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In 1997 Traxxas once again lowered the price of entry into gas powered vehicles when they released the 1/10 Nitro Sport stadium truck. The Nitro Sport used the Nitro Rustler as its base which was then put on a cost cutting diet. The blue anodized aluminum plate chassis was shortened and the length was made up with a plastic lower chassis plate extending to the bolt-on front bulkhead. A new upper chassis deck then connected the bulkhead back to the plastic lower chassis. The Rustlers lower a-arm and adjustable upper camber link front suspension remained but is bellcrank steering would be replaced with a direct steering system featuring just a pair of adjustable turnbuckles between the servo saver and steering blocks. Out back the Rustlers rear suspension was carried over as was the front and rear shock towers and plastic bodied, oil-filled coilover shocks at all four corners. The 3 gear 2.81 planetary transmission from the Nitro Rustler also made its way onto the Nitro Sport, sans slipper clutch, and connected to a specially tuned TRX .15 engine. Based off a bearing supported crank inside an ABC constructed motor sporting a smaller clear anodized aluminum head, restrictor carb with no low-end adjustment and a plastic tuned pipe. The Nitro Sport was also the first Traxxas vehicle to feature their EZ start system, operated by a handheld battery pack powering the onboard 380 sized starter motor. Woah power was provided by the Nitro Rustlers disk brake system and the truck rode on the same 2.2 cone dish wheels with mini pin/multi rib tires, all rotating on oilite bushings. A new lexan body topped the kit off which was only available fully assembled, either with or without Traxxas' TQ radio system:

Nitro Sport ad from 1997 contradicts an oft believed 1998 release date:

I had one of these that someone from New Jersey gave me. I hit the biggest jumps that I could find with it, drove it up and off cliffs and flogged the snot out of it. It even ended up in the San Francisco bay at one point. I still have it though albeit a bit worse for wear Always wanted to convert it into a Ruatler.