This Week in Monster Truck Racing - May 9-11, 2025

* Dalton Widner is king of the Last Colosseum

** Brandan Tulachka gets it done in Nampa

*** Devin Jones sweeps all three in Dallas for 5th straight win

CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/mtroc250415

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

===== WEEKEND RECAP FOR MAY 9th – 11th, 2025 =====

Dalton Widner won the biggest independent event of the season so far as he expertly solved the tough and confusing track at the Bristol Motor Speedway, taking down boss Mike Christensen in the finals. The win bumped Widner up 2 spots in the Open Championship.

Brandan Tulachka had his best weekend of the season with 2 wins and a runner-up in four races in Nampa, Idaho. He was the biggest improver with an 11-spot jump to join the Top 50.

Devin Jones extended his Monster Truck Wars winning streak to 5 races. He and Jerry Furajter have raced in nearly ever final round since March. On the other Wars tour, Mason Rife continues to lead with 15 races wins while Kaley Engstrom and Aaron Basl had 12 each.

Nick Pagliarulo won twice on the Insanity Tour which means that Tomfoolery Racing remains undefeated on the Insanity Tour after brother Mike won twice last weekend in Lake Havasu.

We also saw some first time winners at international events as Matthew McCormack beat out Canadian ringer Pat Paquet in Claremont, Australia; while Mike Worsley and Tyler Morcombe split the racing weekend in Ontario.

This weekend coming up see Monster Jam racing in Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium for the first time! It has been 28 years since the top tour has run a Stadium event in the Steel City and MTROC staff will be on hand to watch the series points finale for the Stadium Championship East tour! Tyler Menninga and Bari Musawwir are separated by only 1 point and the title will be on the line.

Also a big event this weekend is the George Carpenter Cup in Virginia Beach as another star-studded independent field will contest with each other and the sand in 4 grueling events over 3 days.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us with reporting events this week: David Rife, Josh Baumgartner, John Brown, Sabotage Monster Truck, Devin Jones, Nick Jones, Nick Kraemer, Ricky Fowler, Preston Perez, Daniel Clark, Nate Bay, Rob Poutre, Jeremy Otto, Andrew Thornton, Kory Kinal, Taneon Rood, 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 ) Coty Saucier - 11697/188.66 : 1+3=4 : 62/29

2 ) Ryan Anderson - 6137/211.62 : 6+1=7 : 29/12

3 ) Tyler Menninga - 6163/205.43 : 5+2=7 : 30/12

4 ) Triton Robbins - 8146/181.02 : 3+5=8 : 45/19

5 ) Jon Zimmer Jr - 7189/156.28 : 4+10=14 : 46/13

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6 ) Weston Anderson - 9156/155.19 : 2+12=14 : 59/21

7 ) Tristan England - 4904/181.63 : 13+4=17 : 27/7

8 ) Dalton Widner - 5337/166.78 : 9+8=17 : 32/9

9 ) Bari Musawwir - 5139/171.3 : 11+7=18 : 30/4

10) Camden Murphy - 4766/176.52 : 17+6=23 : 27/4

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11) Jimmy Creten - 5536/135.02 : 8+16=24 : 41/27

12) Rob Poutre - 4784/144.97 : 15+13=28 : 33/24

13) Blake Granger - 4979/131.03 : 12+17=29 : 38/17

14) Bill Payne - 4774/129.03 : 16+18=34 : 37/13

15) Armando Castro - 4428/126.51 : 18+19=37 : 35/1

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16) Matt Cody - 5196/96.22 : 10+28=38 : 54/8

17) Devin Winfield - 5982/90.64 : 7+31=38 : 66/7

18) Bryce Kenny - 3272/163.6 : 30+9=39 : 20/2

19) Colt Stephens - 4248/121.37 : 19+20=39 : 35/3

20) Daron Basl - 3423/155.59 : 29+11=40 : 22/8

===== BRIDGEPORT, CT =====

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

===== BRISTOL, TN =====

5/10 Sat Aft: DALTON WIDNER [Jurassic Attack] defeated Mikeal Christensen [Vendetta]

The young Overdrive Tour took a big step and hosted twelve awesome independent monster trucks at the massive Bristol Motor Speedway. The 316 points awarded to the winner made this the biggest independent event of 2025 so far, and Dalton Widner earned all of those points by negotiating a long and challenging course that overcame many other drivers before they could even complete a lap.  

Beginning with a bus jump, drivers then had a banked dirt, followed by a slalom turn, then a sharp 180-degree turn on asphalt, followed by a long gap jump heading into another 180-degree asphalt turn, finally ending with the finish line jump. Every turn caused problems in a unique way, but Widner showed his prowess by figured them out before everyone else.

Cliff Vowell had the wildest ride in qualifying as engine problems prevented him from clearing the gap jump, causing the truck to case the landing ramp, breaking the rear axle, and flipping forward onto the asphalt. The best race of the night was the semi-final race between Vendetta and Block Head. Daron Basl held the lead the entire race until Christensen out-turned him before the home stretch to steal th win.

Team Throttle Monster put both of their trucks in the final round, but Christensen clipped the dirt in the slalom turn and spun-out which was more than enough advantage for the smooth and steady Dalton Widner who cruised to his 9th race of the season and has moved up 2 spots in the rankings to 8th.

===== CLAREMONT, AUSTRALIA =====

5/10 Sat Aft: MATTHEW MCCORMACK [Skitzko] defeated Pat Paquet [Shattered Silence]

Matthew McCormack won the first race of his career and has the bragging rights of beating one of Canada’s best in Pat Paquet who flew in for the cameo appears with the Australian Tour.

===== DALLAS, TX =====

5/10 Sat Aft: DEVIN JONES [T-Rex] defeated Jerry Furajter [Shark Attack]

5/10 Sat Ngt: DEVIN JONES [T-Rex] defeated Jerry Furajter [Shark Attack]

5/11 Sun Aft: DEVIN JONES [T-Rex] defeated Jerry Furajter [Shark Attack]

February 23rd is the last time we have records of someone other than Devin Jones and Jerry Furajter meeting in the final round on the Monster Truck Wars tour. These two have been battling it out for the past two months, and veteran Jones is now riding a 5-race winning streak after taking home all 3 trophies from Dallas.

===== DICKINSON, ND =====

5/10 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event

5/10 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this event

===== DICKSON, TN =====

5/9 Fri Ngt: JOSH HOLMAN [Rescue Racer] defeated David Rife [Awesome Kong]

5/10 Sat Aft: RYAN HOLMAN [Amped Up] defeated Josh Holman [Rescue Racer]

5/10 Sat Ngt: CHRIS KEYES [Catty Wampus] defeated David Rife [Awesome Kong]

The Holmans debuted Rescue Racer while David Rife brought out the new-look Awesome Kong for the MTC Live racing in Dickson, Tennessee. The Rescue Racer debuted with a win as Josh Holman got back Rife for the first win of the weekend. Ryan Holman then beat out fellow Holman to begin Saturday. After solving mechanical problems from earlier in the day, Chris Keyes brought Catty Wampus out in the night to score his first win of the season.

===== MANCHESTER, NH =====

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

===== MILTON, ON =====

5/10 Sat Mrn: MIKE WORSLEY [Roboshark] defeated Sharon Lubsen [Canadian Crusher]

5/10 Sat Aft: TYLER MORCOMBE [Bucking Bronco] defeated Gage Bursey [Outfoxed]

Americans Tyler Morcombe and Gage Bursey headed north to join the All Out tour for a weekend and qualified for the racing final at the second race. Canadians Mike Worsley and Sharon Lubsen won out during the morning. For both Worsley and Morcombe it was their first win of the season.

===== MOLINE, IL =====

5/10 Sat Aft: JON ZIMMER JR [Terminal Velocity] defeated Montana Robbins [Plane Krazy]

5/11 Sun Aft: TRITON ROBBINS [Krazy Train] defeated Jamie Sullivan [Sparkle Smash]

Bristol was the biggest event but the Arena Central races in Moline had the most points thanks to an amazing 1.183 caliber rating. The two racing stars shared the spotlight as Jon Zimmer Jr and Triton Robbins each picked up a win. Zimmer moves back up into the Top 5 and Triton is now 538 points out of 3rd place.

===== NAMPA, ID =====

5/9 Fri Ngt: BRANDAN TULACHKA [Just Get Er Done II] defeated Jamey Garner [Over Bored]

5/10 Sat Aft: KRYSTEN ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated MJ Solorio [El Toro Loco]

5/10 Sat Ngt: BLAKE GRANGER [Monster Mutt Dalmatian] defeated Brandan Tulachka [Just Get Er Done II]

5/11 Sun Aft: BRANDAN TULACHKA [Just Get Er Done II] defeated Jamey Garner [Over Bored]

A wild weekend of racing Nampa for the Arena East tour. Brandan Tulachka had his best weekend of the season, having entered Nampa with 3 racing wins but leaving with another 2 plus a runner-up finish. That raised him up 11 spots in the Open Championship to inside the Top 50. Krysten Anderson won her first bracket since Tupelo in early April and gained 2 spots in the rankings. Series champion Blake Granger added his 17th win.

===== ORILLIA, ON =====

5/10 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event

5/10 Sat Ngt: KRISTAL CAREY [Sabotage] defeated Perry Como [Loud & Dirty]

Kristal Carey won both event in Orillia on the holeshot racing track, although we only had enough info to award points for the nightcap. Those are the first wins we have on record for her since Thunder Bay in 2022.

===== PEOTONE, IL =====

5/10 Sat Aft: JIMMY CRETEN [Bounty Hunter] defeated Kory Kinal [Jekyll & Hyde]

5/10 Sat Ngt: DAN DAHLGREN [Shark Bite] defeated Jimmy Creten [Bounty Hunter]

5/11 Sun Aft: KORY KINAL [Jekyll & Hyde] defeated Dan Dahlgren [Shark Bite]

The 2X Tour raced on a tight Chicago-style track in Peotone for a big 3-race weekend with each event seeing a different winner.

===== QUARRYVILLE, PA =====

5/10 Sat Ngt: CEEJAY RETTEW [Pretty Wicked] defeated RJ Turner [War Wizard]

The Buck Motorsports Park south of Lancaster kicked off their summer racing season with the first of four monster truck events at the historic track. Hometown hero Ceejay Rettew flew to victory over RJ Turner in War Wizard to keep the prize money in central PA.

===== SHAWNEE, OK =====

5/10 Sat Ngt: BRANDON PEZO [Predator] defeated Ron Nelson [Bustin' Loose]

Brandon Pezo has been in the finals in 7 of his 9 races this season and added another win on the large St Louis style course as he beat out veteran Ron Nelson in the finals.

===== STOCKTON, CA =====

5/10 Sat Aft: BILL PAYNE [Rock Star] defeated Donald Epidendio [Titan]

5/10 Sat Ngt: DONALD EPIDENDIO [Titan] defeated Nick Jones [Spitfire]

Donald Epidendio has had a stranglehold on racing against the SUR crew but Bill Payne broke through for the 2nd time this season with a big win over the Titan on Saturday afternoon in Stockton, California. Epidendio was back on top quickly, though, grabbing his 9th win in 12 races.

===== SUMTER, SC =====

5/9 Fri Ngt: We do not have results from this Monster Truckz event

5/10 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this Monster Truckz event

5/10 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this Monster Truckz event

5/11 Sun Aft: We do not have results from this Monster Truckz event

===== SWANZEY, NH =====

This South Carolina Monster Truck Madness event did not meet the minimum of 4 trucks scheduled to compete

===== TREMONTON, UT =====

5/9 Fri Ngt: NICK PAGLIARULO [Kraken] defeated Michael Pagliarulo [Excaliber]

5/10 Sat Ngt: NICK PAGLIARULO [Kraken] defeated Jacob Ladwig [Rat Attack]

The Pagliarulos remain undefeated on the Insanity Tour. Mike in Excaliber won both times in Lake Havasu and now Nick in Kraken won both nights in Tremonton. This event also saw the first monster truck pull-off in a very long time as Jacob Ladwig in Rat Attack and Josh Baumgartner in Bigfoot each hooked to the sled on Friday night.  

===== TURLOCK, CA =====

5/10 Sat Aft: CLIFF TURNER [Kamikaze] defeated Preston Collins [Velociraptor]

5/10 Sat Ngt: ROB POUTRE [Boss Gator] defeated Preston Collins [Velociraptor]

Preston Collins has missed the final round only once since joining Team Throttle Monster but now had 5 runner-up finishes in-a-row. Teammate Cliff Turner took the win on Saturday afternoon. He had lost to Collins in an earlier round, but returned through the fast loser position, and then took an easy win in the finals when the Velociraptor broke down after the first turn of the Chicago-style track. Later that night, Rob Poutre was the one coming back as fast loser to pick up his 24th win of the season. This one was done driving Boss Gator since the USA-1 truck was broken from the earlier event.

===== URBANA, IL =====

5/10 Sat Aft: MASON RIFE [Outlaw] defeated Kaley Engstrom [Shark Attack]

5/10 Sat Ngt: AARON BASL [T-Rex] defeated Kaley Engstrom [Shark Attack]

Kaley Engstrom has been in the most finals on the Monster Truck Wars tour this season (37) but Mason Rife leads with wins. He now has 15. Aaron Basl’s win on Saturday night gives him 12, which ties him with Engstrom.

===== WESTDALE, AUSTRALIA =====

This Extreme War on Wheels event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded

===== YORK, PA =====

5/10 Sat Aft: TY CORNELIUS JR [Backdraft] defeated Anne Breaud [Muddy Girl]

5/10 Sat Ngt: ANNE BREAUD [Muddy Girl] defeated Paul Strong [Quad Chaos]

Lastly, MTROC staff was on-hand for the Nitro Tour racing in York, Pennsylvania. The racing track was a treacherous one as the narrow front stretch of the York State Fairgrounds prompted the track builders to put the car sets bumper-to-bumper which meant that the trucks were racing literally wheel-to-wheel. It was the local Pennsylvanians coming out on top with Ty Cornelius Jr in Backdraft winning the early race, and Anne Breaud taking the night race.

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

Brisbane, Australia (Monster Trucks Unleashed)

Butler, IN (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Cincinnati, OH (Monster Jam Arena Championship Series West)

Conroe, TX (Monster Truck Wars)

Crystal, MI (Monster Truck Throwdown)

Durham, CT (Overdrive Monster Truck Tour)

Idaho Falls, ID (Monster Truck Insanity Tour)

Inglewood, CA (Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series West)

Lexington, KY (Monster Jam Arena Championship Series Central)

Minot, ND (Monster Truck Nitro Tour)

Pensacola, FL (Monster Jam Arena Championship Series East)

Pittsburgh, PA (Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series East)

Queen Creek, AZ (Monster Truck Wars)

Reading, PA (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)

Virginia Beach, VA (MTX Productions)

Woodstock, ON (Monster Trucks All Out Tour)