This Week in Monster Truck Racing - September 19-21, 2025

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

* Championship remains undecided entering final week of the season!

** Zack Garner wins the hardest event of the year in Saint Louis

*** Brianna Mahon is the top woman racer after 3 wins in Tacoma

CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/mtroc250923

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

===== WEEKEND RECAP FOR SEPTEMBER 19^th – 21^st, 2025 =====

The 2025 racing season is going out with a bang! We have one more weekend remaining before we finalize the rankings for this Open season and we STILL do not have a champion decided. It will all come down to the Malicious Monster Truck event in Lakeport, California this weekend. If Bill Payne scores 11 or fewer points, Tristan England will keep the #1 rank. If Payne scores 11 to 238 points, Tyler Menninga wins his unprecedented 4^th Open Championship. If Payne can score above 238 points, then Coty Saucier will regain the #1 rank. We also have around 10 unreported events for Payne this season and if any of those come in before October, they will still be counted towards his 2025 total.

In Saint Louis, we saw the BEST racing field of the season: a 1.350 ranking! The lowest rank possible is 0.500 and the theoretical highest is 1.500. The average this year is 0.742. For the Open Championship, we got the match-up we dreamed about with #1 Tristan England and #2 Tyler Menninga meeting in the quarter-finals, but problems with the starting lights caused England to leave late and gave Menninga an easy win. The drama continued into the finals where Zack Garner laid down the fastest pass of the night to win all 508 first place points and prevent Menninga from sealing the championship. The result is that—for the first time ever—we enter the final week of the season and we still do not know who will be this year’s Open racing champion.

One thing we do know is that Brianna Mahon will finish the season as the top-ranked woman driver after her 3-win weekend in Tacoma. Mahon looks set to appear no lower than 24^th. The previous highest ranking for a woman driver from Jamie Sullivan’s 26^th rank in 2024. Mahon had 7 racing wins coming into this season and now has added 9 this year alone.

Mark Hall continued to dominate on the Jamboree even this late into his career. He won 2 of 3 events at the relocated Indianapolis Jamboree (now held in Danville). Tim Hall Jr was the only man able to beat the Raminator this weekend.

All that news and I didn’t even get to mention: Cliff Vowell won the big 10-truck event in Swanzey; Jimmy Creten has a chance for a 40-win season; Brandon Arthur and Bari Musawwir’s great battle in Glasgow; John Gordon sweeps at historic Dixie Speedway; and—be still my heart—the Hot Wheels Live tour ran bracket racing for the first time since February 2024! Read down below for more!

Thank you to everyone who has helped us with reporting events this week: Nick Migues, Lee Collins, Matthew Arel, Andrew Thornton, Dillon Fenley, Stanley Hernandez, Tim Manchester, Brandon Gallie, John Brown, 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 ) Tristan England - 10318/234.5 : 5+2=7 : 44/13

2 ) Tyler Menninga - 10545/234.33 : 4+3=7 : 45/15

3 ) Coty Saucier - 13138/208.54 : 2+5=7 : 63/29

4 ) Weston Anderson - 13509/173.19 : 1+11=12 : 78/25

5 ) Ryan Anderson - 8110/261.61 : 13+1=14 : 31/12

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6 ) Jon Zimmer Jr - 11631/157.18 : 3+12=15 : 74/21

7 ) Dalton Widner - 9287/193.48 : 8+8=16 : 48/14

8 ) Triton Robbins - 10199/178.93 : 7+9=16 : 57/24

9 ) Bari Musawwir - 8269/201.68 : 10+7=17 : 41/8

10) Bill Payne - 10307/151.57 : 6+13=19 : 68/31

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11) Camden Murphy - 7692/174.82 : 14+10=24 : 44/6

12) Bryce Kenny - 5200/226.09 : 26+4=30 : 23/3

13) Blake Granger - 7128/148.5 : 16+14=30 : 48/18

14) Jimmy Creten - 8118/137.59 : 12+19=31 : 59/38

15) Armando Castro - 6852/142.75 : 17+16=33 : 48/3

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16) Donald Epidendio - 4686/203.74 : 33+6=39 : 23/16

17) Zack Garner - 6367/135.47 : 20+21=41 : 47/8

18) Rob Poutre - 5006/143.03 : 28+15=43 : 35/25

19) Colt Stephens - 5265/142.3 : 25+18=43 : 37/3

20) Daron Basl - 5856/127.3 : 22+23=45 : 46/14

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

+8 – Michael Vaters II (Overkill Evolution) – 35^th

+5 – Brianna Mahon (Ringling Bailey Circuit) – 21^st

+4 – Preston Collins (Jurassic Attack) – 51^st

+3 – Cynthia Gauthier (Lucas Stablizier) – 37^th 

+3 – Jamey Garner (El Toro Loco) – 57^th 

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

39^th – Brandon Arthur (JCB DIGatron)

68^th – Brandon Pezo (Predator)

102^nd – Chris DeHoyos (Higher Education)

104^th – Chelsea VanCleave (Thor)

109^th – Chris Davis (Fire Hazzard)

===== BAKERSFIELD, CA =====

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

===== DANVILLE, IN =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: MARK HALL [Raminator] defeated Travis Hall [Kamikaze]

9/20 Sat Aft: MARK HALL [Raminator] defeated Tim Hall Jr [Jurassic Attack]

9/21 Sun Aft: TIM HALL JR [Jurassic Attack] defeated Kurt Kraehmer [Ramdemption]

Mark Hall’s still got it when it comes to the Jamborees. The Indianapolis Fall Jamboree moved from the State Fairgrounds to the Hendricks County Fairgrounds and former Jamboree champion Mark Hall in the legendary-but-new-look Raminator won the first two days of racing. He took his time in qualifying each day, placing 6^th, 6^th, and 5^th in the bracket seeding, but he stepped up to the challenge and won his bracket races.

Tim Hall Jr (no relation), coming off a big win in Calgary with Monster Jam last weekend, lost to Hall in the semi-finals on Friday and final round on Saturday before becoming the first man to defeat Mark Hall on the Jamboree circuit this year in the first round on Sunday. He then took down the Hall Brothers’ team truck Ramdemption in the finals That’s his 10^th win of the season and also his 80^th racing bracket. He is one of only two drivers (Devin Winfield) with 80 brackets this season.

===== DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND =====

9/20 Sat Aft: NICK MIGUES [Mega Wrex] defeated Anthony Ritter [Tiger Shark]

9/21 Sun Aft: DARRON SCHNELL [Gunkster] defeated Dylan Bartts [Bone Shaker]

The Hot Wheels drivers finally got a chance to go racing for the first time since Paris in February of 2024. The 8-truck field raced on an interesting J-turn course, featuring a roller hill off the starting line, a steep popper ramp before the turn, and then a short 100-ft flatland drag from the turn to the finish.

Nick Migues was in the Mega Wrex chassis for the first time but learned quickly and won his first race since April 2024 in Kingsport, Tennessee. On Sunday, Darron Schnell—who lost a close race to Migues on Saturday—raced by wife Rebecca and New Zealand’s Matt McCormack before besting Dylan Bartts in the finals.

We’re told that the Hot Wheels tour will also include side-by-side racing in the other 3 events of their Kiwi Tour. The Wellington event will count towards the 2025 totals while the Auckland events will begin the 2026 Open season.

===== ELDON, MO =====

9/20 Sat Aft: JIMMY CRETEN [Bounty Hunter] defeated Kory Kinal [Jekyll & Hyde]

9/20 Sat Ngt: JIMMY CRETEN [Bounty Hunter] defeated Austin Minton [Shark Bite]

Only 2 drivers have won 40 or more events in one Open season when both Derick Anson (66) and Donny Hebert (40) accomplished the feat with the Monster Truckz tour in 2022. Jimmy Creten sits at 38 wins this season after a sweep in Eldon, he’ll have a chance to win 40 himself if we can sweep the weekend in Norton, Ohio.

===== ELKO, NV =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: JACOB LADWIG [Rat Attack] defeated Jacob Gallie [Wicked Strong]

9/20 Sat Ngt: JACOB GALLIE [Wicked Strong] defeated Tim Manchester [Hillbilly]

The Insanity Tour gave fans a variety of racing action in Elko, using a straight flatland qualifying round to set-up the bracket for the Chicago-style racing. Jacob Ladwig won his 22^nd event of the season over Jacob Gallie on Friday. Ladwig was out with breakage on Saturday and this time Gallie came out on top, winning for the 3^rd time this season.

===== FARGO, ND =====

9/20 Sat Aft: JEFF MURPHY [Shark Attack] defeated Justin Murphy [T-Rex]

Brothers Jeff and Justin Murphy were in the finals again. Jeff is a perfect 4-0 against Justin this season in the events for which we have a report.

===== GARDNERVILLE, NV =====

9/20 Sat Aft: STANLEY HERNANDEZ [Lone Wolf] defeated Andy Seiver [Boss Gator]

9/20 Sat Ngt: ANDY SEIVER [Boss Gator] defeated Brian Leach [USA-1]

Andy Seiver made both final rounds in Gardnerville, making the final for the 7^th time and winning for the 2^nd time in his rookie season. Stanley Hernandez won his 7^th race over Seiver on Saturday.

===== GLASGOW, SCOTLAND =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: BRANDON ARTHUR [JCB DIGatron] defeated Bari Musawwir [Black Panther]

9/20 Sat Aft: BARI MUSAWWIR [Black Panther] defeated Brandon Arthur [JCB DIGatron]

9/20 Sat Ngt: BARI MUSAWWIR [Black Panther] defeated Brandon Arthur [JCB DIGatron]

9/21 Sun Aft: BRANDON ARTHUR [JCB DIGatron] defeated Bari Musawwir [Black Panther]

The Monster Jam Ramped Up tour traded the slick track in Birmingham for a much faster racing surface in Glasgow and provided the Scottish fans with exciting racing over the weekend. Every time the trucks took the track it was Brandon Arthur and Bari Musawwir meeting up in the finals, with both taking 2 wins.

For Musawwir, he looks set to finish the season inside the Top Ten for the first time since his 4^th place ranking in 2021. Brandon Arthur, meanwhile, joins the rankings in 39^th which is his career best ranking. He finished last year in 57^th and the year before in 86^th.

===== GRANBY, QC =====

9/20 Sat Aft: MICHAEL VATERS II [Overkill Evolution] defeated Michael Vaters I [Black Stallion]

9/20 Sat Ngt: MICHAEL VATERS II [Overkill Evolution] defeated Pat Paquet [Psycho Pat]

Michael Vaters II won both bracket in Granby, giving him 12 wins in 25 events this season, and moving the Overkill driver up 8 spots in the rankings. These events also gave Chris DeHoyos the required 20 events and allowed him to join the rankings, as well.

===== HEBER CITY, UT =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: AARON BASL [Night Life] defeated Rudy Martin Del Campo [Temporarily Insane]

9/20 Sat Ngt: AARON BASL [Night Life] defeated Rudy Martin Del Campo [Temporarily Insane]

Aaron Basl closes out the 2025 season with a pair of wins on a very wide Chicago-style track with the Family Tour in Utah. He has 18 wins this season.

===== HUNTINGDON, QC =====

The All Out Tour once again used timed trials to place drivers into the finals rather than a bracket, so points could not be scored for these events.

===== JACKSONVILLE, FL =====

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

===== MANASSAS, VA =====

9/20 Sat Aft: We do not have results from this event

9/20 Sat Ngt: KALEY ENGSTROM [Shark Attack] defeated Devin Jones [T-Rex]

9/21 Sun Aft: We do not have results from this event

The Monster Truck Wars tour had huge crowds in Manassas, Virginia for their three-race weekend. Unfortunately, we only have results from one of the events, with Kaley Engstrom grabbing the Saturday night drag racing win.

===== MONROE, LA =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: DILLON FENLEY [Crazy Heifer] defeated Johnny Davenport [Ghost Ryder]

9/20 Sat Ngt: DILLON FENLEY [Crazy Heifer] defeated Johnny Davenport [Ghost Ryder]

Twelve wins in a row for Dillon Fenley as he takes the Crazy Heifer into victory circle both days in Monroe with the Maniac Tour.

===== MUSKOGEE, OK =====

9/20 Sat Ngt: ALEC WHITE [Bad Decision] defeated Mike Sopha [Elder Abuse]

Alec White and Mike Sopha posted upset wins over the Predator Team in the first round of J-turn racing in Muskogee. White took out Brandon Pezo while Sopha defeated Allen Pezo. Veteran White took the overall win. Brandon Pezo joins the rankings in 68^th place.

===== NEW RICHMOND, WI =====

9/20 Sat Ngt: We do not have results from this event

===== PLACERVILLE, CA =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: BILL PAYNE [The Cali Kid] defeated Nick Jones [Spitfire]

9/20 Sat Ngt: BILL PAYNE [Rock Star] defeated Gavin Sell [Identity Theft]

One of the high-importance events of the weekend was the Malicious Tour racing in Placerville. Bill Payne swept the weekend and has moved within striking distance of both Tyler Menninga and Tristan England in Total Points. Now, Payne does not have a chance to pass either in the rankings, but if he can earn another 239 points in this upcoming weekend, he can put Coty Saucier back into the #1 rankings. He Payne scores between 12 and 238, Tyler Menninga will win his unprecedented 4^th Open championship. If Payne fails to score any points, Tristan England will retain the #1 ranking.

Note that there are still around a dozen unreported events for Bill Payne, too. Unfortunately we were unable to get results from his events in Black Creek and Penticton this season, as well as a few others. If any of those get reported late (between now and the end of the first week in October) then that will also affect the standings.

===== SAINT LOUIS, MO =====

9/20 Sat Aft: ZACK GARNER [Wild Side] defeated Tyler Menninga [Grave Digger]

The Open Championship was on the line in Saint Louis with Tyler Menninga and Tristan England both on the track together. Not only were they in the same bracket, but Menninga’s first round win over Dalton Widner in Shell Shocked matched him up with England in the quarter-finals. The race for the championship was unfortunately met with an anti-climatic race as England was not able to see the starting lights on the brand new track layout and got a very late start, handing the win for Menninga.

Tyler had a chance to seal the championship with an event win, and he advanced to the final round but there he met former World Finals Racing Champion Zack Garner in Wild Side. Garner laid down the fastest lap of the night at 17.691 and he was the only driver to break the 18-second mark twice. As a result, Menninga is within striking distance for Bill Payne, who will pass up Menninga in Total Points if he can earn 238 or more points this weekend.

The Saint Louis event is THE highest-rated event of the 2025 season with an absurdly high 1.350 (out of 1.500) and 508 points to the winner, which is second only to the 24-truck World Finals (595 points). This was the best racing line-up you could see this season and Zack Garner gets the credit for the win, showing that he will continue to be a top racer as the Fall Stadium series picks up.

===== SAN DIEGO, CA =====

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

===== SLINGER, WI =====

9/20 Sat Ngt: DARON BASL [Block Head] defeated Athena Kozel [Lil' Miss Dangerous]

Monster Truck Throwdown has a reputation for cool racing tracks and this week it was classic Figure-8 racing on the high banks of the Slinger Super Speedway. Daron Basl handled the field easily for his 14^th win of the season, giving him just barely enough points to join the Top 20.

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

9/20 Sat Aft: CLIFF VOWELL [Virginia Giant] defeated Justin Perkins [Backdraft]

The SC Monster Madness headed north to Swanzey and brought along a big 10 trucks field for their fall bash. The racing track was a tight corridor with 5 jumps on a straight-line track! The close quarters and rapid succession of jumps was a challenge for the drivers, but Cliff Vowell figured it out the best an edged out Justin Perkins in a close final round to win his 2^nd win of the season.

===== TACOMA, WA =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: PRESTON COLLINS [Jurassic Attack] defeated Brianna Mahon [Ringling Bailey Circuit]

9/20 Sat Aft: BRIANNA MAHON [Ringling Bailey Circuit] defeated Cynthia Gauthier [Lucas Stablizier]

9/20 Sat Ngt: BRIANNA MAHON [Ringling Bailey Circuit] defeated Cynthia Gauthier [Lucas Stablizier]

9/21 Sun Aft: BRIANNA MAHON [Ringling Bailey Circuit] defeated Weston Anderson [Grave Digger]

Brianna Mahon is poised to finish the year as the top-ranked woman driver in the sport, and indeed in Open Championship history. The previous highest rank was Jamie Sullivan who finished 2024 in 26^th place. Mahon won 3 consecutive events in Tacoma against a strong field and has herself up to 21^st place in the sport. Cynthia Gauthier also had a strong weekend with two runner-up finishes and has herself up to 37^th.

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

9/20 Sat Ngt: PAUL JENSEN [Jurassic Attack] defeated Travis Groth [Monster Moose]

Paul Jensen goes two-for-two in his late season cameo appearances for Team Throttle Monster. He beat out Travis Groth who put up a good fight with a struggling engine.

===== WOODSTOCK, GA =====

9/19 Fri Ngt: JOHN GORDON [Bad Company] defeated Daniel Donnelly [Illuminator]

9/20 Sat Ngt: JOHN GORDON [Bad Company] defeated Cory Snyder [Toxic]

John Gordon hasn’t run a full schedule this year but he remains a threat to win any time he shows up. Despite a first round loss to Brutus on Saturday, he used the fast loser position to come back and sweep the weekend at the 31^st Annual Dixie Speedway event. Maryland’s Warped Motorsport picked up the runner-up spot both nights.

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

Abu Dhabi (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live)

Benton, MO (Overdrive Monster Truck Tour)

Colorado Springs, CO (Monster Truck Nitro Tour)

Cookshire, QC (Monster Trucks All Out Tour)

Cullman, AL (Monster Truck Mania)

Denton, TX (Monster Truck Wars)

Durham, CT (Durham Fair)

Greensboro, NC (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)

Hogansburg, NY (Vaters Monster Motorsports)

Jamestown, NY (Versus Monster Trucks)

Lakeport, CA (Malicious Monster Truck Tour)

Long Beach, CA (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)

Marietta, GA (Full Throttle Monster Trucks)

Norton. OH (2X Live)

Rock Springs, WY (Monster Truck Insanity Tour)

Tunica, MS (Monster Trucks Maniac)

Wellington, New Zealand (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)

Wildwood, NJ (Renegade Monster Truck Tour)