Bigfoot Monster Truck Driver Dan Runte Ready to Defend his Title January 15-16

Monster Nation Monster Trucks will invade CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, La., at 8PM this weekend Friday, January 15 and Saturday, January 16. These trucks will rumble into Bossier City with 1,800 tons of dirt and smashed metal featuring six, 10,000 pound beastly monster trucks. And one of them is the legendary Bigfoot driven by Dan Runte who has won 13 national championships.In addition, Runte, who hails from Freeport, IL., and now resides in Missouri, has been named MTRA's Driver of the Year six times. He also holds the record for fastest monster truck in the 1/8 mile at 86.56 MPH. Runte is most proud of his Guinness monster truck long jump record that he did in 2012, in which he jumped Bigfoot 214’8”! He has owned this record, at various jump distances, for the better part of 15 years. One of these attempts was all the way back in 1999, when he jumped a 727 airplane. He also jumped over seven cars plus his tractor-trailer lengthwise that same year.

Runte’s favorite places to perform in Bigfoot are at the former Firebird Raceway in Arizona and at the fairgrounds in Bloomsburg, PA and Indianapolis, IN. I had a chance to talk with him on my show today and he said the fans are the most important part of the sport, especially seeing kids' eyes light up.

"Meeting new people and competing in real racing is what I like most about being a Bigfoot driver," Runte said.

Runte, who is married added, "In my spare time I like to water ski and ride motorcycles."

In addition to Bigfoot defending its title in the Monster Nation Freestyle and Racing, a stacked field of Monster Trucks are gunning for the title as well, including Dawg Pound, Over Bored, Heavy Hitter, Quad Chaos  and introducing for the first time in Louisiana - the all new Dirt Crew. The entire floor of the CenturyLink Center arena will be open season for the Destruction Zone Freestyle competition.

Fans can meet the stars and get up close to the Monster Trucks before each performance at the Monster Nation Pit Party. The Pit Party takes place from 6-7PM on Friday Night and 6-7PM on Saturday night. A pit pass must be accompanied by a same-show event ticket.

Monster Nation Destruction Zone begins at 8PM on Friday and 8PM and Saturday. Adult ticket prices are $25 and $17. Kid’s ticket prices are $25 and $12. Service and facility fees may apply to ticket prices. All tickets prices increase by $2 on the day of the event. Pit Passes are $5.

Ticket on sale now at the CenturyLink Center Box Office and online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by calling 800-745-3000. And for more information go to Monster Nation. Listen to Kicker 102.5 for your chance to win tickets!