Argonaut

Argonaut is a 2021 Toyota Tundra monster truck owned by John Havemeyer Motorsports out of Belleville, Illinois. It is currently driven by James Havemeyer. Debuting in 1981, it was one of the first true monster trucks ever built and has accumulated a multitude of championships in multiple monster truck leagues. The truck currently competes alongside its teammates Spartan and Midas Mauler.
== History ==
=== 1981 ===
Argonaut started out as a red Chevrolet, created by veteran tractor pulling competitor John Havemeyer as a way of capitalizing on the growing monster truck craze. He selected the name Argonaut after reading a book on Greek mythology and reading the story of the Argonauts, a band of heroes who accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece.
=== 1983 ===
Argonaut 2 was one of the first monster trucks to destroy a mobile home, when Havemeyer took his mother's old trailer home and drove the truck straight through it at a show at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.
=== 1984 ===
Argonaut Jr. (Argonaut 3), a smaller, lighter counterpart, debuts.
=== 1987 ===
Argonaut 4, the first Argonaut truck to use planetary axles, is built. Argonaut 2 was sold to Vern Fraser, who rebuilt it into Yellowjacket.
=== 1988 ===
Havemeyer debuted a Argonaut tank called Argonaut Trax (Argonaut 5). Barry Donovan builds Argonaut Sport (Argonaut 6) after forming a partnership with Havemeyer after Donovan beat Havemeyer at a show with an engine he borrowed from him.
=== 1989 ===
Argonaut 8 (aka Argonaut Racer), built in collaboration with Equalizer owner Gary Cook, debuted, being driven by John's son John Havemeyer Jr.
The demand for Argonaut caused Havemeyer to reach out to other drivers/owners to run the name on their trucks.
* Gary Duerk would simply run different doors on Buffalo Bill depending on which truck he had booked.
=== 1990 ===
John's nephew Paul O'Kelly began driving Argonaut 4 as part of a deal to run the truck on the West Coast with ZZYZX Motorsports. The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds hosts the Argonaut Assembly, an event featuring the entire lineup of Argonaut trucks, which included the unveiling of Argonaut 9.
=== 1991 ===
Argonaut 9, the team's first Stage 3 tube-frame truck, debuted in competition with John Havemeyer Jr. sharing driving duties with his father. Paul O'Kelly began driving Argonaut 8, while Chuck Albasini began driving Argonaut 4. Donovan sells Argonaut Sport to Lonny Taylor, who turns it into the first Texan Cowboy.
=== 1992 ===
Argonaut 4 is destroyed in a trailer wreck on the way to a show in Arkansas and is parted out. By the end of the year, the team's sponsorship with Toyota begins and the truck switches from a red Chevrolet to a black Toyota.
=== 1993 ===
Argonaut 10 debuts as a Toyota T100, driven by John Havemeyer on the PENDA Points Series circuit. The Toyota Challenger truck, a Toyota Pickup body truck, debuts on the former Argonaut 8 under Sam Dillon. John Havemeyer Jr. and Paul O'Kelly run Argonaut 9 on the USHRA circuit.
=== 1994 ===
The truck debuts its now iconic paint job and Argonaut 11 debuts, dominating on the USHRA circuit under John Havemeyer Jr. and Paul O'Kelly. James Havemeyer debuts as a driver, running Argonaut 9 in Europe and Russia. Albasini takes over for Dillon as the driver of Toyota Challenger.
=== 1995 ===
Argonaut 10 continues running on the PENDA circuit under John Havemeyer, while Argonaut 9 becomes Spartan to replace Toyota Challenger, with Dillon returning to drive the truck.
=== 1996 ===
Argonaut 12 debuts, dominating on the PENDA circuit. James replaces his brother on the USHRA circuit, while Paul O'Kelly debuts Argonaut 13, a near-clone of Argonaut 12.
=== 1997 ===
The PENDA series ended and John Havemeyer retired from driving due to old age. James takes over driving duties of Argonaut 12, while Argonaut 10 is sold to Tony Fellows and is rebuilt into Blackbeard (later SpongeBob SquarePants). Spartan moves to Argonaut 11 under Lloyd Eley. O'Kelly continues to drive Argonaut 13, which also runs as Sting to help the Bigfoot team gain bookings on the Thunder Nationals circuit.
=== 1998 ===
James becomes sole driver of Argonaut after O'Kelly left the team.
=== 1999 ===
Argonaut 14 debuts as James' new competition piece, debuting as a T100 but soon switching to a Toyota Tundra.
=== 2004 ===
Argonaut runs a scheme inspired by Toyota's newly introduced NASCAR Craftsman Series Tundra trucks.
Category:Trucks
Category:John Havemeyer Motorsports
Category:Current Competing Trucks
Category:Sponsor trucks
Category:Trucks that debuted in 1981
Category:Toyota Trucks
Category:American Trucks