This Week in Monster Truck Racing - July 23-28, 2026

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

* Sensational 2X racing at Scotia Speedworld

** Zach Winchenbach runs away with racing in Onaway

*** Bill Payne sweeps racing in Elma

CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/mtroc260729

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

===== WEEKEND RECAP FOR JULY 23^rd – 28^th, 2026 =====

We are down to 9 weekends remaining in the 2026 Open Championship and it looks like Bill Payne will play another big role in deciding the champion as he continued to rack up wins and points and is now closing in on 4^th place. Payne won both races in Elma, Washington this weekend and the Malicious Tour still has a full schedule remaining between now and October.

Zach Winchenbach won for the 3^rd time in 4 races with Throwdown in an exciting final round over David Olfert in Onaway. We also saw excellent racing from the 2X Tour on the long and fast asphalt Chicago-style track in Nova Scotia where Jimmy Creten, Dawn Creten, and Dan Dahlgren each earned wins. The Hi Octane final in Harrisburg saw Colton Kiser give it his all racing to the final turn but ended up on his lid after clipping the turning tire. Cheech Agosh won his first race of the year in a photo finish against teammate Kurt Kraehmer in Illinois. The Full Throttle crew has been using video to decide all of their races recently, with Roger Gauger and Chris Rogers both winning by inches on their Midwest tour.

This weekend coming up has 2X Live continuing their Canadian tour in Newfoundland, Monster Jam running a rare Thursday night event at Foxborough, Full Throttle staying busy with four events in four cities through the week, Throwdown’s 1992 throwback race in Holland, Michigan, and MAP returning to Springfield, and round two of the Monsterrace points series in Sweden!  

Thank you to everyone who has helped us with reporting events this week: Joe Coaster, Connor McNeil, Jeremy Hall, Kaden Morris, Dillon Fenley, Chris Davis, Phil Vicinanza, Nick Jones, Levi Schones, Preston Perez, Paul Craighead, J.r Rouse, Mark Werner, Ryan Robinson, Max Gillie, Mike Christensen, Tim Howard, and everyone who posted videos and photos online!

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

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

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1 ) Jon Zimmer Jr - 12804/188.29 : 1+6=7 : 68/25

2 ) Tyler Menninga - 8265/306.11 : 7+1=8 : 27/13

3 ) Coty Saucier - 9654/205.4 : 4+5=9 : 47/18

4 ) Donald Epidendio - 6077/233.73 : 14+2=16 : 26/16

5 ) Bill Payne - 9211/177.13 : 5+11=16 : 52/25

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6 ) Blake Granger - 11411/158.49 : 2+15=17 : 72/23

7 ) Ryan Anderson - 5841/224.65 : 17+3=20 : 26/5

8 ) David Olfert - 6689/185.81 : 11+9=20 : 36/19

9 ) Tristan England - 5989/187.16 : 15+8=23 : 32/5

10) Weston Anderson - 6584/173.26 : 12+12=24 : 38/15

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11) Alex Bardin - 11152/137.68 : 3+21=24 : 81/18

12) Zack Garner - 5811/187.45 : 18+7=25 : 31/4

13) Armando Castro - 9009/143.00 : 6+19=25 : 63/18

14) Camden Murphy - 5170/206.8 : 23+4=27 : 25/8

15) Triton Robbins - 7909/138.75 : 8+20=28 : 57/9

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16) Adam Anderson - 5645/182.1 : 19+10=29 : 31/7

17) Jimmy Creten - 5454/170.44 : 20+13=33 : 32/20

18) Colt Stephens - 5283/170.42 : 22+14=36 : 31/7

19) Dalton Widner - 5431/155.17 : 21+17=38 : 35/3

20) Matt Cody - 7238/111.35 : 9+31=40 : 65/10

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

+4 - Dawn Creten (Scarlet Bandit) – 36^th 

+3 - Dan Dahlgren (Shark Bite) – 63^rd 

+3 - Chris Davis (Fire Hazzard) – 88^th 

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

53^rd - Steven Thompson (Hurricane Force)

98^th - Jim Pigeon (Xtreme Jim)

===== ALBION, IL =====

7/25 Sat Ngt: CHRIS ROGERS [Relentless] defeated Dalton VanSkyock [Stomper]

Chris Rogers beat out Bigfoot in the first round of drag racing with the Full Throttle Tour in Albion and then power-wheelied through no-man’s land in the final round to barely inch past Dalton VanSkyock for his first win of the season. Thomas Borders had qualified for the finals but was unable to return when the rear left planetary locked up.

===== ALTUS, OK =====

7/25 Sat Ngt: KREG CHRISTENSEN [Unhinged] defeated Gabe Montoya [The Felon]

Kreg Christensen added another win to his legendary career, this time driving the new Unhinged truck. This event also saw the debut of the new CleanBoost truck driven by Ryan Robinson, and the debut of rookie Pamasio Montoya in Misfit.

===== BRENHAM, TX =====

7/24 Fri Ngt: JOHNNY DAVENPORT [Ghost Ryder] defeated Chris Davis [Nitro Hornet]

7/25 Sat Ngt: CHRIS DAVIS [Nitro Hornet] defeated David Smith [King Krunch]

Chris Davis picked up his 3^rd win of the season on Saturday night and Johnny Davenport scored his 6^th with the Monster Trucks Maniac tour in Brenham.

===== BROWNSTOWN, IN =====

7/27 Mon Ngt: ROGER GAUGER [Bigfoot] defeated William Beck [Dirt Crew]

In another photo finish, Roger Gauger edged out rookie William Beck in Dirt Crew to score another win for Team Bigfoot. The Full Throttle Tour has seen some incredibly close racing this summer and Brownstown was no exception. The tour continues this week with events in Valparaiso, Rensselaer, Leadington, and Mount Vernon!  

===== CLEAR BROOK, VA =====

7/28 Tue Ngt: BRANDON DERROW [Bad News Travels Fast] defeated JR Seasock [Play'n' Hookie]

Hometown favorite Virginia Giant broke after qualifying at the annual Clear Brook races. Brandon Derrow raced past both Hurricane Force and Play’n’ Hookie on his way to his 5^th win this season.

===== CLOVIS, NM =====

7/26 Sun Aft: KREG CHRISTENSEN [Unhinged] defeated Gabe Montoya [The Felon]

The Nitro Tour moved south to Clovis with the same line-up as in Oklahoma and saw the same results, with Kreg Christensen grab another win—his 4^th of the year.

===== DUNKIRK, NY =====

This Team Robbins event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== ELMA, WA =====

7/24 Fri Ngt: BILL PAYNE [Rock Star] defeated Nick Jones [Spitfire]

7/25 Sat Ngt: BILL PAYNE [Rock Star] defeated Gavin Sell [Mixed Up]

Bill Payne has now tied Jon Zimmer Jr with 25 wins this season and is about 444 points back from 4^th place in the Open rankings after he won both of the SoCal races in Elma, Washington. The Malicious Tour still has plenty of events left this season and it looks like Bill Payne—as he did last season—will play another role in determining the Open champion as he continued to accumulate points.

===== ELMIRA, NY =====

7/25 Sat Aft: MICHAEL HAWKINS [Equalizer] defeated Justin Perkins [Backdraft]

Mayhem Monster Trucks brought the big trucks back to Elmira, New York. This event only had two trucks inside the small arena and so it did not count for points, but we can report that Mike Hawkins in Equalizer won the concrete holeshot race over Backdraft.

===== EVANSTON, WY =====

This Full Contact Racing event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== GOFFS, NS =====

7/24 Fri Ngt: DAWN CRETEN [Scarlet Bandit] defeated Jimmy Creten [Bounty Hunter]

7/25 Sat Aft: JIMMY CRETEN [Bounty Hunter] defeated Dawn Creten [Scarlet Bandit]

7/26 Sun Aft: DAN DAHLGREN [Shark Bite] defeated Jimmy Creten [Bounty Hunter]

2X Live returned north to Nova Scotia and the big asphalt track at Scotia Speedworld and from reports we’ve heard, this year was some of the best racing the speedway has ever seen! Jimmy Creten was fast in qualifying all three days and made the finals in every event, which gained him 2 spots in the Open Championship. Dawn Creten picked up a win and runner-up and was our biggest improver for the weekend gaining 4 spots. Dan Dahlgren was out of racing on Saturday with engine problems but he returned in fine fashion to upset both Dawn and Jimmy to pick up his 7^th win of the year.

===== HARRISBURG, IL =====

7/23 Thu Ngt: TOMMY VARILONE [Dirt Crew] defeated Colton Kiser [Gone Fishin']

The weekend started early with exciting racing in Harrisburg, Illinois with the Hi Octane tour. The tight J-turn track made getting into the turn a key component for gaining the win. In the finals, Colton Kiser raced hard into the turn, clipped the turning tire, and had a fairly high-speed roll, fortunately missing Dirt Crew in the opposing lane.

===== INDIANAPOLIS, IN =====

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

===== LAS VEGAS, NV =====

This Monster Jam Arena event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== LASALLE, IL =====

7/25 Sat Aft: DANIEL AGOSH [Raminator] defeated Kurt Kraehmer [Ramdemption]

Daniel Agosh beat teammate Kurt Kraehmer in their first head-to-head race of the season at the Outlaw Drags in LaSalle. The final round on the Chicago-style track was a photo finish.

===== LEBANON, CT =====

This Vaters Monster Motorsports event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== MIDDLEBOURNE, WV =====

7/25 Sat Aft: PRESTON PÉREZ [Velociraptor] defeated Preston Collins [Jurassic Attack]

7/25 Sat Ngt: STEVEN THOMPSON [Hurricane Force] defeated Cliff Vowell [Virginia Giant]

All four drivers took a turn in the final round of the Renegade Tour races in West Virginia. The track was a giant half-Chicago style track around the banked dirt track. The Prestons from Team Throttle Monster met up for their 13^th head-to-head race this season and Preston Perez now leads 7-6 after picking up his 8^th win of the season and gaining 2 spots in the rankings. Later that night, Steven Thompson spun out coming out of turn four, but had built just enough of a lead to maintain it and edge out Cliff Vowell at the line.

===== MIDDLETOWN, NY =====

7/24 Fri Ngt: CORY SNYDER [Toxic] defeated RJ Turner [War Wizard]

7/25 Sat Ngt: DANIEL DONNELLY [Illuminator] defeated Chris DeHoyos [Higher Education]

7/26 Sun Ngt: We do not have results from this event

Cory Snyder won the first night of racing in Middletown and Dan Donnelly took races two and three as JM Motorsports Productions brought six trucks to the Orange County Speedway. We are still waiting on the Sunday night racing results but will include those in the points once we get them.

===== MORA, MN =====

7/25 Sat Ngt: BRANDI SCHMIDT [Monster Patrol] defeated Corree Labbee [Public Nuisance]

The Kanabec County Fair was a pleasant surprise this weekend with some fast and intense racing from six trucks on a short two-jump drag racing track. Both Allen and Brandon Pezo took wins in the first round but lost out in the second, as Corree Labbee in Public Nuisance took out Allen in a close race and Brandon was disqualified for a false start against fast-loser Brandi Schmidt, whom he had narrowly defeated in the first round. In the finals, both drivers were fast on the light and by only a few inches Brandi Schmidt crossed the line first for her first win of the season.

===== ONAWAY, MI =====

7/25 Sat Ngt: ZACH WINCHENBACH [Crushstation] defeated David Olfert [Dirt Crew]

The THrowdown drag racing at Onaway Speedway is always wild, with the trucks running wheel-to-wheel and sometimes even closer. Zach Winchenbach raced past fellow second-generation driver William Beck in Block Head in round one, and then beat out Mason Rife in teammate truck Lumberjack in the semi-finals. The final round against David Olfert got very wild with both trucks all over the track, but it was Crushstation getting to the final jump first. That’s his 3^rd win in his past 4 races.

===== PENSACOLA, FL =====

This Monster Jam Arena event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== RICHMOND, IL =====

This private event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.

===== SACRAMENTO, CA =====

7/25 Sat Ngt: ROB POUTRE [Geronimo] defeated Paul Craighead [Rampage]

7/26 Sun Ngt: ROB POUTRE [Geronimo] defeated Paul Craighead [Rampage]

Rob Poutre was back behind the wheel of Geronimo and won both drag racing events in Sacramento with the X-Tour. Paul Craighead in Rampage was runner-up both times.

===== SAN ANTONIO, TX =====

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

===== WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ =====

This Monster Truck RoundUp event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

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

Avondale, NL (World Series of Monster Trucks)

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

Foxborough, MA (Monster Jam Stadium Series)

Goshen, IN (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Grants Pass, OR (Monster X Tour)

Grayslake, IL (Monster Truck Throwdown)

Holland, MI (Monster Truck Throwdown)

Houston, TX (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-n-Fire Event)

Leadington, MO (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Loves Park, IL (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Marysville, OH (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Mount Vernon, OH (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Orrville, OH (Monster Truck Bash)

Post Falls, ID (Malicious Monster Truck Tour)

Rensselaer, IN (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Savannah, GA (Monster Jam Arena Series)

Springfield, MO (MAP O'Reilly Outlaw Nationals)

Töcksfors, Sweden (Monsterrace)

Valparaiso, IN (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)