frame, giving him the win over Bonifay.
“Watson has a solid, consistent run with a lot of variety,” added Tony Smith, on of the event’s judges.
Other Monster Energy wakeboarders competing at the Carnival included: Daniel Watkins, Shane Bonifay and Danny Harf.
This weekend (May 16-18) is the first Wakeboarding Pro Tour stop of the season, opening in Acworth, Ga. Monster Energy athletes will be out in full force, including: Watson, Harf, Bonifay, Henshaw, Jimmy LaRiche (Jr. Men) and Melissa Marquardt.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it wakeboards jibbing, bonking, hucking and schralping across rails, snowmobile distance jumping, enduro, hare scrambles, MX, road racing, supermoto, FMX, skate, MTB, off-road, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “M-80” and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Everybody at the big wakeboarding events are diggin’ ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
Monster Energy’s Shawn Watson Takes 1st Place @ The Carnival – Wakeboarding’s Marquee Rail Event
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Monday, May 12, 2008
MA rider Johnson to Debut New Chassis at Bristol; Will Attend Prestigious Medal of Honor Dinner
by Susie Arnold, Bernstein Racing
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Tommy Johnson, Jr., driver of the Monster Energy Funny Car, hails Bristol Dragway as one of his favorite tracks on the 24-event NHRA tour.
“I just love this facility,” said Johnson, “plus Bristol, before it was renovated into the premiere facility it is now, was the site of my first alcohol Funny Car win in 1987.”
Johnson, who was in the final four at Phoenix in February, acknowledges that the start of the 2008 season has been much slower than expected.
“NHRA has mandated a rule change on our Funny Car chassis that will come into effect by the July Denver event,” said Johnson. “We have tested this new-style chassis twice, most recently after the last event in St. Louis. In both tests, this chassis has performed better. Since this Hadman-built chassis is showing so much promise, we plan to run it at Bristol.
“At the St. Louis event we ran one of our best elapsed times this season,” said Johnson, “Our team has been working around the clock to make more performance strides.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at noon Sunday.
Monster Mentions: Johnson to attend Medal of Honor dinner. Tommy Johnson will accompany wife Melanie Troxel to the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation banquet, Thursday, May 15 at the grand ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta as guests of one of Troxel’s car owners Roger Burgess. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC nightly news and emcee of the dinner will pay respect to 25 Medal of Honor recipients. Also receiving tributes will be former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and Kimberly Dozier, the CBS correspondent who was so badly wounded in Iraq on Memorial Day, 2006. Dozier has written a book, Breathing the Fire.
“It is quite an honor to have an opportunity to attend this dinner,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to being in the company of some of our country’s real heroes.”
O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY
Qualifying – May 17 – ESPN2
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET
NHRA Race Day – May 18 – ESPN2
11-11:30 a.m. ET
Eliminations – May 18 – ESPN2
6:30 – 10 p.m. ET
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Tommy Johnson, Jr., driver of the Monster Energy Funny Car, hails Bristol Dragway as one of his favorite tracks on the 24-event NHRA tour.
“I just love this facility,” said Johnson, “plus Bristol, before it was renovated into the premiere facility it is now, was the site of my first alcohol Funny Car win in 1987.”
Johnson, who was in the final four at Phoenix in February, acknowledges that the start of the 2008 season has been much slower than expected.
“NHRA has mandated a rule change on our Funny Car chassis that will come into effect by the July Denver event,” said Johnson. “We have tested this new-style chassis twice, most recently after the last event in St. Louis. In both tests, this chassis has performed better. Since this Hadman-built chassis is showing so much promise, we plan to run it at Bristol.
“At the St. Louis event we ran one of our best elapsed times this season,” said Johnson, “Our team has been working around the clock to make more performance strides.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at noon Sunday.
Monster Mentions: Johnson to attend Medal of Honor dinner. Tommy Johnson will accompany wife Melanie Troxel to the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation banquet, Thursday, May 15 at the grand ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta as guests of one of Troxel’s car owners Roger Burgess. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC nightly news and emcee of the dinner will pay respect to 25 Medal of Honor recipients. Also receiving tributes will be former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and Kimberly Dozier, the CBS correspondent who was so badly wounded in Iraq on Memorial Day, 2006. Dozier has written a book, Breathing the Fire.
“It is quite an honor to have an opportunity to attend this dinner,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to being in the company of some of our country’s real heroes.”
O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY
Qualifying – May 17 – ESPN2
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET
NHRA Race Day – May 18 – ESPN2
11-11:30 a.m. ET
Eliminations – May 18 – ESPN2
6:30 – 10 p.m. ET
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