By Kevonté Steadman
Photo Credit: MonsterTruckLord
Week 4 of the 2023 Monster Jam season witnessed a return to form as all five Series wrapped up their first month of competition on the demanding path to World Finals XXII.
ARENA SERIES WEST
Photo Credit: Gravezillaprime 2001
Series West returned to Sacramento, CA, for three epic showdowns at the Golden 1 Center. Points leader Elvis Lainez came out swinging after the week-long hiatus. Lainez earned single Racing, Donut, Skills, and Overall victories on the weekend while sweeping the Freestyle competition. However, Tristan England refused to fall behind. England snapped Lainez’s incredible streak, snagging a pair of Racing, Skills, and Overall Event Championships, as well as a Donut win. Following the aftermath, the battle between the two titans ended in a momentary stalemate. Lainez still holds a six-point advantage as the group treks to Fargo, ND, next weekend.
Series West Points:
Elvis Lainez - El Toro Loco - 309
Tristan England - Earth Shaker - 303
David Olfert - Velociraptor - 231
Krysten Anderson - Grave Digger - 204
Bailey Shea - Monster Mutt Dalmatian - 170
Mark Hall - Raminator - 154
Ashley Sanford - Megalodon - 149
Kurt Kraehmer - Rammunition - 120
ARENA SERIES CENTRAL
Photo Credit: Latinos en el DMV
Series Central visited Washington, DC, at the Capital One Arena for a trio of events. Tony Ochs tamed his mechanical beast, willing it to unleash upon his competitors. Ochs took individual Racing, Skills, and Donut victories, highlighted with an Overall Event Championship. Yet Brandon Vinson flexed his dominance, claiming nearly all the remaining competitions. Vinson’s success included two Racing championships, one Skills Challenge, one Overall, and a clean sweep of Freestyle. He also executed the first-ever “Tombstone” nose wheelie in an arena setting. Vinson maintains a significant lead moving to Providence, RI, next week.
Series Central Points:
Brandon Vinson - Grave Digger - 284
Jon Zimmer Jr. - Terminal Velocity - 248
Tony Ochs - ThunderROARus - 234
Coty Saucier - Dragon - 218
Zack Garner - Wild Side - 217
Brandan Tulachka - Just Get Er Done II - 174
Mikayla Tulachka - Megalodon - 136
Jamie Sullivan - Monster Mutt Dalmatian - 136
ARENA SERIES EAST
Photo Credit: MonsterTruckLord
Series East rolled into Newark, NJ, for four incredible shows at the Prudential Center, with as many drivers earning the Event Championships. Bernard Lyght stepped up first, securing the coveted trophy after backflipping his way to a Freestyle victory. Armando Castro followed suit, taking the bull to three Skills wins and a Freestyle for the weekend. Weston Anderson went next. He kept on the gas to win the Skills Challenge, two Donut competitions, and a Freestyle victory. Last but not least, Linsey Read claimed the final Donut and Freestyle wins to secure her status. Anderson extends his lead heading to Belmont Park, NY, next weekend.
Series East Points:
Weston Anderson - Grave Digger - 330
Armando Castro - El Toro Loco - 293
Linsey Read - Scooby-Doo - 252
Dalton Widner - Jurassic Attack - 234
Bernard Lyght - Megalodon - 204
Hunter Souza - Earth Shaker - 198
Chad Tingler - Zombie - 175
Frank Krmel - Stone Crusher - 113
STADIUM SERIES RED
Photo Credit: MonsterTruckLord
Series Red arrived in Miami, FL, eager for a pair of events at the LoanDepot Park. The shows departed from the “Paperclip” style, reverting to the traditional “St. Louis” course, featuring a unique 8-pack setup. With everyone gunning for him, frontrunner Camden Murphy knew he needed to stay focused. Murphy exerted his Racing talent to fly past Bryce Kenny in the first event. Jamey Garner then end-over-ended his way to the Skills victory. Following, Adam Anderson turned up the wick to earn the first Freestyle win. Yet Murphy walked away with another Event Championship. The second event featured the redemption of fan-favorite Todd LeDuc following a string of mechanical issues. He derailed Murphy’s consistency to take the Racing win. After, Tom Meents performed classic Max-D moves for the Skills Challenge. Murphy charged back with a backflip-to-moonwalk in Freestyle, but LeDuc held on to secure the Overall. Murphy widens the points gap as the series marches into Tampa, FL, next week.
Series Red Points [1]*, [2]*:
Camden Murphy - Bakugan Dragonoid - 189
Bryce Kenny - Great Clips Mohawk Warrior - 165
Adam Anderson - Grave Digger - 161
Tom Meents - Max-D - 159
Jamey Garner - El Toro Loco - 149
Cole Venard - Black Pearl - 142
Todd LeDuc - Megalodon - 132
Kayla Blood - Soldier Fortune - 127
Travis Mowery - Velociraptor - 108
Nick Pagliarulo - Kraken - 97
Matt Pagliarulo - Jester - 83
Mike Christensen - Vendetta - 79
STADIUM SERIES BLUE
Photo Credit: ThatMJGuy
Series Blue’s much-anticipated events at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, brought some of the most spectacular moments of the season thus far. Tyler Menninga remained the one to beat as the other competitors fought to end his Digger domination. Aware of this, Menninga locked in further to claim another Racing championship, once again over Ryan Disharoon. However, the remainder of the show witnessed Ryan Anderson take the competition to new heights. Anderson masterfully balanced and contorted his truck to take the Skills Challenge, then laid down a mind-bending Freestyle capped with a backflip-to-moonwalk-to-wheelie combo to take the Overall. The second event amplified the energy as Anderson ended Menninga’s massive Racing streak. Menninga bounced back in the Skills competition after performing two incredible bicycles across the floor. Freestyle featured highlight after highlight, but Texas native Colt Stephens took it all. Menninga earned the second Overall and continues his marathon in Indianapolis, IN, next weekend.
Series Blue Points [3]*:
Tyler Menninga - Grave Digger - 251
Ryan Anderson - Son-uva Digger - 213
Bari Musawwir - Zombie - 178
Cory Rummell - Megalodon - 162
John Gordon - Bad Company - 152
Colt Stephens - ThunderROARus - 147
Cynthia Gauthier - Lucas Stabilizer - 140
Jim Koehler - Avenger - 137
Mark List - El Toro Loco - 133
Chris Koehler - Monster Mutt - 124
Joe Foley - Axe - 101
Ryan Disharoon - Shaker - 90
NOTES
[1]* Adam Anderson received a five-point Freestyle deduction for hitting a dumpster in St. Louis 1.
[2]* Jamey Garner received a five-point Freestyle deduction for hitting a truck in St. Louis 1.
[3]* Ryan Disharoon received a five-point Freestyle deduction for hitting a dumpster in San Antonio 2.