=== This Week in Monster Truck Racing ===
* Preston Perez wins All Star opening weekend in Naples
** Tristan England and Zack Garner meet three times in KCMO
*** Dennis Anderson back in the brackets with a win in Arizona
CURRENT STANDINGS and WEEKEND RESULTS (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/34u9t7nt
===== WEEKEND RECAP FOR JANUARY 10th – 12th, 2025 =====
Coty Saucier used a pair of wins late on Sunday to maintain a 176 point lead over a red-hot Tyler Menninga who is undefeated through 12 heats and 4 brackets in 2025. Plus we saw the All Star, Toughest, Insanity, and Nitro tours kick off their winter schedules this weekend as the winter action kicks into high gear.
Preston Perez (All Star) and Jacob Ladwig (Insanity) each swept their 2-race weekends while competing on challenging Z-courses. Daron Basl started the Toughest Tour season with a win for the 2nd year in a row (and 3rd consecutive win winning at least once on opening weekend). He nearly had a sweep but was disqualified in the finals for striking the turn pole. On the Nitro Tour, each of the four trucks had a chance in the finals with Paul Strong and Alden Blythe taking wins.
Tyler Menninga spent the past two weekends in San Diego for the Monster Jam Stadium East Series and never lost a race, even when racing in the slower gray lane. Both Menninga and Ryan Anderson have won 3 Open Championships and are racing to be the first to four.
Weston Anderson had a great weekend in Reno with 2 wins and 3 finals plus a pair of semi-final loses to #1 Coty Saucier. That puts Anderson into the standings in 4th place overall. World Finals racing champions Tristan England and Zack Garner also join the rankings this week after facing off head-to-head three times in Kansas City. England won the battle this weekend. Fans loved watching these two in the World Finals Championship race last season and we’re hoping to continue watching their rivalry bloom during the rest of this racing season.
There’s plenty more action that happened (we didn’t even talk about the Central Tour!) so keep reading to see who else was winners this weekend in monster truck racing!
Thank you to everyone who has helped us with reporting events this week: Bryan Wagner, Preston Perez, Preston Collins, Aaron Basl, Richie Kiser, Colton Kiser, Nick Kraemer, Alex Steinhaus, Ryan Robinson, 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 - 4099/227.72 : 1+2=3 : 18/12
2 ) Tyler Menninga - 2454/245.4 : 3+1=4 : 10/7
3 ) Jon Zimmer Jr - 2018/183.45 : 5+3=8 : 11/4
4 ) Weston Anderson - 1527/169.67 : 10+4=14 : 9/3
5 ) Matt Cody - 2630/138.42 : 2+13=15 : 19/5
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6 ) Rob Poutre - 1602/145.64 : 8+9=17 : 11/8
7 ) Jimmy Creten - 1699/141.58 : 7+10=17 : 12/8
8 ) Colt Stephens - 2352/138.35 : 4+14=18 : 17/2
9 ) Preston Pérez - 1360/151.11 : 13+7=20 : 9/6
10) Ryan Anderson - 1540/140.00 : 9+11=20 : 11/2
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11) Adam Anderson - 1246/155.75 : 19+5=24 : 8/1
12) Armando Castro - 1845/123.00 : 6+19=25 : 15/1
13) Blake Granger - 1369/136.9 : 12+16=28 : 10/5
14) Tyler Groth - 1246/138.44 : 19+12=31 : 9/2
15) Zack Garner - 1082/154.57 : 26+6=32 : 7/2
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16) Camden Murphy - 1029/147.00 : 27+8=35 : 7/1
17) Triton Robbins - 1240/137.78 : 21+15=36 : 9/3
18) Dalton Widner - 1287/117.00 : 16+20=36 : 11/2
19) Bari Musawwir - 1356/113.00 : 14+22=36 : 12/0
20) Tim Hall Jr - 1476/98.4 : 11+25=36 : 15/4
===== GREENSBORO, NC =====
This Monster Jam Arena Series event was contested as solo timed runs rather than side-by-side so points could not be awarded.
===== KANSAS CITY, MO =====
1/11 Sat Aft: TRISTAN ENGLAND [JCB DIGatron] defeated Adam Anderson [Grave Digger]
1/11 Sat Ngt: ZACK GARNER [Wild Side] defeated Tristan England [JCB DIGatron]
1/12 Sun Aft: TRISTAN ENGLAND [JCB DIGatron] defeated Zack Garner [Wild Side]
The Stadium West series downsized to an 8-truck Arena set-up this weekend. Both finalists from the past two events—Ryan Anderson and Cole Venard—were off for this event, but former World Finals Racing Champions Tristan England and Zack Garner were both on! These two met in the World Finals Championship race last season and got to go head-to-head three times this weekend in Kansas City.
England won the first match-up in the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. Later that night they met in the finals where Garner picked up his 2nd win of the season. The rubber-match came on Sunday afternoon in the finals with England coming out on top this time. We’re excited to see these two continue this rivalry through the rest of the season!
===== KNOXVILLE, TN =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== LEBANON, MO =====
1/10 Fri Ngt: JACOB LADWIG [Rat Attack] defeated Josh Baumgartner [Bigfoot]
1/11 Sat Ngt: JACOB LADWIG [Rat Attack] defeated Rod Schmidt [Redneck Rampage]
The Insanity Tour ran their insane Z-course again which featured backside hits on the racing ramp and trucks racing head-on at speed through the narrow crossover lane. Jacob Ladwig has plenty of experience on this tense racing set-up and won both nights of competition, giving him 3 wins on the season.
===== LEXINGTON, KY =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== LONDON, ENGLAND =====
This Hot Wheels Live event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded.
===== MERCEDES, TX =====
1/11 Sat Aft: JERRY FURAJTER [Outlaw] defeated Devin Jones [T-Rex]
1/11 Sat Ngt: PRESTON COLLINS [Shark Attack] defeated Jerry Furajter [Outlaw]
We’re seeing lots of good competition on the Monster Truck Wars tour this season. Preston Collins was dominant last season in Outlaw and remains a threat to win, but new Outlaw driver Jerry Furajter has been driving hard and has been in 3 consecutive final rounds. Veteran Devin Jones has been in the finals at least once every weekend and has 4 wins.
===== MILWAUKEE, WI =====
1/10 Fri Ngt: MATT CODY [Grave Digger] defeated Jon Zimmer Jr [Terminal Velocity]
1/11 Sat Aft: TRITON ROBBINS [Krazy Train] defeated Matt Cody [Grave Digger]
1/11 Sat Ngt: JON ZIMMER JR [Terminal Velocity] defeated Fernando Martinez [El Toro Loco]
As predicted the highly-rated Monster Jam Central tour is unpredictable. Another 3 winners in 3 races weekend. Matt Cody won once in 2 trips to the finals for Team Grave Digger. It was his first win on tour but 5th overall this season. Triton Robbins and Jon Zimmer Jr each picked up a win just as they did last weekend in Nashville. Fernando Martinez advanced to this first final round of the tour on Saturday night after two early exits in the previous brackets. And also of note, Angelina Nock won her first career racing heat on Saturday afternoon with a narrow victory over Jamie Sullivan.
The Central Tour is off this weekend but returns to racing next weekend in Newark, New Jersey.
===== MONTGOMERY, AL =====
1/11 Sat Aft: PAUL STRONG [Quad Chaos] defeated Kaila Savage [USA-1]
1/11 Sat Ngt: ALDEN BLYTHE [Rampage] defeated Stanley Hernandez [Lone Wolf]
The Nitro Tour started their winter season in Montgomery with two brackets of Chicago-style racing. Unfortunately Rob Poutre had trouble with his Carolina Crusher truck and could not compete in the brackets, but he stays in the Top Ten. In the racing, each of the other 4 trucks had their turn in the finals with teammates facing off each time. The good fortunes in racing seemed to bring back fortunes in freestyle this weekend, however, as winners Paul Strong in Quad Chaos and Alden Blythe in Rampage each ended the events busting parts while thrilling the fans in freestyle.
===== NAPLES, FL =====
1/11 Sat Aft: PRESTON PÉREZ [Toxic] defeated Cory Snyder [Illuminator]
1/12 Sun Aft: PRESTON PÉREZ [Toxic] defeated Brett Falvey [The Haymaker]
The All Stars started their points series at historic Florida Sports Park in Naples on a tight and sandy Z-course. There were plenty of close races but pre-season racing favorite Preston Perez came out on top both days. He currently has a 5-race winning streak behind the wheel of Toxic and gained 5 spots with those two wins to return to the Top Ten this week.
===== PENRITH, AUSTRALIA =====
This Monster Truck Promotions Australia event did not include side-by-side racing and so points were not awarded
===== PENSACOLA, FL =====
1/11 Sat Aft: KALEY ENGSTROM [Shark Attack] defeated Mason Rife [Outlaw]
After coming up short in her last 3 trips to the finals, Kaley Engstrom finally got back into the winner’s circle on Saturday in Pensacola. She was undefeated in her 3 heats and won twice over the Outlaw.
===== RENO, NV =====
1/10 Fri Ngt: WESTON ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Coty Saucier [Dragon]
1/11 Sat Aft: BRIANNA MAHON [Scooby Doo] defeated Weston Anderson [Grave Digger]
1/11 Sat Ngt: WESTON ANDERSON [Grave Digger] defeated Tim Hall Jr [Jurassic Attack]
1/12 Sun Aft: COTY SAUCIER [Dragon] defeated Devin Winfield [Velociraptor]
1/12 Sun Ngt: COTY SAUCIER [Dragon] defeated Devin Winfield [Velociraptor]
Weston Anderson joins the Open Championship rankings in 4th place after a pair of wins in Reno, Nevada. He was runner-up to Brianna Mahon on Saturday afternoon (her 2nd win of the season) and lost twice in the semi-finals on Sunday to current world #1 and eventual bracket winner Coty Saucier. Team Throttle Monster didn’t collect any wins but did have runner-up finishes in the final 3 events.
===== RIO RANCHO, NM =====
1/10 Fri Ngt: DARON BASL [Block Head] defeated Jerry Beck [Dirt Crew]
1/11 Sat Ngt: TYLER GROTH [The Veteran] defeated Daron Basl [Block Head]
The Toughest Monster Truck Tour kicked off the season with some wild racing in Rio Rancho. Tim Jones even ended up sliding the Tailgator into the wall while racing hard for the win on Saturday night. Defending series Jerry Beck started his title defense with a final round showing on Friday, but it was Daron Basl in Block Head taking the win on the tight Chicago-style course. Basl opened the 2024 Toughest Tour with 2 racing wins and nearly did it this year again, but he ran over the final turning pole on Saturday which handed the win to Tyler Groth in The Veteran. Basl won 7 of the 21 points racing on tour last season which was the most of any driver.
===== SAN DIEGO, CA =====
1/11 Sat Aft: TYLER MENNINGA [Grave Digger] defeated Camden Murphy [Classroom Crusher]
1/12 Sun Aft: TYLER MENNINGA [Grave Digger] defeated Colt Stephens [ThunderROARus]
It’s easy to make the argument that Tyler Menninga is the top active racing in the sport today. He just completed a sweep in San Diego for the second week in a row and has gone 7 races without a heat loss! Despite the big lead that Coty Saucier started the year with, Menninga has trimmed that lead down to 176 points. (He earned 732 just this past weekend)
Camden Murphy finally got out of detention with the Classroom Crusher. His debut last week yield no heat wins, but the second go-around saw Murphy advance to the finals on Saturday and he was knocked out on Sunday due to mechanical breakage, not a loss. Murphy has been a consistently strong racer and may very well end up being the person who can break Menninga’s winning streak.
Colt Stephens continues a strong start to the season with his 8th final round appearance of the year. 8th is also where he currently ranks. He ended the 2024 calendar year with 4 consecutive finals (including 2 wins) in Mexico and Hampton, Virginia. He now has 4 runner-up finishes in his past 6 races.
===== TUCSON, AZ =====
1/11 Sat Aft: JIMMY CRETEN [Bounty Hunter] defeated Kory Kinal [Jekyll & Hyde]
1/12 Sun Aft: DENNIS ANDERSON [King Sling] defeated Kory Kinal [Jekyll & Hyde]
Kory Kinal has been having a solid season so far with 10 finals (4 wins) in 16 races on the 2Xtreme Tour. He’s currently ranked inside the Top 25 and advanced to the drag racing finals both times this weekend, but there the second-generation driver had to face to first-generation superstars. First was Jimmy Creten in his awesome low-slung Bounty Hunter who his 8th win of the season.
On Sunday came a surprise: with Shark Bite out of action with breakage, Dennis Anderson got the call to join the racing bracket in his extreme ride truck King Sling. Anderson—of course—has been one of the preeminent racing drivers of the sport since the very first racing series in 1988. Despite having been retired from full-time racing for many years now, Anderson showed no mercy and no rust on the young guns and powered through for his first official MTROC event win!
====== EVENTS THIS WEEKEND =====
Anaheim, CA (Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series East)
Arcadia, FL (Monster Truck Chaos)
Austin, TX (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)
Baltimore, MD (Monster Jam Arena Championship Series East)
Bossier City, LA (Kicker Monster Truck Nationals)
Clemson, SC (Monster Truck Wars)
Davie, FL (All Star Monster Truck Tour)
Duncan, OK (Monster Truck Wars)
Manchester, England (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live International Tour: Glow Party Arena Event)
Pendleton, SC (Monster Truck Wars)
Saint Louis, MO (Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series West)
Sioux Falls, SD (Toughest Monster Truck Tour)
Springfield, MA (Monster Truck Nitro Tour)
Tacoma, WA (Monster Jam Arena Championship Series West)
Uniondale, NY (Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party Arena Event)
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