Monster Jam World Finals

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The Monster Jam World Finals is an annual monster truck event held in late March at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. It is the championship event of the USHRA Monster Jam series. It consists of racing and freestyle segments, and the winner of each is considered the series champion in that division for the coming year. It is the highest profile monster truck event in the country and draws tremendous media attention as well as criticism from those who dislike its destructive reputation.

Originally only 16 trucks were invited to compete in the event, however 20 were selected in 2005, and since 2006, 24 have been invited annually. Trucks and drivers are selected based on their performances over the winter season, which runs from January into early March. When multiple drivers for the same team or truck are selected, they are typically placed into other trucks which travel with their primary vehicle (Grave Digger drivers Charlie Pauken, Chad Tingler, and Randy Brown have competed in the World Finals in Monster Mutt, Monster Mutt Dalmatian, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle respectively, and teammate Pablo Huffaker won the 2007 Freestyle Championship driving Captain's Curse). Truck selection has been controversial in the past as many of the trucks are owned by parent company Live Nation, with only a few privateer trucks regularly invited. Many more trucks are invited to be displayed during the "Pit Party" festivities in the days prior to the event.

The stature of the event leads to extremes in both competitions. The racing track starts in the parking lot behind the locker rooms of the stadium, and features a long straightaway with speeds reaching over 70 MPH. The freestyle track layout is typically the most extreme all season, with several large and unique obstacles, often producing a multitude of crashes. The scoring system is also modified for the event, with six judges and the lowest and highest scores dropped for a maximum possible score of 40 (not including tiebreakers), as opposed to three judges and a maximum score of 30 for the regular season.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Truck Appearances

Grave Digger: 9

  • Years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Drivers: Dennis Anderson & Pablo Huffaker

Maximum Destruction (Team Meents/ Goldberg): 9

  • Years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Drivers: Tom Meents

Captain's Curse (Blacksmith): 8

  • Years: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Drivers: Pablo Huffaker, Carl Van Horn & Alex Blackwell

Blue Thunder: 8

  • Years: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Drivers: Lyle Hancock, Tony Farrell & Linsey Weenk

[edit] World Finals 1 (2000)

Event Date: March 25, 2000

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Airborne Ranger Joe Cypher n/a
Avenger Jim Koehler 26
Bulldozer Guy Wood 26
Goldberg Tom Meents 37
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 40
Gun Slinger Scott Hartsock 34
King Krunch Scott Stephens n/a
Madusa Debra Micelli 34
WCW Nitro Machine
nWo Rob Knell 37
Predator Allen Pezo 29
Prowler Dave Pezo n/a
Reptoid Jim Jack 4
Sting Sky Hartley 28
Sudden Impact John Seasock 26
Wrenchead Lyle Hancock 39

Racing:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
1  Goldberg    
16  WCW Nitro Machine    
     Goldberg    
 
     Predator    
8  Predator  
9  Bulldozer    
     Goldberg    
     Wrenchead    
5  Wrenchead    
12  Sudden Impact    
     Wrenchead  
 
     Sting    
4  Sting  
13  nWo    
     Goldberg  
     Gun Slinger  
6  Madusa    
11  Airborne Ranger    
     Gun Slinger  
 
     Madusa    
3  Gun Slinger  
14  Reptoid    
     Gun Slinger  
     King Krunch    
7  King Krunch    
10  Avenger    
     King Krunch  
 
     Grave Digger    
2  Grave Digger  
15  Prowler    

[edit] World Finals 2 (2001)

Event Date: March 24, 2001

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Avenger Jim Koehler 34
Blacksmith[1] Pablo Huffaker 27
Black Stallion Michael Vaters 30
Blue Thunder Lyle Hancock n/a
Bulldozer Eldon Depew 28
Destroyer Dan Evans 23
Goldberg Tom Meents 38
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 36
Gun Slinger Scott Hartsock n/a
Madusa Debra Micelli 33
Predator Allen Pezo 22
Spiderman Gary Porter 31
Sting Tony Farrell 34
Sudden Impact John Seasock 19
Wolverine Brian Barthel n/a
Wrenchead Jill Canuso 36

Racing:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
1  Wolverine    
16  Black Stallion    
     Wolverine    
 
     Predator    
8  Predator  
9  Madusa    
     Blue Thunder    
     Wolverine    
5  Blacksmith    
12  Grave Digger    
     Blackmith (DNR-broke  
 
     Blue Thunder    
4  Blue Thunder  
13  Wrenchead    
     Goldberg  
     Blue Thunder  
6  Gun Slinger (DNR-broke)    
11  Destroyer    
     Destroyer  
 
     Spiderman    
3  Avenger (DNR-broke)  
14  Spiderman    
     Goldberg  
     Destroyer    
7  Bulldozer    
10  Sudden Impact    
     Goldberg  
 
     Bulldozer    
2  Goldberg  
15  Sting    

[edit] World Finals 3 (2002)

Event date: March 23, 2002

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Avenger Jim Koehler 8
Blacksmith Pablo Huffaker 35
Black Stallion Mike Vaters 32
Blue Thunder Lyle Hancock 35
Bounty Hunter Jimmy Creten 22
Bulldozer Guy Wood 8
Firemouth Carl Van Horn 24
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 36
Gun Slinger Scott Hartsock 20
Hot wheels Eldon Depew 17
Madusa Debra Miceli 19
Power Forward Chad Fortune 12
Perdator Allen Pezo 21
Sudden Impact John Seasock 24
Team Meents Tom Meents 37
Woverine Brian Barthel 30

Racing:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
1  Team Meents    
16  Blue Thunder    
     Team Meents    
 
     Gun Slinger    
8  Gun Slinger  
9  Madusa    
     Team Meents    
     Grave Digger    
5  Bulldozer    
12  Power Forward    
     Grave Digger  
 
     Bulldozer    
4  Grave Digger  
13  Black Stallion    
     Team Meents  
     Bounty Hunter  
6  Blacksmith    
11  Firemouth    
     Blacksmith  
 
     Hotwheels    
3  Hot Wheels  
14  Predator    
     Bounty Hunter  
     Blacksmith    
7  Sudden Impact    
10  Avenger    
     Bounty Hunter  
 
     Sudden Impact    
2  Bounty Hunter  
15  Wolverine    

[edit] World Finals 4 (2003)

Event date: March 22, 2003

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Avenger Jim Koehler 37
Blacksmith Carl Van Horn 24
Black Stallion Mike Vaters 30
Blue Thunder Lyle Hancock 34
Bounty Hunter Jimmy Creten 14
El Toro Loco Lupe Soza 36
Grave Digger Pablo Huffaker 20
Gun Slinger Scott Hartsock n/a
Madusa Debra Miceli 32
Maximum Destruction Tom Meents 13
Monster Mutt Todd Frolik 9
Power Forward Chad Fortune 29
Sobe Kathy Winston 22
Spiderman Bobby Z 22
Sudden Impact John Seasock 27
Wolverine Brian Barthel 16

Racing:

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Bounty Hunter    
16  Power Forward    
     Bounty Hunter    
 
     Madusa    
8  Madusa  
9  Blue Thunder    
     Bounty Hunter    
     Blacksmith    
5  Spiderman    
12  Suzuki    
     Blacksmith  
 
     Spiderman    
4  Blacksmith  
13  El Toro Loco    
     Wolverine  
     Bounty Hunter  
6  Maximum Destruction    
11  Grave Digger    
     Gun Slinger  
 
     Maximum Destruction    
3  Gun Slinger  
14  Black Stallion    
     Wolverine  
     Gun Slinger    
7  Sudden Impact    
10  Monster Mutt    
     Wolverine  
 
     Sudden Impact    
2  Wolverine  
15  Avenger    

[edit] World Finals 5 (2004)

Event date: March 20, 2004

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Avenger Jim Koehler 9
Blacksmith Pablo Huffaker 26
Blue Thunder Tony Farrell 9
Bounty Hunter Jimmy Creten 30
Bulldozer Guy Wood 20
El Toro Loco Lupe Soza 31
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 30
Hotwheels Neil Elliot 25
King Krunch David Smith 27
Little Tiger Brian Barthel 23
Madusa Debra Miceli 31
Maximum Destruction Tom Meents 31
Monster Mutt Bobby Z 19
Power Forward Carl Van Horn 14
Team Suzuki Kathy Winston 9
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Paul Cohen 11

Racing:

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Maximum Destruction    
16  Hotwheels    
     Maximum Destruction    
 
     Monster Mutt    
8  Monster Mutt  
9  Bulldozer    
     Blacksmith    
     Maximum Destruction    
5  Blacksmith    
12  Power Forward    
     Blacksmith  
 
     Blue Thunder    
4  Blue Thunder  
13  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle    
     Grave Digger  
     Blacksmith  
6  Bounty Hunter    
11  Avenger    
     Bounty Hunter  
 
     Little Tiger    
3  Madusa DNR Broke  
14  Little Tiger    
     Grave Digger  
     Bounty Hunter    
7  King Krunch    
10  El Toro Loco    
     Grave Digger  
 
     King Krunch    
2  Grave Digger  
15  Team Suzuki    

[edit] World Finals 6 (2005)

Event Date: March 19, 2005

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Escalade George Balhan 25
Avenger Jim Koehler 25
Blacksmith Pablo Huffaker 18
Black Stallion Mike Vaters 27
Blue Thunder Tony Farrell 31 then 36
Bounty Hunter Jimmy Creten 31 then 37
Brutus Chris Bergeron 20
Destroyer Dan Evans 26
El Toro Loco Lupe Soza 8
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 23
Gun Slinger Scott Hartsock n/a
Hotwheels Phil Foster 20
King Krunch David Smith 27
Madusa Debra Miceli 13
Maximum Destruction Tom Meents 22
Monster Mutt Bobby Z 24
Pastrana 199 Paul Cohen 20
Power Forward Frank Krmel 22
Scralet Bandit Dawn Creten 25
Superman Chad Fortune 24

Racing:

  First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                               
        
        
     Bounty Hunter    
     Brutus    
   Pastrana 199 DNR Broke  
   Brutus    
     Bounty Hunter    
     Blue Thunder    
        
        
     Blue Thunder  
     Power forward    
      
        
     Bounty Hunter    
     Grave Digger    
        
        
     Blacksmith  
     Maximum Destruction    
      
        
     Grave Digger  
     Blacksmith    
        
        
     Grave Digger  
     Escalade    
   Escalade  
   Avenger    
   Madusa  
   Grave Digger  
   King Krunch    
   Scarlet Bandit    
     King Krunch    
     Gun Slinger    
      
        
     King Krunch    
         
        
        
     Hotwheels  
     Superman    
      
        
     Madusa  
     King Krunch    
        
        
     El Toro Loco  
     Monster Mutt    
      
        
     Madusa  
     El Toro Loco    
        
        
     Madusa  
     Destroyer    
   Destroyer  
   Black Stallion    

[edit] World Finals 7 (2006)

Event Date: March 25, 2006

Truck Driver Freestyle score
Air Force Afterburner Paul Cohen 20
Avenger Jim Koehler 16
Batman Jason Childress 21
Blacksmith Pablo Huffaker 13
Blue Thunder Tony Farrell 24
Bounty Hunter Jim Creten 14
Brutus Chris Bergeron 10
Del Scorcho Frank Krmel 29
Destroyer Dan Evans 22
El Toro Loco Lupe Soza 11
Escalade George Balhan 20
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 33
Hot Wheels Neil Elliott n/a
Iron Outlaw Linsey Weenk 14
King Krunch David Smith 26
Maximum Destruction Tom Meents 37
Monster Mutt Charlie Pauken 32
Pastrana 199 Chad Tingler 16
Predator Allen Pezo 17
Safe Auto Minimizer Marc MacDonald 19
Superman Chad Fortune 23
Taz Adam Anderson 22
Team Suzuki Kathy Winston 15
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Randy Brown 22

Racing:

  First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                               
        
        
     Grave Digger    
     Maximum Destruction    
   Maximum Destruction  
   Brutus    
     Grave Digger    
     Safe Auto Mimimizer    
        
        
     Safe Auto Minimizer  
     Escalade    
   Escalade  
   King Krunch    
     Grave Digger    
     Hot Wheels    
        
        
     Hot Wheels  
     Air Force Afterburner    
   Air Force Afterburner  
   Superman    
     Hot Wheels  
     Pastrana 199    
        
        
     Pastrana 199  
     El Toro Loco    
   El Toro Loco  
   Avenger    
   Grave Digger  
   Bounty Hunter  
        
        
     Iron Outlaw    
     Monster Mutt    
   Monster Mutt  
   Batman    
     Blacksmith    
     Iron Outlaw    
        
        
     Blacksmith  
     Del Scorcho    
   Del Scorcho  
   Team Suzuki    
     Bounty Hunter  
     Blacksmith    
        
        
     Taz  
     Blue Thunder    
   Taz  
   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles    
     Bounty Hunter  
     Taz    
        
        
     Bounty Hunter  
     Predator    
   Predator  
   Destroyer    

[edit] World Finals 8 (2007)

Event Date: March 24, 2007

Truck Driver Freestyle Score
Air Force Afterburner Damon Bradshaw 29
Avenger Jim Koehler 20
Batman John Seasock 8
Blue Thunder Tony Farrell 21
Bounty Hunter Jimmy Creten 8
Brutus Chris Bergeron 12
Captain’s Curse Pablo Huffaker 34
Destroyer Dan Evans 23
El Toro Loco Lupe Soza 17
Escalade George Balhan 16
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 30
Hot Wheels Neil Elliott n/a
Iron Outlaw Linsey Weenk 29
King Krunch David Smith 19
Maximum Destruction Tom Meents 28
Monster Mutt Charlie Pauken 21
Monster Mutt Dalmatian Chad Tingler 9[2]
Pastrana 199 Courtney Jolly 20
Safe Auto Minimizer Marc McDonald 29
Scarlet Bandit Dawn Creten 24
Superman Chad Fortune 21
Taz Adam Anderson 26
Team Suzuki Bobby Parr/Frank Krmel 26[3]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Randy Brown n/a

Racing:

  First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                               
        
        
     Hot Wheels    
     Bounty Hunter    
   Hot Wheels  
   Pastrana 199    
     Batman    
     Hot Wheels    
        
        
     Batman  
     Air Force Afterburner    
   Air Force Afterburner  
   Taz    
     Batman    
     Monster Mutt    
        
        
     Monster Mutt  
     Blue Thunder    
   Blue Thunder  
   Team Suzuki    
     Monster Mutt  
     Maximum Destruction    
        
        
     Maximum Destruction  
     Brutus    
   Brutus  
   Avenger    
   Batman  
   Grave Digger  
        
        
     Iron Outlaw    
     Destroyer    
   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (DNR-broke)  
   Destroyer    
     Captain's Curse    
     Iron Outlaw    
        
        
     Captain's Curse  
     Scarlet Bandit    
   Captain's Curse  
   Superman    
     Grave Digger  
     Captain's Curse    
        
        
     Grave Digger  
     Escalade    
   Escalade  
   King Krunch    
     Grave Digger  
     Safe Auto Minimizer    
        
        
     Safe Auto Minimizer  
     Monster Mutt Dalmatian    
   Monster Mutt Dalmatian  
   El Toro Loco    

[edit] World Finals 9 (2008)

Event Date: March 29, 2008

Truck Driver Qualifying Time Freestyle Score World Finals Appearances (Truck)
Air Force Afterburner Damon Bradshaw 16.75 18 3rd
Avenger Jim Koehler DNF 17 9th
Batman John Seasock 16.62 16 3rd
Black Stallion Michael Vaters 17.18 25 5th
Blue Thunder Linsey Weenk 16.66 30 8th
Bounty Hunter Jimmy Creten 20.75 12 7th
Captain's Curse Alex Blackwell 16.56 29 2nd [4]
Destroyer Dan Evans 18.29 5 5th
Donkey Kong Frank Krmel 17.07 26 1st
El Toro Loco Lupe Soza 17.81 28 6th
Escalade George Balhan 17.25 18 4th
Grave Digger Dennis Anderson 17.78 30 9th
Iron Outlaw Kreg Christensen 17.29 4 3rd
King Krunch David Smith 16.78 13 6th
Maximum Destruction Tom Meents 16.13 6 9th
Monster Mutt Charlie Pauken 16.84 27 6th
Monster Mutt Dalmatian Chad Tingler 17.44 32 2nd
Pastrana 199 Cam McQueen 17.50 20 4th
Safe Auto Minimizer Mark McDonald 16.70 24 3rd
Scarlet Bandit Dawn Creten 16.97 36 3rd
Stone Crusher Steve Simms DNF 24 1st
Superman Chad Fortune 17.72 8 4th
Suzuki Bobby Parr 17.54 23 4th
Taz Adam Anderson DNF 37 3rd

Qualifying took place on the Friday night Monster Jam: Double-Down, where fans get two days of Monster Jam.

Racing:

  First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                               
        
        
     Team Suzuki    
     Maximum Destruction    
   Team Suzuki  
   Stone Crusher    
     Maximum Destruction    
     Monster Mutt    
        
        
     Superman  
     Monster Mutt    
   Scarlet Bandit  
   Superman    
     Maximum Destructio (Broke After Run)    
     Bounty Hunter    
        
        
     Escalade  
     Safe Auto Minimizer    
   Destroyer  
   Escalade    
     Safe Auto Minimizer  
     Bounty Hunter    
        
        
     Bounty Hunter  
     Blue Thunder    
   Bounty Hunter  
   Iron Outlaw    
   Batman  
   Bounty Hunter  
        
        
     Taz    
     Batman    
   Taz  
   Monster Mutt Dalmatian    
     Batman    
     Air Force Afterburner    
        
        
     Black Stallion  
     Air Force Afterburner    
   Black Stallion  
   El Toro Loco    
     Batman  
     Captain's Curse    
        
        
     Grave Digger  
     King Krunch    
   Donkey Kong  
   Grave Digger    
     King Krunch  
     Captain's Curse    
        
        
     Avenger  
     Captain's Curse    
   Pastrana 199  
   Avenger    

[edit] World Finals 10 (2009)

Event Date: March 28, 2009 Monster Jam World Finals 10 will take place on March 28, 2009

[edit] Champions

The winners of the racing and freestyle are crowned Monster Jam World Champions until the following year where they will try again. In freestyle there are tie breakers since in 2004 there was a three way tie for the championship, and a tie breaker was used in 2005.

Year Racing Freestyle
2000 Goldberg (Tom Meents) Grave Digger (Dennis Anderson)
2001 Goldberg (Tom Meents) Goldberg (Tom Meents)
2002 Team Meents (Tom Meents) Team Meents (Tom Meents)
2003 Wolverine (Brian Barthel) Avenger (Jim Koehler)
2004 Grave Digger (Dennis Anderson) [Tie] Maximum Destruction (Tom Meents), Madusa (Debra Micelli), El Toro Loco (Lupe Soza)
2005 Madusa (Debra Micelli) Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten)
2006 Grave Digger (Dennis Anderson) Maximum Destruction (Tom Meents)
2007 Batman (John Seasock) Captain's Curse (Pablo Huffaker)
2008 Batman (John Seasock) Taz (Adam Anderson)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Huffaker drove Ragin' Steel in freestyle due to a crash in which Blacksmith could not be retrieved.
  2. ^ The original Monster Mutt and its Dalmatian variant competed as separate trucks for this event, the first time two trucks with the same name have competed in the World Finals.
  3. ^ Bobby Parr drove the truck in racing while Frank Krmel drove it in freestyle.
  4. ^ Pablo Huffaker won the 2007 World Finals Freestyle Championship in this truck the previous year and Alex Blackwell drove it during the regular season