Billy Braukmann Jr. didn't choose monster trucks — he was born into them. Growing up in Ringoes, New Jersey, he watched his father Bill Braukmann Sr. build one of the most respected family operations on the independent circuit, all while running KB Logistics LLC — a 20-plus-year freight company operating flatbed and van fleets from a 40-acre rail-served yard in Ringoes. Trucks were the family business in every sense of the word.

As the second-generation driver of Shockwave, Billy took what his father built and turned it into something bigger — founding Monster Truck Roundup and building an independent touring promotion from the ground up. He serves simultaneously as the CEO overseeing every aspect of production and as the driver throwing the most recognizable truck in the lineup around the track every show night.

Personal background, childhood memories at shows, and Billy's path to the driver's seat — coming soon from the driver.

When Bill Sr. transitioned out of the driver's seat in 2016, both of his children stepped in. Jessica Braukmann — now Jessica Millard — took the wheel of Be Aware, the sister truck to Shockwave. Billy Jr. took over Shockwave. In summer 2022 they officially debuted as a two-truck program — what the team calls the first brother-and-sister monster truck racing team in the sport.

The pairing is more than a storyline. It's the continuation of a family operation that Bill Sr. spent decades building, now carried forward by his kids on the same dirt he once drove.

Billy built MTR as a direct response to what he felt was missing from the live monster truck experience — an independent, family-owned alternative to the arena-circuit productions that drop into markets without roots. MTR enters every market with personal history, community ties, and a genuine commitment to fan-first entertainment.

Bill Braukmann Sr. serves as MTR's Director of Events & Operations, bringing more than two decades of independent-circuit experience to every show day — managing driver logistics, vehicle prep, safety standards, and arena flow. The family continuity is not a marketing angle. It is the foundation of the company.

The founding story — why Billy launched MTR, the gap he saw, and the vision for the tour — coming soon from the driver.

Shockwave is one of the most storied trucks on the independent circuit — a Chevrolet Silverado with a lineage that stretches back to 1994 across two chassis, multiple identities, and a direct living connection to Metal Monster, driven by Shane Grunseth on the same MTR tour.

Billy's own family details — coming soon from the driver.

Event wins, racing and freestyle results, and standout runs — coming soon from the driver and team.