* Dalton Widner wins 2 of 4 against Tyler Menninga to reach Top Ten
** Mike Christensen upsets Ryan Anderson in Albuquerque
*** Aaron Basl wins in east-versus-west super series
CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/mr3xj7r9
WORLD MAP OF UPCOMING EVENTS (GOOGLE): https://tinyurl.com/yckcxz47
===== WEEKEND RECAP FOR MARCH 15th – 17th, 2024 =====
The Monster Jam Stadium Series competitors moved to the flat track of the Arena series this weekend with races in Albuquerque. Friday night saw Ryan Anderson’s final round streak get broken in the first round by Colt Stephens, but the current world #1 was right back in the winner’s circle on Saturday piloting the Grave Digger truck. Mike Christensen also made his way to the finals and lost both times to Anderson on Saturday before beating Anderson clean by inches during the last race on Sunday. That performance moves Christensen back inside the Top Ten.
Dalton Widner welcomed reigning Open Champion Tyler Menninga to the Arena Series in Fresno where they split the weekend with 2 wins a piece, although Widner was the only one to make the finals in all four races. He also moves up into the Top Ten.
The Monster Truck Wars tours also had a meeting of uncommon rivals as the stars from their eastern and western series—Aaron Basl and Preston Collins—met for the first time in Seguin and it was veteran Basl coming out on top with 3 wins through the 4 races.
We also saw Triton Robbins finally break through with his first win on the All Star Tour; Donald Epidendio sweep three races against Straight Up Racing in Nevada; and Jerry Beck get his first win of the season on the Toughest Tour!
Take note that our new race minimum is now 15 races so some drivers were dropped this week until their reported race tally reaches the new minimum.
Thank you to everyone who reported results to us this weekend: Sean Green, Jerry Beck, Dallas Glenn-Rogers, Cameron Tweedy, Nate Bay, Bryan Wagner, Preston Collins, Jason Rivas, Kirk Nagy, Phil Vicinanza, and everyone who posted videos and photos online!
===== CURRENT STANDINGS =====
RANK : DRIVER : PTS/AVG : SCORE : RACES/WINS
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1 ) Ryan Anderson - 8566/342.64 : 1+1=2 : 25/15
2 ) Tyler Menninga - 8106/238.41 : 2+3=5 : 34/22
3 ) Adam Anderson - 4391/243.94 : 6+2=8 : 18/3
4 ) Tristan England - 4068/226.00 : 10+4=14 : 18/5
5 ) Camden Murphy - 4206/182.87 : 8+6=14 : 23/3
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6 ) Weston Anderson - 4731/143.36 : 4+13=17 : 33/13
7 ) John Gordon - 3502/206.00 : 13+5=18 : 17/1
8 ) Mikeal Christensen - 3712/148.48 : 12+10=22 : 25/3
9 ) Dalton Widner - 5462/127.02 : 3+19=22 : 43/16
10) Jon Zimmer Jr - 3186/159.3 : 15+8=23 : 20/12
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11) Colt Stephens - 4040/144.29 : 11+12=23 : 28/1
12) Armando Castro - 4141/133.58 : 9+15=24 : 31/5
13) Brandon Vinson - 2974/148.7 : 20+9=29 : 20/10
14) Preston Collins - 4333/117.11 : 7+22=29 : 37/21
15) Bari Musawwir - 4530/110.49 : 5+25=30 : 41/5
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16) Bryce Kenny - 2792/164.24 : 25+7=32 : 17/1
17) Jamie Sullivan - 3478/119.93 : 14+20=34 : 29/7
18) Jack Brown - 2760/145.26 : 27+11=38 : 19/8
19) Rob Poutre - 3080/118.46 : 17+21=38 : 26/9
20) Daron Basl - 2891/131.41 : 24+17=41 : 22/8
===== ALBUQUERQUE, NM =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: CAMDEN MURPHY [Bakugan Dragonoid] defeated David Olfert [Velociraptor]
3/16 Sat Aft: RYAN ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Mikeal Christensen [Vendetta]
3/16 Sat Ngt: RYAN ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Mikeal Christensen [Vendetta]
3/17 Sun Aft: MIKEAL CHRISTENSEN [Vendetta] defeated Ryan Anderson [Grave Digger]
The Monster Jam Stadium Series competitors moved inside the arena setting of Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque this past weekend. While this stop did not award points for their Stadium Championship, it absolutely counts towards the Open Championship! Ryan Anderson had his 12-race final round streak come to an end early as he was defeated in the first round on Friday night by Colt Stephens in ThunderROARus. Camden Murphy went on to win the event, but that was his only trip to the finals all weekend. Anderson regrouped on Saturday and showed the same speed he shows on the big tracks. Driving the Grave Digger truck this weekend, he won twice over Mike Christensen in Vendetta on Saturday. Sunday saw Christensen and Anderson meet in the finals again, but this time with Team Throttle Monster getting the last laugh. With his 3rd win and 7th final of the season, Christensen moves up 9 spots into the Top Ten of the Open Championship.
===== BAKERSFIELD, CA =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: PAT GERBER [Shocker] defeated Terry Woodcock [Cyclops]
3/16 Sat Ngt: PAT GERBER [Shocker] defeated Juan Munoz [Unnamed & Untamed]
The new Monster Truck Rally Live tour kicked off with four trucks in Bakersfield, California where hometown hero Pat Gerber in Shocker picked up both wins of roundy-round racing.
===== BILOXI, MS =====
This Monster Jam Arena event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== BUDAPEST, HUNGARY =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== FRESNO, CA =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: TYLER MENNINGA [Grave Digger] defeated Dalton Widner [Jurassic Attack]
3/16 Sat Aft: DALTON WIDNER [Jurassic Attack] defeated Alberto Trevino [Monster Mutt Rottweiler]
3/16 Sat Ngt: DALTON WIDNER [Jurassic Attack] defeated Ashley Sanford [Megalodon]
3/17 Sun Aft: TYLER MENNINGA [Grave Digger] defeated Dalton Widner [Jurassic Attack]
Tyler Menninga is a proven Stadium champion now, but a few short years ago he was the dominant force on the Monster Jam Arena series. Menninga returned to the smaller track this weekend and won another pair of events to match the two that World #1 Ryan Anderson won in Albuquerque. Those two wins also put Menninga in the lead for most wins this season with 22.
But Dalton Widner not only matched Menninga’s two wins but was also in the finals every race. He’s been in the final round in 10 of his past 14 brackets and has worked his way 9th place overall with 16 wins, which is the 3rd most of all drivers.
===== JONESBORO, AR =====
3/16 Sat Aft: BRETT FALVEY [Quad Chaos] defeated Logan Tweedy [Kamikaze]
3/16 Sat Ngt: BRETT FALVEY [Quad Chaos] defeated Logan Tweedy [Kamikaze]
Brett Falvey takes both concrete holeshot races in Jonesboro over Logan Tweedy with the Nitro Tour.
===== LAFAYETTE, LA =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: JERRY BECK [Dirt Crew] defeated Jack Brown [Dirt Crew Dozer]
3/16 Sat Ngt: DARON BASL [Block Head] defeated Jerry Beck [Dirt Crew]
The Toughest Tour broke big air once again. Jerry Beck got tired of watching his hired guns in Block Head and Dirt Crew Dozer winning every week and so he stepped it up with a win over Jack Brown on Friday night in Lafayette, once again using a huge leap at the finish line to edge out a win. That’s his 1st win of the season. Plus, after finishing as runner-up to Daron Basl on Saturday night, Beck has now been in the finals in 3 of his past 4 races.
===== LUCAMA, NC =====
3/16 Sat Aft: MICHAEL BRISTER [Hot Tamale] defeated Dan Dahlgren [Shark Bite]
Michael Brister had an edge at the starting line of Dan Dahlgren in Shark Bite to pick up the 2Xtreme Racing win on a choppy three-jump drag track in North Carolina. That’s his 1st win since January and 3rd this season.
===== MIDLAND, TX =====
3/16 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event
3/16 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this event
3/17 Sun Aft: We do not have results from this event
A different look for the Monster Truck Wars in Midland with regulars Kaley Engstrom and Devin Jones being joined by Murphy brothers with Prime Time and Fatal Attraction and Travis Rife making his first appearance behind the wheel of Outlaw! Unfortunately we do not have any racing results from these events.
===== MORGANTON, NC =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: Cancelled due to rain
3/16 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event
3/16 Sat Ngt: TOMMY VARILONE [Rampage] defeated Stanley Hernandez [Bearly Tame]
3/17 Sun Aft: TOMMY VARILONE [Rampage] defeated James Owens [Quad Chaos]
After a Friday washout, the Monster X Tour came back on Saturday with a huge 5-jump Saint Louis course. Cameron Tweedy won the afternoon race but we still need more info on where the other trucks finished to award points. Tommy Varilone in Rampage grabbed the remaining two victories as he won both the speed contest on the track and the attrition battle in the pits.
===== SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: BLAKE GRANGER [Max-D] defeated Brandon Arthur [Iron Man]
3/16 Sat Ngt: BARI MUSAWWIR [Black Panther] defeated Matt Cody [Grave Digger]
3/17 Sun Aft: BLAKE GRANGER [Max-D] defeated Charlie Pauken [Megalodon]
Blake Granger gets two wins for Team Max-D on the unique L-shaped course in Costa Rica. That’s his 4th win of the season and moved him up 9 spots into 31st. Bari Musawwir’s 5th win of the season on Saturday night moves him up into 15th.
===== SEGUIN, TX =====
3/16 Sat Aft: AARON BASL [T-Rex] defeated Preston Collins [Outlaw]
3/16 Sat Ngt: PRESTON COLLINS [Outlaw] defeated Aaron Basl [T-Rex]
3/17 Sun Aft: AARON BASL [T-Rex] defeated Jerry Furajter [Shark Attack]
3/17 Sun Aft: AARON BASL [T-Rex] defeated Preston Collins [Outlaw]
Monster Truck Wars stars Aaron Basl and Preston Collins had a chance to meet head-to-head for the first time this season in Seguin for a four race weekend. While Collins has more wins and points overall, in head-to-head action it was Basl coming out on top with 3 event wins. Those points help make up for his past couple weekends for which we do not have racing results.
===== SHELBY, NC =====
3/16 Sat Aft: JON ZIMMER JR [Terminal Velocity] defeated Triton Robbins [Krazy Train]
3/17 Sun Aft: TRITON ROBBINS [Krazy Train] defeated Jon Zimmer Sr [Uproar]
The All Star Monster Mashers Championship is winding down and Jon Zimmer Jr continues to dominate the tour. He stays in 10th place with his 12th win of the season on Saturday afternoon. Defending champion Triton Robbins in Krazy Train finally broke through with his 1st win of the season on Sunday afternoon. Robbins has 1225 points through 14 races and needs 1 more to rejoin the rankings.
===== TOLEDO, OH =====
This Monster Jam Arena event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== TULSA, OK =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== VICTORVILLE, CA =====
3/16 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event
3/16 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this event
===== WINNEMUCCA, NV =====
3/15 Fri Ngt: DONALD EPIDENDIO [Titan] defeated Erik Pykonen Jr [NAPA Auto Parts]
3/16 Sat Ngt: DONALD EPIDENDIO [Titan] defeated Nick Jones [Spitfire]
3/17 Sun Aft: DONALD EPIDENDIO [Titan] defeated Nick Jones [Spitfire]
Another weekend sweep for Donald Epidendio in Titan as he was top eliminator in the six truck indoor races in Nevada. He now has 5 wins in his 8 races and is currently unranked. Erik Pykonen raced in his first final round on Friday night and Nick Jones raced in his 3rd and 4th to end the weekend, still chasing his first win of the season.
===== YUMA, AZ =====
3/16 Sat Aft: BRANDON SWICK [Geronimo] defeated Jacob Ladwig [Rat Attack]
3/16 Sat Ngt: JACOB LADWIG [Rat Attack] defeated Brandon Swick [Geronimo]
Brandon Swick and Jacob Ladwig exchanged wins in Yuma with the Nitro Tour, giving them 5 and 2 wins on the season respectively. Swick moved up 9 spots into 42nd which is his best ranking since late January.
===== EVENTS THIS WEEKEND =====
Birmingham, AL (Monster Jam Stadium Championship West)
Corbin, KY (Monsters of Destruction)
Corpus Christi, TX (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)
Enid, OK (Mega Monster Trucks Tour)
Grand Rapids, MI (Monster Jam Arena Championship Central)
Hampton, VA (Monster X Tour)
Hartford, CT (Monster Jam Stadium Championship East)
Hidalgo, TX (Monster Jam Arena Championship East)
Hugo, OK (Monster Truck Wars)
Lakeside, CA (Monster Truck Wars)
Łódź, LVS (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live International Tour: Glow Party Arena Event)
Montgomery, AL (Monster Truck Nitro Tour)
Ringgold, GA (All Star Monster Truck Tour)
Tucson, AZ (Monster Jam Arena Championship West)
Waco, TX (2Xtreme Monster Trucks Live Tour)