The 2017 R/C Monster Truck Challenge World Finals was one for the record books yet again, as the bar was set again this year at a whole new level. The event featured a new record number of entires, awesome racing and freestyle competition, an awesome track and so much more. 57 trucks were on hand for this year's World Finals to do battle on one awesome Charlotte style cross-over racing track. The track was modeled after the crossover track used at the Back to School Monster Truck Bash at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The RCMTC was the first ever to use the crossover track for r/c monsters and this year's version was the biggest and best yet. This years track featured huge jumps, fast turns, challenging corners, wide jumps and yes, full size campers in the racing lanes that made the track challening and fun and produced some amazing action. The 57 truck field was broken up into two groups and as soon as qualifying began, drivers starting showing what they had for the racing championship. Racing veteran Matt Stoltz made his first RCMTC apperance at the finals this year and immediately established himself as a top contendor. The 2017 Points Series Champion Derrick Algieri showed his strength in qualifying as well by defeating Matt several times in qualifying rounds and placing high in the brackets. Kyle DeFalco won the first qualifying bracket in Pure Adrenain which debuted at the event and looked strong early. It was Dan DeFalco's Monster Patrol that was strongest in qualifying by getting into the final rounds in both quaifying brackets the truck was in. Monster Patrol finished second in the first bracket to Kyle's Pure Adrenalin and won the second bracket by defeating Matt Stoltz's Rambo. The points earned in qualifying gave the CPE Racing Monster Patrol the top qualifying spot and trophy.
After qualifying, two elimination brackets were formed to decide the Racing Championship. The top 31 trucks were put into the 32 truck RCMTC World Finals Championship Bracket. Trucks 32-57 were put into the RCMTC World Finals Shootout bracket, with the winner of the shootout earning the 32nd spot in the Championship bracket. Mike Eaton, who missed most of the qualifying rounds came in with his three entries and got the all into the final four of the shootout bracket, with his Summit Bigfoot truck getting the win, the shootout trophy and the 32 spot in the Championship bracket. He would have to face top qualifier Monster Patrol who defeated Bigfoot, but was later knocked out by Derrick Algieri's Overbored. The Championship bracket continued on with some awesome racing and finally came down to the final four. Dan DeFalco's Grave Digger vs. Kevin Adair's Chrome Digger and Kyle DeFaco's Executioner vs Matt Stoltz and Rambo. It came down to Rambo and Chrome Digger in the finals. Kevin Adair, one of the top drivers all season long had a good run going against Matt, but Rambo was just too strong in the finals and Matt Stoltz was able to grab the win and the 2017 R/C Monster Truck Challenge Word Finals Racing Championship. Kevin Adair gets a strong second place finish and Dan DeFalco took third place over his brother Kyle and Executioner.
It was then time for freestyle and what a throwdown it was! The freestyle competiton was insane with amazing moves, big air, backflilps and more. Pete Paquette driving Mr Destruction and Kyle's Boogey Van were tied for the lead with awesome runs, then came an amazing run by Ethan Saunder's awesome Quad Chaos monster truck. In the end it was Dan DeFalco and Grave Digger stepping up in the final run to grab the winning score and gets the 2017 R/C Monster Truck Challenge World Finals Freestyle Championship. The crowd was also treated to an awesome encore run from Jconcepts' own Fred Reep and his Grave Digger slash conversion monster truck.
This year's event was hands down our best event ever afeter our best year ever and we cant thank everyone enough for making 2017 so amazing. Thank you SO MUCH to all of our drivers who came out this year. Whether you've been with us before, a new series regular this year or a first timer at our events, we cannot thank you enough for coming out and racing and being a part of our events and we are honored to have you. We are also honored to have such an amazing group of sponors that support this event. To Fred Reep, Jason Ruona and everyone at JConcepts, thank you for coming to the event and bringing the big setup, the great event coverage you do and all the support you provide this racing industry. To Heath and everyone at Cow R/C, every year you've been there and give us such amazing support to this event and industry with all the awesome products. Thank you Brett from CPE for all the support you've given this series and the DRCR racing team. Thanks to Mike Eaton and Screw Loose hardware, your products are top notch and amazing and your support for our series and the racing industry as a whole is greatly appreciated. Thank you to our buddy Ryan Caputo and The Ripper Monster Truck team for supporting this event, we cant wait to see the real truck out there. Finally, thank you to all of you who support our series, visit our website, follow us on youtube, instagram and facebook. We hope you've enjoyed another year of R/C Monster Truck Challenge aciton and we can't wait to come back next year. See you in 2018 and enjoy the pictures and video!!!!
