| Grave Digger's Dustin Brown Crew Chief of The Year.
With the reputation of the “Black and Green Wrecking Machine”, Grave Digger fans have come to expect the most spectacular freestyle at every Monster Jam competition. As obstacles continue to get larger and larger and other competitors continue to raise the bar on their performances, it is a mechanical miracle to keep Grave Digger running each week during the Monster Jam Tour.
That being said, it is no small task to be the crew chief for any Grave Digger Racing team. So to be the crew chief for Dennis Anderson, the man behind the reputation just adds a bit more pressure to the job. Dustin Brown took on that task from day one and has been the crew chief for Dennis Anderson for the past two and a half years.
From the beginning, Dennis could see the passion for motor sports that Dustin brought to the team. Racing runs deep in Dustin’s blood. The love of racing is passed on from one generation to the next in his family, as his father was a mud racer. As a young boy, he would watch his dad in the shop and then began rebuilding motors and helping go through the gears with his dad. It wasn’t long, before he was working on motors himself and became a self taught “gear head”.
Dustin began his professional mechanical career working with the Rhonda Hartman Smith top fuel drag racing team. With this team, there are 6 people working on the motor and each has a specific section to work on. Dustin was responsible for all of the cylinder head work on the right side of the motor.
After three years with the top fuel team, he made the move to the Grave Digger Race Team. This was a perfect evolution to his career since Dustin’s love of racing had always been monster trucks since a young boy. Having the ability to crew for Dennis Anderson was icing on the cake.
Dustin quickly learned that crewing for a drag racing team and working with Dennis Anderson were two different things. He was now responsible for every part of the truck, not just a single section of the motor. Monster trucks were not quite as laid back since there are only 2 or 3 people per crew as well. The hours are very long and the days off during the season are almost non-existent. He credits his success to keeping the truck running each week to a great crew back at Digger Dungeon’s race shop including Josh Garcia, Dan Bright, Paul Cohen, Larry Flood, Henry Cross, Brett Laws and Richard Midgette who help to get the truck back to 100% each week.
However, at the event, Dustin is responsible for Dennis Anderson to make every appearance for racing and freestyle. Dennis wants the truck to be perfect every time he takes to the track. “His fans expect him to put on a show and he gets very mad when he can’t please his fans”, says Dustin. “It has to run no matter what the problem is. If it can’t be fixed in the time than we before the next round of racing or freestyle competition, I still have to find a way to make it happen.”
Working with Dennis, has given him the opportunity to learn from the legend directly. Aside from learning how to fix every nut and bolt on the monster truck and even how to drive the 10,000 pound machine, Dennis has taught him how to take care of the fans and never leave until they are happy. Whether it is on the track or in the autograph line, he always puts the fans first.
The Monster Jam Finals in Las Vegas is Dustin’s’ favorite race of the year and his favorite moment so far was being crew chief for Dennis when he won the 2006 Racing Championship. Dustin was put to the test this year preparing for the World Finals after Dennis had been out all season with an injury. During the regular 2007 season, Adam Anderson drove the #20 Grave Digger truck. Dennis returned just in time for the World Finals in Las Vegas which was another major adjustment to the truck to prepare for a new driver again. Having the truck 100% ready for Dennis in Las Vegas with a completely different set up is certainly a mechanical feat on any normal year, let alone a year when he had not even driven the truck in months. The outstanding job getting Grave Digger #20 ready won Dustin the 2007 Crew Chief of the Year!  | 
11-16-2007, 10:36 PM
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