8th Place – Alex Bardin - 2026 Monster Truck Racing Open Championship
Alex Bardin competed in the 7th-most racing events of all time this year with 93 brackets and 116 total events on his calendar. That helped him accumulate 12951 points which was the 2nd most of all drivers behind only Champion Jon Zimmer Jr.
Bardin started another season with Team Throttle Monster by winning once and racing in all 3 final rounds of the Red Bluff West Coast Nationals on October. He then started the Monster Jam Arena West tour with 3 wins in Salt Lake City and 2 more in Reno, rising up to 3rd place in the Open by mid-January. After then waiting a month for his next win, Bardin won at least 1 events on 5 consecutive weekends in Oklahoma City, Wichita, Portland, Fresno, and Nampa. Unfortunately, he only scored 1 more win through the rest of the Arena season, with 7 runner-ups, 10 semi-finals, and 8 first-round loses.
Alex never fell below 14th rank this season, which is higher than his previous best season finish of 18th in 2023 when he won 31 events on the Monster Truck Wars tour. During this summer, he gained back ground to return to the Top Ten by August. There was a win with Monsters of Destruction in Merced, a runner-up finish during the Monster Jam World Finals Last Chance Qualifier, and then 3 wins in Los Angeles, 2 wins in Sacramento, and 1 win in Fresno as part of the Monster Jam Summer Arena Series.
Alex has certainly earned his way into the top spot. He started touring with Michael Harper’s Monster Truck Wars tour, beginning with 1 win 644 points in 17 races in 2019, but then winning 31 races (for the second season in a row) and scoring 5953 points in 46 races. That performance got him a spot with the Stone Crusher team in 2024 and his introduction to the Monster Jam Arena Series. Last season, Bardin joined the top independents Team Throttle Monster but had his season cut short due to injury after only 33 events. He rebounded in 2026 and ran the full Monster Jam schedule, and was one of only 2 drivers (along with teammate Tim Hall Jr) to compete in more than 90 racing brackets this season.
In head-to-head action, Bardin was 20-8 against teammate Tim Hall Jr, 9-16 against Blake Granger, 12-13 against Armando Castro, 17-5 against Carson Williams, 14-5 against Cliff Turner, 8-10 against Matt Cody, 7-0 against Angelina Nock, 5-1 against Weston Anderson, 4-2 against Chelsea VanCleave, 2-3 against Mike Christensen, 4-0 against Ashley Sanford, 3-1 against Tristan England, 4-0 against Travis Hall, and 3-0 against Brianna Mahon. He finished the season with a record of 129-73 and was one of only 4 drivers with more than 100 heat wins.
===== ALEX BARDIN 2026 SEASON SUMMARY =====
10/3 Fri Ngt : West Coast Nationals @ Red Bluff, CA = *** WINNER *** (288 pts)
10/4 Sat Ngt : West Coast Nationals @ Red Bluff, CA = RunnerUp (216 pts)
10/5 Sun Aft : West Coast Nationals @ Red Bluff, CA = RunnerUp (216 pts)
10/25 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Fall Stadium @ Glendale, AZ = Lost in first round (0 pts)
11/1 Sat Aft : Nitro @ Belton, TX = (did not compete)
11/1 Sat Ngt : Nitro @ Belton, TX = Lost in first round (0 pts)
1/2 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Salt Lake City, UT = Lost in semi-finals (106 pts)
1/3 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Salt Lake City, UT = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
1/3 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Salt Lake City, UT = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
1/4 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Salt Lake City, UT = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
1/9 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Reno, NV = RunnerUp (212 pts)
1/10 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Reno, NV = *** WINNER *** (318 pts)
1/10 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Reno, NV = *** WINNER *** (297 pts)
1/11 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Reno, NV = RunnerUp (212 pts)
1/11 Sun Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Reno, NV = Lost in semi-finals (106 pts)
1/16 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tacoma, WA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
1/17 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tacoma, WA = Lost in semi-finals (106 pts)
1/17 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tacoma, WA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
1/18 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tacoma, WA = RunnerUp (212 pts)
1/18 Sun Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tacoma, WA = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
1/23 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Sacramento, CA = Lost in semi-finals (106 pts)
1/24 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Sacramento, CA = Lost in semi-finals (106 pts)
1/24 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Sacramento, CA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
1/25 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Sacramento, CA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
1/31 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Fargo, ND = Lost in semi-finals (106 pts)
2/1 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Fargo, ND = RunnerUp (212 pts)
2/6 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Denver, CO = (non-points event)
2/7 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Denver, CO = (non-points event)
2/7 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Denver, CO = (non-points event)
2/8 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Denver, CO = (non-points event)
2/14 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Oklahoma City, OK = *** WINNER *** (312 pts)
2/14 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Oklahoma City, OK = Lost in first round (0 pts)
2/15 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Oklahoma City, OK = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
2/21 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Wichita, KS = Lost in first round (0 pts)
2/21 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Wichita, KS = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
2/22 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Wichita, KS = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
2/27 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Portland, OR = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
2/28 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Portland, OR = RunnerUp (190 pts)
2/28 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Portland, OR = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/1 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Portland, OR = RunnerUp (186 pts)
3/6 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Fresno, CA = RunnerUp (206 pts)
3/7 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Fresno, CA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/7 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Fresno, CA = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
3/8 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Fresno, CA = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
3/13 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Nampa, ID = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/14 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Nampa, ID = *** WINNER *** (309 pts)
3/14 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Nampa, ID = RunnerUp (206 pts)
3/15 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Nampa, ID = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/20 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tucson, AZ = RunnerUp (206 pts)
3/21 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tucson, AZ = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/21 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tucson, AZ = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/22 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tucson, AZ = RunnerUp (206 pts)
3/22 Sun Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Tucson, AZ = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
3/27 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Vancouver, BC = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/28 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Vancouver, BC = Lost in first round (0 pts)
3/28 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Vancouver, BC = Lost in semi-finals (92 pts)
3/29 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Vancouver, BC = RunnerUp (184 pts)
4/11 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Des Moines, IA = RunnerUp (206 pts)
4/11 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Des Moines, IA = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
4/12 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Des Moines, IA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
4/17 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Southaven, MS = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
4/18 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Southaven, MS = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
4/18 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Southaven, MS = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
4/19 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Southaven, MS = Lost in first round (0 pts)
4/24 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Huntsville, AL = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
4/25 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Huntsville, AL = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
4/25 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Huntsville, AL = Lost in first round (0 pts)
4/26 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Huntsville, AL = Lost in semi-finals (103 pts)
5/2 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Lincoln, NE = RunnerUp (168 pts)
5/2 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Lincoln, NE = Lost in first round (0 pts)
5/3 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Lincoln, NE = *** WINNER *** (252 pts)
5/9 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena West @ Moline, IL = RunnerUp (164 pts)
5/9 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena West @ Moline, IL = Lost in semi-finals (82 pts)
5/30 Sat Aft : Team Throttle Monster @ Lewistown, MT = Lost in first round (0 pts)
5/30 Sat Ngt : Team Throttle Monster @ Lewistown, MT = Lost in first round (0 pts)
6/6 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Austin, TX = (non-points event)
6/7 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Austin, TX = (non-points event)
6/10 Wed Ngt : MOD @ Merced, CA = *** WINNER *** (189 pts)
6/11 Thu Ngt : MOD @ Merced, CA = (NO REPORT)
6/19 Fri Ngt : Team Throttle Monster @ Cortez, CO = Lost in semi-finals (97 pts)
6/20 Sat Ngt : Team Throttle Monster @ Cortez, CO = Lost in semi-finals (97 pts)
6/21 Sun Aft : Father's Day Super Show @ Dacono, CO = Lost in first round (0 pts)
7/2 Thu Ngt : Monster Jam WF25 LCQ @ Salt Lake City, UT = RunnerUp (270 pts)
7/4 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam WF25 @ Salt Lake City, UT = Lost in first round (0 pts)
7/17 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Los Angeles, CA = Lost in semi-finals (102 pts)
7/18 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Los Angeles, CA = *** WINNER *** (306 pts)
7/18 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Los Angeles, CA = *** WINNER *** (291 pts)
7/19 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Los Angeles, CA = RunnerUp (204 pts)
7/19 Sun Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Los Angeles, CA = *** WINNER *** (306 pts)
7/24 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Las Vegas, NV = (non-points event)
7/25 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Las Vegas, NV = (non-points event)
7/25 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Las Vegas, NV = (non-points event)
7/26 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Las Vegas, NV = (non-points event)
7/30 Thu Ngt : Utah County Fair @ Spanish Fork, UT = *** WINNER *** (231 pts)
8/8 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Oakland, CA = (non-points event)
8/8 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Oakland, CA = (non-points event)
8/9 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Oakland, CA = (non-points event)
8/15 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Sacramento, CA = *** WINNER *** (297 pts)
8/15 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Sacramento, CA = *** WINNER *** (297 pts)
8/16 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Sacramento, CA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
8/21 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Fresno, CA = *** WINNER *** (297 pts)
8/22 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Fresno, CA = RunnerUp (198 pts)
8/22 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Fresno, CA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
8/23 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Fresno, CA = Lost in semi-finals (99 pts)
8/29 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Edmonton, AB = (non-points event)
8/29 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Edmonton, AB = (non-points event)
8/30 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ Edmonton, AB = (non-points event)
9/4 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ San Jose, CA = (non-points event)
9/5 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ San Jose, CA = (non-points event)
9/5 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ San Jose, CA = (non-points event)
9/6 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Summer Arena @ San Jose, CA = (non-points event)
9/11 Fri Ngt : Monster Jam Arena @ Calgary, AB = Lost in first round (0 pts)
9/12 Sat Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Calgary, AB = RunnerUp (198 pts)
9/13 Sun Aft : Monster Jam Arena @ Calgary, AB = RunnerUp (182 pts)
9/19 Sat Ngt : Monster Jam Stadium @ Seattle, WA = Lost in first round (0 pts)
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