Monster trucks are back in action at Dixie Speedway

photo by Mitchell Jenkins                                                                           Monster truck drivers rally the crowd to gain support from the fans. The drivers parked by the arena’s edge and screamed along with the spectators. Drivers acquired supporters to root for them while they performed stunts and flips in the arena.

After being absent for two years, the Dixie Speedway monster truck fundraiser is back and ready for The King’s Academy’s families to enjoy. Many families wait the whole off season in anticipation for their favorite college team to make their yearly debut on the TV screen, or load up for the first Friday Night Lights of the year. But what many families enjoyed this past week was a less well-known event that has been gone a little longer than a season. 

With the event being back in action, the school received proceeds from this monster truck fundraiser just like before, to promote building the field and other school-wide expenses. Students found slips in their doc folders with information about the event. Once checks were submitted, TKA collected 100% of the funds from school families and in exchange, families were given tickets to enter the Dixie Speedway gate. 

“We were closed for two years, and now we’ve kind of come back with this rebrand…we’re really excited to see what new and exciting things we can bring,” Dixie Speedway Social Media Manager and 2023 TKA alumna Marla Green said.

Green’s family owns Dixie Speedway as a small family business, and she manages the social media and logistics at events. 

“[We were] appreciative of everything that King’s has done for us, and me and my sister just wanted to give back [to the school],” Green said.

The Dixie Speedway monster truck fundraiser event was Green’s late grandmother’s brainchild. Green recalled attending the TKA associated event for as long as she could remember and loves to look back on the memories of the trips with her sister and school friends.

“We stopped for two years because in 2022 we lost my grandmother…[after this] me and my sister took on more prominent roles,” Green said. “[Looking back on memories] everyone just ate the big Pixie Sticks and lots of Skittles.We would be so sick the next day, but it was a good time.”

Now that the wait is over, students like freshman Bentley Ellis eagerly anticipated its return this year and enjoyed the event.

“When it was gone for two years, I was sad because that was always a thing that I would want to go to. I'm looking forward to going and feeling the environment again and just being there when it's really loud,” freshman Bentley Ellis said. 

This event is a TKA staple and many administrators attend as well as students. With the new rebrand, Green is excited for what this year’s events will hold, while she reminisces about growing up with the speedway in her family.

“I love seeing the fans come in, you know? We just got a new mascot, and his name is Speedy; we adore him. I like seeing the kids and the fans light up when they see him…it’s been so rewarding,” Green said.