* Jamie Sullivan strikes early with 2 wins in Nashville
** Jon Zimmer Jr continues dominance on All Star Tour
*** Team T-Rex debuts with two wins on Monster Truck Wars tours
CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): http://tinyurl.com/2c9veydh
WORLD MAP OF UPCOMING EVENTS (GOOGLE): https://tinyurl.com/yckcxz47
===== WEEKEND RECAP =====
It was tough picking just three stars to headline the recap this weekend because it’s the first quarter and there was action everywhere! Jamie Sullivan was a fun surprise as she won 2 of 3 finals on the Monster Jam East tour and also won the Sunday Overall Event Championship. Dalton Widner won 3 of 4 finals with the Monster Jam West tour to place 1 spot ahead of Sullivan in the standings. The Arena East, on the other hand, had 3 wins in 3 races including two-time Open Champion Mark Hall.
Don’t overlook the wild track and intense racing on the Monster Jam Stadium West series in San Francisco, where Adam Anderson won once and made both finals. The track was tight and technical but Anderson rose to the top and showed why he’s been a top contender for the Open Championship for the past 5 seasons.
On the independent points series, Jon Zimmer Jr (All Stars) and Daron Basl (Toughest) swept their weekends. Monster Truck Wars debuted their new T-Rex themed trucks both in Dallas and Lexington and the dino drivers Devin Jones and Aaron Basl each earned wins for the new team.
Thank you to everyone who reported results to us this weekend: Nick Migues, Phil Vicinanza, Kirk Nagy, Dallas Glenn-Rogers, Nick Davis, Bryan Wagner, Todd Morey, Josh Baumgartner, BK Moody, Robbie Williams, Jon Coonse, Dillon Fenley, and everyone who posted videos and photos online!
===== CURRENT STANDINGS =====
RANK : DRIVER : PTS/AVG : SCORE : RACES/WINS
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1 ) Tyler Menninga - 2959/211.36 : 1+3=4 : 14/11
2 ) Jimmy Creten - 1902/190.2 : 4+4=8 : 10/7
3 ) Adam Anderson - 1466/293.2 : 8+1=9 : 5/2
4 ) Ryan Anderson - 1358/271.6 : 12+2=14 : 5/2
5 ) Preston Collins - 1832/130.86 : 5+10=15 : 14/6
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6 ) Bari Musawwir - 2697/122.59 : 2+13=15 : 22/4
7 ) David Olfert - 1385/138.5 : 9+8=17 : 10/2
8 ) Armando Castro - 2427/121.35 : 3+14=17 : 20/3
9 ) Jon Zimmer Jr - 1194/170.57 : 15+6=21 : 7/6
10) Rob Poutre - 1370/124.55 : 11+11=22 : 11/2
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11) Brandon Arthur - 1351/122.82 : 13+12=25 : 11/4
12) Devin Winfield - 1650/110.00 : 7+20=27 : 15/3
13) Alex Bardin - 1807/106.29 : 6+22=28 : 17/6
14) Zack Garner - 1084/135.5 : 20+9=29 : 8/2
15) Dalton Widner - 1382/106.31 : 10+21=31 : 13/3
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16) Jamie Sullivan - 1189/118.9 : 16+16=32 : 10/2
17) Donald Epidendio - 880/176.00 : 28+5=33 : 5/2
18) Mikeal Christensen - 738/147.6 : 34+7=41 : 5/1
19) Dawn Creten - 846/120.86 : 29+15=44 : 7/2
20) Mark Hall - 910/113.75 : 26+18=44 : 8/2
===== ATLANTA, GA =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== BROOKSVILLE, FL =====
1/6 Sat Aft: JON ZIMMER JR [Terminal Velocity] defeated Triton Robbins [Krazy Train]
1/7 Sun Aft: JON ZIMMER JR [Terminal Velocity] defeated Jon Zimmer Sr [Uproar]
Jon Zimmer Jr has won 6 of his 7 events this season and has been in all the final rounds. He beat out defending All Star Tour series champion Triton Robbins in Krazy Train on Saturday afternoon in Brooksville and then bested his father Jon Sr on Sunday. Jon Sr is the only driver who has been able to beat Jon Jr so far this season. The All Star Tour heads to Naples, Florida this weekend for Round 2 of their Monster Mashers points series.
===== CHANDLER, AZ =====
1/6 Sat Aft: ROB POUTRE [Bounty Hunter] defeated Dawn Creten [Scarlet Bandit]
1/7 Sun Aft: MICHAEL BRISTER [Hot Tamale] defeated Dawn Creten [Scarlet Bandit]
Dawn Creten was the winningest female driver last year with 25 final rounds and she starts off the 2024 calendar year with a pair of runner-ups on the long drag track at Wild Horse Pass. Rob Poutre—who is filling in for Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter to start the season—picked up the racing win on Saturday afternoon, but was out of racing with breakage on Sunday. Michael Brister lost a very close race to Poutre in the semi-finals on Saturday and was able to go all the way on Sunday for his first win of the season. The 2Xtreme Tour will be in Lebanon, Missouri this weekend.
===== DALLAS, TX =====
1/6 Sat Aft: DEVIN JONES [T-Rex] defeated Preston Collins [Shark Attack]
1/6 Sat Ngt: MICHAEL HARPER [Outlaw] defeated Devin Jones [T-Rex]
Devin Jones debuted the new T-Rex scheme for Monster Truck Wars West and had a successful first outing with a win and runner-up finish in front of a sold-out crowd in Dallas, Texas. That’s his third win this season. Michael Harper picked up the evening win.
===== FLORENCE, SC =====
1/6 Sat Aft: MARK HALL [Raminator] defeated Kurt Kraehmer [Rammunition]
1/6 Sat Ngt: CHAD TINGLER [Over Bored] defeated Zack Garner [Wild Side]
1/7 Sun Aft: ARMANDO CASTRO [El Toro Loco] defeated Chad Tingler [Over Bored]
The Monster Jam Arena East series saw the veterans taking some top honors during the first weekend out. Former two-time Open Champion Mark Hall beat out teammate Kurt Kraehmer to start the weekend and is currently ranked 20th overall. Kraehmer advanced to the finals on Sunday, too, but broke after the semis and was replaced by eventual Sunday winner Armando Castro. Chad Tingler is piloting the Over Bored name this first quarter and grabbed a win and runner-up finish in Florence, which is already halfway to his total final round appearances from last year. The East Tour will be in Greensboro, North Carolina this weekend which is usually a timed event.
===== LEXINGTON, VA =====
1/6 Sat Aft: AARON BASL [T-Rex] defeated Kaley Engstrom [Shark Attack]
The new T-Rex team had success in the Monster Truck Wars East series, too, as Aaron Basl took a bite out of Kaley Engstrom in the finals for his first win of the season. Engstrom showed good speed in his first career final round appearance and is still chasing her first win. She’ll have three chances to do it this weekend in Wingate, North Carolina.
===== MADRID, SPAIN =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== NASHVILLE, TN =====
1/6 Sat Aft: JAMIE SULLIVAN [Monster Mutt Dalmation] defeated Fernando Martinez [El Toro Loco]
1/6 Sat Ngt: BRANDAN TULACHKA [Just Get-Er-Done] defeated Jamie Sullivan [Monster Mutt Dalmation]
1/7 Sun Aft: JAMIE SULLIVAN [Monster Mutt Dalmation] defeated Fernando Martinez [El Toro Loco]
Rookie Jamie Sullivan had 1 win in her 47 Monster Jam Arena events last year for an 88th overall ranking, but she has come out of the gates strong with 2 wins and 3 finals (plus Sunday’s Overall Event Championship) with the Monster Jam Arena Central tour! She had two wins over Weston Anderson and two over Brianna Mahon during the weekend and was 8-for-9 in heat races. Rookie Fernando Martinez picks up two runner-up finishes in only his 3rd weekend behind the wheel. The Central Tour will be in Kansas City, Missouri this weekend.
===== PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ =====
1/5 Fri Ngt: DARON BASL [Blockhead] defeated Tyler Groth [The Veteran]
1/6 Sat Ngt: DARON BASL [Blockhead] defeated Marc McDonald [Dirt Crew Dozer]
Daron Basl was the Toughest Monster Truck in Prescott Valley, picking up a weekend sweep with two racing wins. He finished in the final round in nearly half of his 53 events last season and is matching that performance now with 2 finals rounds in his first 5 events this season. The Toughest Tour moves to Rio Rancho, New Mexico for Round 2 this weekend.
===== PUEBLO, CO =====
1/6 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event
1/6 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this event
We are still waiting to hear back on news from Pueblo. We know that Tim Hall Jr won in the afternoon on the concrete holeshot course. We still need to figure out the winner and runner-up (at least) for the evening’s race.
===== SALINA, KS =====
1/6 Sat Aft: MICHAEL VATERS II [Overkill Evolution] defeated Josh Baumgartner [Mechanical Mischief]
1/6 Sat Ngt: MICHAEL VATERS II [Overkill Evolution] defeated Michael Vaters I [Black Stallion]
That’s four wins in a row to start the season to Michael Vaters II. He was the fastest man on the holeshot track and won all 6 heats of racing with the Kicker Nationals in Salina. The Vaters Monster Motorsports crew will be part of an 8-truck field with the CFP No Limits Winter Nationals in Belton, Texas this weekend.
===== SALT LAKE CITY, UT =====
1/5 Fri Ngt: DALTON WIDNER [Jurassic Attack] defeated Tony Ochs [ThunderROARus ]
1/6 Sat Aft: BRANDON VINSON [Grave Digger] defeated Dalton Widner [Jurassic Attack]
1/6 Sat Ngt: DALTON WIDNER [Jurassic Attack] defeated Brandon Vinson [Grave Digger]
1/7 Sun Aft: DALTON WIDNER [Jurassic Attack] defeated James Calhoun [Earth Shaker]
Dalton Widner had a solid 16th place ranking in last year’s Open Championship and now starts the 2024 chase one spot better in 15th. He picked up his first three wins of the season and advanced to the final round every race in Salt Lake City with the Monster Jam Arena West series. If he can keep things rolling, he’s got a chance to earn a lot of big points this weekend, too, as the tour heads to Tacoma for the always-taxing 5-race weekend at the Tacoma Dome.
===== SAN ANGELO, TX =====
1/6 Sat Ngt: BRANDON SWICK [Geronimo] defeated Ron Nelson [Nitro Hornet]
Brandon Swick was called the winner in a tight holeshot race against veteran Ron Nelson with the CFP No Limits Tour in San Angelo. Big Ed’s crew stays in state this weekend with a big 8-truck field under the dome in Belton, Texas.
===== SAN FRANCISCO, CA =====
1/6 Sat Aft: ADAM ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Bari Musawwir [Zombie]
1/7 Sun Aft: RYAN ANDERSON [Son-uva Digger] defeated Adam Anderson [Grave Digger]
Monster Jam debuted a wild Crazy-8 style course in San Francisco that featured an elevated start, banked first turn, and gap-jump before the finish line which truly tested the driver’s handling skills on the Stadium West tour. Adam Anderson came out strong with a win and runner-up to kick start his season. That’s his 2nd win of the season after Arlington in October (our season begins in October) and has Adam in 3rd place as he chases after his first Open Championship. Brother Ryan beat Adam on Sunday and currently sits 4th.
===== VICTORIA, BC =====
1/5 Fri Ngt: BILL PAYNE [Rock Star] defeated Dallas Glenn-Rogers [Spitfire]
1/6 Sat Aft: CARSON WILLIAMS [NAPA Auto Parts] defeated Marvin Anderson [Identity Theft]
1/6 Sat Ngt: DALLAS GLENN-ROGERS [Spitfire] defeated Bill Payne [Rock Star]
A lot of different winners at the RAM Motor Spectacular in Victoria. Straight-Up Racing debuted their new NAPA sponsorship and Carson Williams picked up the truck’s first win on Saturday afternoon. Dallas Glenn-Rogers and Bill Payne met in the finals twice with each driver taking home a win.
===== EVENTS THIS WEEKEND =====
Albany, NY (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live)
Austin, TX (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live)
Belton, TX (No Limits! Monster Truck Nationals)
Cedar Rapids, IA (Monster Truck Nitro Tour)
Greensboro, NC (Monster Jam Arena Championship East)
Kansas City, MO (Monster Jam Arena Championship Central)
Kelowna, BC (RAM Motorsports Spectacular)
Lebanon, MO (2Xtreme Monster Trucks Live Tour)
Leeds, England (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live)
Mercedes, TX (Monster Truck Wars)
Monroe, LA (No Limits! Monster Truck Nationals)
Naples, FL (All Star Monster Truck Tour)
North Bendigo, Australia (Monster Thrillmasters Live)
Rio Rancho, NM (Toughest Monster Truck Tour)
San Antonio, TX (Monster Jam Stadium Championship East)
San Diego, CA (Monster Jam Stadium Championship West)
Tacoma, WA (Monster Jam Arena Championship West)
Wingate, NC (Monster Truck Wars)