R.I.P. TWIG
Monster Jam – Air Force Afterburner Crew Chief
Hey everyone, sorry I haven’t blogged in a few days, I’ve been getting ready to head out of South Florida for my NASCAR and Country Music road trip! But, I had to blog about this..
Last weekend I got to hang with some of my ol’ buddies from MONSTER JAM at The Bank Atlantic Center. Speed TV’s and Monster Jam’s Scott Douglass .. my dirt daddy .. is my very good friend … LOVE HIM!
Scott told me about a tragic accident that took the life of Air Force Afterburner’s crew chief, TWIG. TWIG worked for driver DAMON BRADSHAW. I remember TWIG from when I worked with MONSTER JAM on ’07. He was so nice and he really loved MONSTER JAM. He was filled with passion. Scott was telling me how everyone from MONSTER JAM pulled together to honor TWIG.
Please take a moment to PRAY for TWIG and his family he leaves behind…..
CLICK HERE FOR A MEMORIAL VIDEO
“Saying Goodbye To Our Friend Twig “
By Scott Douglass
July 9th 2009
“I‘m writing this column sitting on a plane out of Minneapolis after attending the funeral of Air Force Afterburner Crew Chief Jesse “Twig” Barden, who was killed in a jet ski accident last week. Well over one hundred members of the Monster Jam industry came to Rochester, Minnesota, from all over the country to say goodbye to a special friend, one of the most beloved people in the sport to those in this business.
I was asked to speak at the funeral to represent Monster Jam, and while it was hard to keep from choking up, I did so gladly to celebrate a wonderful life that ended way too soon. So for this week’s column I’m going to write here what I said there, in part for the many people in Monster Jam who wanted to be there but couldn’t be and also for the many fans and others who read this website so that they can hopefully understand, at least a little, what a loss this is for all of us.
Since I was not expecting to speak there is not a prepared text, but I’ll just recap what I said at the service.
To begin with, of course, all of us offer our condolences and prayers to Jesse’s immediate family: his mother Joanne, his father Steven, his sister Charise, his grand parents and all of his family that we met there. At the same time we remember that Jesse had a second family, the Monster Jam family. And while it was touching to see so many people from inside Monster Jam there filling up so many of the seats in the church, they represented so many more who wanted to be there, those in the sport who could not be there physically but certainly were there in spirit.
Then I read several quotes that Fleet Manager Henry Cross had put together for me, a combination of his thoughts and comments that some other of Jesse’s peers had said. “When we taught him how to work on trucks we didn’t know it, but he was teaching us.” “I don’t think that I ever heard him say a cross word about anyone.” “He was there when you needed him and even when you thought that you didn’t. He truly would make sure that no one was left behind.” “Everyone would bust Twig’s chops about not taking time for himself. They’d tell him ‘stop working so hard, you’re making us look bad’.” “His true passion was those monster trucks. He wasn’t living a dream, he was living HIS dream. He didn’t need to stop and smell the roses – he was already in the rose garden!”
Barden really did live his dream. Feld Motor Sports TV Producer Mike McFarlin grew up in the Rochester area and remembers meeting Jesse when Barden was 12 or 13 years old, and how excited Jesse was just to see that McFarlin had a Monster Jam shirt on. He immediately started raving about going to see the monsters in the Metrodome. Soon Jesse was involved in those Metrodome shows, first by running his radio control trucks at the events, then by joining the respected Minnesota track crew, the crew that also works the World Finals. It didn’t take long for Monster Jam officials to take notice of the hard working young man who wanted to be a part of Monster Jam more than anything and he was hired as a tech but it wasn’t long before he found his true calling working on these trucks. He’s an inspiration to all those who watch Monster Jam and dream of being a part of the sport. Barden proved that with desire and a strong work ethic you really can live your dream.
One of the aspects that makes his passing so difficult to deal with is that he was so young. Just 23 years old. But I have to point out that Barden lived a great life even though we wish it would have lasted longer. He loved working on the trucks. He was so proud every time he put on his Air Force Afterburner shirt, he and driver Damon Bradshaw proudly representing our air men and women (by the way, Air Force representatives were at the services and made a special presentation to Barden’s family, showing how much the USAF values the job they did representing them). Jesse was a vital part of almost every trip overseas on the Monster Jam World Tour, and enjoyed travelling the world and all the experiences that come with it, all while doing what he loved, working in Monster Jam. He was one of many who really delighted in being with the kids from Make A Wish who come to some of the events, it was a cause you could feel his passion for. In those 23 full years of life Jesse Barden touched more lives and made an impact on more people than most will who may be on this Earth decades longer.
Not only was he living his dream, he had in a very short time reached the pinnacle of the industry. Let’s consider just the last year. Barden was named “Crew Chief of the Year” at the Monster Jam fleet summit last December in Virginia Beach. That same night he was honored with another special award, being named Monster Jam’s Most Valuable Player. What makes that honor even more special is that it is decided by a vote of the drivers and mechanics. The MVP plaque shows just how loved and respected he was among his peers.
Then go forward to March at the World Finals in Las Vegas where his team won the World Freestyle Championship. The picture that will remain in my mind forever, as it will for many others I’m sure, is from that night. It’s Jesse standing there in his Air Force Afterburner crew shirt with the biggest smile we’ve ever seen (and Twig was always sporting a big smile anyway), embracing his driver Damon Bradshaw as they held the World Championship trophy. Jesse Barden is a World Champion. He will always be a World Champion. That’s on the track. Off the track he’s an even greater friend.
Finally I told the large crowd in attendance that I couldn’t speculate on whether there are race tracks or Monster Jam courses in heaven, but it seems to me that for whatever reason God needs a Crew Chief, so he called home one of the very best.
A couple of final notes from Jesse Barden’s funeral. The pall bearers were several of his best friends in the business; Bradshaw, Adam Anderson, Dennis Foltz, Coty Saucier, Robert Wells, Becky McDonough, and Alex Blackwell, who were joined by his life long friend Michael Albers in that special role. As they carried the casket to its final resting place, all of them wearing their Monster Jam team crew shirts and Albers donning an Air Force Afterburner shirt I couldn’t help but think how proud Barden would be of that moving scene. And I was touched by the comments of Father Meyer at the close of the proceedings. He told us that while he had performed many funeral services in the past he had never witnessed such a large group of people from one industry attending and displaying so much love and emotion for one of their own. Those words made me extremely proud and thankful to be a part of Monster Jam. At the same time I’ll not forget that all of that love and emotion was on display for one very special friend who touched us all, and our lives are all that much richer simply for having known him. Twig, we miss you already.”
Written by Scott Douglass on Monster Mayhem
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