This Week in Monster Truck Racing - February 27-March 1, 2026

=== This Week in Monster Truck Racing ===

* Zack Garner wins wild night in New Orleans

** Brandon Arthur does it again with another substitute win

*** Six different finalists for the X Tour in Medford

CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/mtroc260304b

BLOG POST RECAP: https://www.mtroc.com/blog

===== WEEKEND RECAP FOR FEBRUARY 27^th – MARCH 1^st, 2026 =====

Zack Garner came into New Orleans 0-for-7 in final rounds this season. After watching the Red Lane turn over 4 different trucks through the night, he used his lane choice to take what appeared to be the bad lane and used the tacky clay to slingshot past World #1 Tyler Menninga over the final jump and finally claim his first win of the season! If you missed the action in New Orleans, be sure to check out the Monster Jam YouTube page to watch it yourself because it was a classic!

In Tampa, Brandon Arthur filled in for Tristan England who was out sick, and just like last time Arthur took the JCB DIGatron to the winner’s circle. He nearly did it again on Sunday against Camden Murphy until a rollover in the final turn handed the win to Murphy—who had nearly rolled over himself!

The Monster X Tour in Abilene was a duel between Tyler Groth and Byron Cadigan and saw Cadigan end Groth’s 3-race winning streak. In Medford, it was another story, as all 6 of the drivers made their way into the final round at least once.

The top drivers on the All Star Monster Mashers tour met in the finals with Nick Pagliarulo and Jacob Ladwig splitting the weekend. Nick in Kraken continues to lead the points series.

Weston Anderson won three times in Rosemont, but the duo of Brianna Mahon and Abe Galvan got Ringling Bailey Circuit into the finals 3 times, as well.

In Little Rock, Triton Robbins finally broke through with his first win of the season on the toughest Arena tour this season. He took out both Jon Zimmer Jr and Coty Saucier on his way to the checkered flag.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us with reporting events this week: Tim Manchester, Stanley Hernandez, Dallas Glenn-Rogers, Kreg Christensen, Brian Leach, Dillon Fenley, Kaley Engstrom, Brett Mason, Bryan Wagner, Tyler Groth, Nate Bay and everyone who posted videos and photos online especially YouTubers MonsterJamFan0311, Anish, and Zacher59!

===== CURRENT STANDINGS =====

RANK : DRIVER : PTS/AVG : SCORE : RACES/WINS

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1 ) Tyler Menninga - 5405/300.28 : 5+1=6 : 18/8

2 ) Coty Saucier - 5891/210.39 : 3+6=9 : 28/14

3 ) Jon Zimmer Jr - 6644/207.63 : 2+7=9 : 32/14

4 ) Zack Garner - 3998/235.18 : 7+3=10 : 17/1

5 ) Blake Granger - 8373/182.02 : 1+11=12 : 46/20

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6 ) David Olfert - 3060/235.38 : 14+2=16 : 13/8

7 ) Camden Murphy - 3586/224.13 : 11+5=16 : 16/6

8 ) Bill Payne - 4203/182.74 : 6+10=16 : 23/12

9 ) Weston Anderson - 3920/186.67 : 8+9=17 : 21/9

10) Alex Bardin - 5567/159.06 : 4+16=20 : 35/10

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11) Ryan Anderson - 3212/188.94 : 13+8=21 : 17/3

12) Donald Epidendio - 2325/232.5 : 26+4=30 : 10/6

13) Brandon Arthur - 3686/147.44 : 10+20=30 : 25/9

14) Adam Anderson - 2781/173.81 : 19+14=33 : 16/2

15) Bari Musawwir - 3001/157.95 : 16+18=34 : 19/1

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16) Colt Stephens - 3033/151.65 : 15+19=34 : 20/3

17) Dalton Widner - 2752/161.88 : 20+15=35 : 17/0

18) Jimmy Creten - 2527/180.5 : 24+12=36 : 14/10

19) Armando Castro - 3522/113.61 : 12+29=41 : 31/2

20) Tristan England - 2113/176.08 : 30+13=43 : 12/1

===== BIGGEST IMPROVEMENTS =====

+11 – Triton Robbins (Krazy Train) – 25^th

+8 – Brianna Mahon (Ringling Bailey Circuit) – 66^th

+6 – Michael Pagliarulo (Excaliber) – 42^nd

+6 – Tyler Groth (The Veteran) – 56^th 

+5 – Devin Jones (T-Rex) – 29^th 

===== NEWLY RANKED =====

39^th - Marvin Anderson (Identity Theft)

60^th - Dallas Glenn-Rogers (Spitfire)

65^th - Austin Minton (Brutal)

72^nd - Brandan Tulachka (Zombie)

76^th - Johnny Davenport (Ghost Ryder)

82^nd - Mikayla Tulachka (Megalodon)

83^rd - Abe Galvan (El Toro Loco)

===== ABILENE, TX =====

2/28 Sat Aft: BYRON CADIGAN [Bear Foot] defeated Tyler Groth [The Veteran]

2/28 Sat Ngt: TYLER GROTH [The Veteran] defeated Byron Cadigan [Bear Foot]

The X Tour was in Abilene for two events of racing. Tyler Groth came into this race on a 3-race winning streak, but it was ended by Byron Cadigan scoring his 2^nd win of the season during the afternoon bracket on a J-Turn track. The track was extended to a Chicago-style course for the evening and the extra turn made a difference as Tyler Groth came back to beat Cadigan and take his 4^th win of the season.

===== BUFFALO, TX =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: DILLON FENLEY [Crazy Heifer] defeated Johnny Davenport [Ghost Ryder]

2/28 Sat Ngt: JOHNNY DAVENPORT [Ghost Ryder] defeated Lexy Overman [Crazy Heifer]

Dillon Fenley extended his winning streak to 6 events with another win on the Monster Trucks Maniac tour. He gave the wheel of Crazy Heifer to Lexy Overman for Saturday night, but she came up a bit short against Johnny Davenport who won in Ghost Ryder.

===== CAMP VERDE, AZ =====

2/28 Sat Aft: KORY KINAL [Jekyll & Hyde] defeated Austin Minton [Brutal]

2/28 Sat Ngt: DAN DAHLGREN [Shark Bite] defeated Austin Minton [Brutal]

Kory Kinal and Dan Dahlgren each took wins on the 2X Live tour in Arizona on a wide Chicago-style course. The tour has had 5 different winners in its last 5 events. Tour patriarch Jimmy Creten was on had but did not compete in the racing bracket as he was filling in for an ill Dennis Anderson driving the Extreme King Sling truck in freestyle.

===== CHATHAM, VA =====

2/28 Sat Mrn: BRANDON PEZO [Outlaw] defeated Kaley Engstrom [Shark Attack]

2/28 Sat Aft: KALEY ENGSTROM [Shark Attack] defeated Brandon Pezo [Outlaw]

2/28 Sat Ngt: COLTEN BUDD [Loco Motive] defeated Colton Fowler [T-Rex]

3/1 Sun Aft: BRANDON PEZO [Outlaw] defeated Colten Budd [Shark Attack]

For the second weekend in a row, the Monster Truck Wars tour ran 4 events in 2 days! Brandon Pezo grabbed two wins while Kaley Engstrom and Colten Budd took the middle two.

===== COLORADO SPRINGS, CO =====

This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== EDMONTON, AB =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: BILL PAYNE [Rock Star] defeated Marvin Anderson [Identity Theft]

2/28 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event

2/28 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this event

3/1 Sun Aft: We do not have results from this event

We only have enough info for the Friday night bracket from the RAM Motorsports Spectacular in Edmonton, but we know that Bill Payne took that win. He has 12 wins and 20 finals in his 23 races this season.

===== GASTONIA, NC =====

2/28 Sat Aft: DEVIN JONES [T-Rex] defeated Jerry Furajter [Shark Attack]

3/1 Sun Aft: DEVIN JONES [T-Rex] defeated Jerry Furajter [Shark Attack]

Devin Jones took both wins in North Carolina on the Monster Truck Wars tour this weekend. Although we’re missing a lot of events from Jones’ tour (15 of his 36 events), he has done excellent in the events for which we do have results. He has been in the finals in his last 16 reported events and has won 8 of the last 10. That kind of performance has him and his T-Rex truck 5 spots this week into the Top 30.

===== KLAMATH FALLS, OR =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: We do not have results from this event

2/28 Sat Ngt: NO POINTS; This event did not meet the minimum of 4 trucks scheduled to compete

Leroy Latham won the racing bracket for the Insanity Tour on Saturday night in Klamath Falls, but with only 3 trucks scheduled to compete, this weekend’s action did not meet the 4-truck minimum to be scored for points.

===== LAREDO, TX =====

This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== LITTLE ROCK, AR =====

2/28 Sat Ngt: JON ZIMMER JR [Terminal Velocity] defeated Triton Robbins [Krazy Train]

3/1 Sun Aft: TRITON ROBBINS [Krazy Train] defeated Coty Saucier [Dragon]

Triton Robbins finally scored his first win of the season on Sunday afternoon after 7 previous runner-up finishes, including the previous night. The Monster Jam Arena East tour is the toughest Arena tour this season and has seen tough racing competition every week. Robbins improved to 3-10 and 2-5 against Jon Zimmer Jr and Coty Saucier on his way to the Sunday win and gained 12 spots in the rankings to reach 24^th overall.

===== MEDFORD, OR =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: KREG CHRISTENSEN [Farmageddon] defeated Rob Poutre [Carolina Crusher]

2/28 Sat Aft: JERROD COMPTON [Monster Patrol] defeated Brian Leach [Boss Gator]

2/28 Sat Ngt: CADEN MORRIS [Dragon Slayer] defeated Stanley Hernandez [Werewolf]

The X Tour was back in Medford with more big crowds for 3 full events of racing. Veteran Kreg Christensen took his new Farmageddon truck into the winner’s circle when Rob Poutre lost an engine over the first jump in the final round. On Saturday afternoon, Jerrod Compton beat out Brian Leach to add another win to the long list of Monster Patrol wins though the years. On Saturday night, the final 2 drivers out of the 6 made the finals with Caden Morris driving Dragon Slayer—the truck made famous by his grandfather Kreg Christensen—to the win over Stanley Hernandez. This was his 3^rd win of the season and he capped it off with a dual freestyle with Kreg to end the weekend.

===== NEW ORLEANS, LA =====

2/28 Sat Ngt: ZACK GARNER [Wild Side] defeated Tyler Menninga [Grave Digger]

The historic Superdome saw some of the most exciting and interesting racing of the weekend! The final turn of the Red lane on the St Louis style track caused 3 roll-overs in the first 4 heats of the night. The tacky turn tumbled event the best of drivers like Cory Rummel, Jamey Garner, John Gordon, Ryan Anderson, and almost got Bryce Kenny.

The first man to tame the bull was series points leader and current #1 racer in the world Tyler Menninga, who managed to stay underpower while lifting both inside tires in his semi-final race against Kayla Blood in Sparkle Smash. Zack Garner—who had been in the finals in 3 of the last 4 Stadium events and 7 times overall but without a win—also surprised the crowd by winning in the Red Lane over Dalton Widner. And suddenly going into the finals, it looked like maybe the Red Lane was now favored!

Garner and Menninga have already met 4 times in the finals this season and Menninga has won all 4, but Garner had lane choice in the finals and with a difficult decision to make: either the seemingly safer Blue Lane, or the Red Lane which had been turning trucks over in the early rounds and then became the winning lane in the semis. Garner took the Red Lane and it appeared to be a poor choice as Menninga led by a truck-length-and-a-half out of the first turn, but he got the Digger in too tight against the turning bump and lost momentum. Garner handled the final Red turn expertly and used the extra-tacky track to slingshot past the slowing Menninga to win the race over the final jump!

===== PORTLAND, OR =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: ALEX BARDIN [Earth Shaker] defeated Armando Castro [El Toro Loco]

2/28 Sat Aft: MATT CODY [Grave Digger] defeated Alex Bardin [Earth Shaker]

2/28 Sat Ngt: BLAKE GRANGER [Monster Mutt Dalmatian] defeated Matt Cody [Grave Digger]

3/1 Sun Aft: BLAKE GRANGER [Monster Mutt Dalmatian] defeated Alex Bardin [Earth Shaker]

Alex Bardin and Blake Granger have been the two guys to watch in Monster Jam racing on the Arena West tour. These two have won 23 of the 33 racing events on tour this season. Bardin started the weekend with a win and added two runner-up finishes in both afternoon events. With 10 wins on tour, Bardin now joins the Top 10 in the Open Championship.

After a slow start to the weekend, Blake Granger responded in a big way with two wins in the final two events, taking out both of the previous winners: Matt Cody and Bardin. Granger leads the world with 20 racing wins and stays within the Top 5. He is having trouble gaining ground in the rankings, however, since he already leads in Total Points (so he cannot gain ground there) and he caps out at about 279 points per event on the Arena Tour, so it is a struggle to increase his Average.

===== ROSEMONT, IL =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: BRIANNA MAHON [Ringling Bailey Circuit] defeated Brandan Tulachka [Zombie]

2/28 Sat Aft: WESTON ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Brandan Tulachka [Zombie]

2/28 Sat Ngt: FERNANDO MARTINEZ [El Toro Loco] defeated Brianna Mahon [Ringling Bailey Circuit]

3/1 Sun Aft: WESTON ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Charlie Pauken III [Classroom Crusher]

3/1 Sun Ngt: WESTON ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Abe Galvan [Ringling Bailey Circuit]

Another long weekend in Rosemont with 5 events in store for the 8 Monster Jam Arena Central drivers. Brianna Mahon had a great start with a win and runner-up in the first three races, but she was out on Sunday with illness. Her replacement was Chicago-native Abe Galvan who got the Ringling Bailey Circuit truck back in the finals on Sunday night, giving that team 3 final round appearances. The two events he ran also gave him enough events to join the rankings this week.

Brandan Tulachka was runner-up in the first two events of the weekend, marking his first two finals of the season, but neither resulted in a win. Both Brandan and sister Mikayla joined the rankings this weekend.

The big winner of the weekend was—to no one’s surprise—Weston Anderson in Grave Digger. He took 3 of the 5 events He stays in his 9^th place ranking this weekend.

===== SPARTANBURG, SC =====

2/28 Sat Aft: JACOB LADWIG [Rat Attack] defeated Nick Pagliarulo [Kraken]

3/1 Sun Aft: NICK PAGLIARULO [Kraken] defeated Jacob Ladwig [Rat Attack]

The top two trucks on the All Star Monster Mashers tour met in both finals in Spartansburg and ended the weekend in a draw. Nick is 7-5 against Jacob in head-to-head racing this season.

===== SPRINGFIELD, MO =====

2/27 Fri Ngt: AARON BASL [Night Life] defeated Jordan Fisher [Wild Side]

2/28 Sat Ngt: ALEC WHITE [Bad Decision] defeated Tim Jones [Tailgator]

The MAP Outlaw Nationals returned to the Wilson Logistics Arena at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds for a third year and saw more great racing this year. Aaron Basl won for the 3^rd straight event, taking out Jordan Fisher in Wild Side. Basl had his winning streak end in the first round on Saturday to Alec White in the new-look Bad Decision. White went on to take the overall racing win.

===== TAMPA, FL =====

2/28 Sat Ngt: BRANDON ARTHUR [JCB DIGatron] defeated Colt Stephens [ThunderROARus]

3/1 Sun Aft: CAMDEN MURPHY [Classroom Crusher] defeated Brandon Arthur [JCB DIGatron]

Brandon Arthur was back on the Stadium Series, filling in for Tristan England who was ill. And just like he did during his last substitute race, Arthur went straight to the finals. He beat Colt Stephens in the night race and then lost a wild finish on Sunday. Both he and Camden Murphy bicycled in the final turn of the PJ-Style track. Arthur went all the way over onto his roof while Murphy managed to save it and—after realizing that the race was still on—wrestled the truck back on track to pick up his 6^th win of the season. Arthur now has 9 wins himself and raised up 4 rankings to 13^th place overall.

===== EVENTS THIS WEEKEND =====

Dothan, AL (Monster Truck Wars)

Fresno, CA (Monster Jam Arena Series West)

Hampton, VA (Monster Jam Arena Series East)

Hugo, OK (Monster Trucks Maniac)

Louisville, KY (Monster Jam Arena Series)

Martin, TN (Monster Truck Wars)

Montgomery, AL (Monster X Tour)

Rapid City, SD (Road 2 Destruction Tour)

Rockford, IL (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-n-Fire Event)

Saginaw, MI (Toughest Monster Truck Tour)

Sonora, CA (2X Monster Trucks Live)

Wilkes-Barre, PA (Monster Jam Arena Series Central)

Winder, GA (All Star Monster Truck Tour)