THE ECHTERNKAMP FAMILY
Kid: DENVER III, 17 YEARS OLD
Parent: DENVER II & ANGIE
QUINCY, IL
Father, Denver II, has been in the monster truck industry for thirteen years. He drives his own truck called, “Venom” that he’s been showcasing in various “big shows” across the United States, including Monster Jam. He also sits on the board of Monster Jam and is well known and well respected in the industry. Denver II has been vocal to Monster Jam about how they need to start rethinking the age of their drivers, and to begin programming, promoting and signing younger drivers. It falls on deaf ears, but he’s not going to quit trying! He’s held back his son due to their resistance. That is until now.
Denver II and Denver II, (yes it’s confusing) work together at dad’s construction business. When they’re not working, they are on the road with Venom. They stay in hotels or their family RV that hauls the truck, traveling across stateliness sporadically (usually whenever a promoter calls). Denver II is an industry veteran who refuses to take B.S. from anyone. He’s had promoters who have tried to short change him at the end of the night, or not put his name on the roster, etc. Or other drivers who talk smack and get in his face. He’s done or seen it all. But because he has earned a level of respect and success he can pick and choose the events he wants to take part in. Now that his son is almost eighteen, Denver II has been grooming him to take on the full size truck. Dad wants to transition from driver to spectator.
The two Denver’s are currently building Denver III his very own monster truck that he can smash into the ground. They both know that as soon as he has his own truck, he’ll want to be out on the track racing and showing up his old man. The two have an inseparable relationship: they travel together, work together, wrench trucks together, it’s all together as father and son. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though, spending that much time together will create friction, especially from someone as animated as Denver III. Dad has no problem calling B.S. on someone and certainly has no problem bragging about how he or his son did in the last show with his “frenemies.”
Dad isn’t ready to retire from work yet, but he’s grooming his son to take on his construction business; passing down not just one life-long passion, but two. Denver III has a lot to learn about driving trucks and how to navigate a tricky, ego-filled industry. He’s only driven in a couple of shows. He’s wanted to drive earlier in life, but dad didn’t think it was politically appropriate without the Monster Jam’s complete blessing. So now that dad has given the go ahead, he’s hungry to learn and do more. And dad is right by his side.