Weekend Recap: Monster Jam Action from US and South Africa
Authored by Larry Jewett on April 24, 2023
Stadium Series Blue – Fans in Reno got to watch some of the series’ stars in four events at the Reno Sparks Livestock Events Center. Tyler Menninga (Grave Digger) swept the opener with wins in the Racing, Donut, Skills and Freestyle competitions. Menninga would claim all four overall event championships along with sweeps of Racing and Freestyle. John Gordon (Bad Company) and Coty Saucier (El Toro Loco) each claimed a win in Donuts action, while Cory Rummell (Megalodon) scored a Skills win. The series resumes the championship points chase with Monster Jam’s first-ever visit to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA on April 29.
Stadium Series Red – The series headed south to Atlanta Motor Speedway where Adam Anderson (Grave Digger) held onto the series points lead with an overall event championship win as well as Freestyle and Racing triumphs on Sunday. Bryce Kenny (Great Clips Mohawk Warrior) added another overall event championship and a Freestyle win to his 2023 Monster Jam resumé. Todd LeDuc (Megalodon) and Camden Murphy (Bakugan Dragonoid) each claimed Skills wins, while Tom Meents (Max-D) added his name to the winners’ list with a Saturday Racing win. The series will take a week off before heading to Foxborough, MA on May 6.
A HUGE SEND, & a hurt truck, Bryce Kenny leaves it all on the line 😳 #MonsterJam pic.twitter.com/S94RTedezx
— Monster Jam (@MonsterJam) April 23, 2023
Arena Series East – The series headed north of the border to Hamilton, Ontario, a familiar Monster Jam stop. Weston Anderson (Grave Digger) took three of the four overall event championships, with Armando Castro (El Toro Loco) claiming the other overall title. Bernard Lyght (Megalodon) scored a pair of Racing wins, while Dalton Widner (Jurassic Attack) took top Racing honors as well. The series now heads to Baltimore, MD for four events April 28–30.
Arena Series Central – Jon Zimmer Jr.’s (Terminal Velocity) hot hand continued this weekend. After sweeping the events in Green Bay last weekend, Zimmer Jr. took all of the overall event championships in Columbia, SC. His dominance provided few opportunities for the other competitors, as only Brandan Tulachka (Just Get Er Done II) and 2023 series champ Brandon Vinson (Grave Digger) were able to claim a competition win. To make the weekend wins even sweeter, Zimmer Jr. accomplished his feats while competing against his father Jon, who was filling in in Wild Side. The series heads next to Evansville, IN for three events April 29–30.
Arena Series West – The series visited Austin, TX, for a pair of events. Tristan England (Earth Shaker) opened the action by sweeping all of the competitions in the Saturday starter. Krysten Anderson (Grave Digger) scored the overall event championship on Sunday thanks to Freestyle and Skills wins. Bari Musawwir (El Toro Loco) joined the tour for this stop and claimed the Sunday Donuts and Racing wins. The championship points race resumes with four events in Colorado Springs April 28–30.
Austin’s, it’s go time 😎 #MonsterJam pic.twitter.com/laWYXQaQ6T
— Monster Jam (@MonsterJam) April 23, 2023
International – The 2023 International Monster Jam tour opened the season with a visit to South Africa and DHL Stadium in Cape Town. Tony Ochs (EarthShaker) scored the overall event championship as well as Racing and Skills wins, while Myranda Cozad (Monster Mutt Dalmatian) recorded her first career stadium Freestyle victory. The tour remains in South Africa for events in Johannesburg (April 29) and Durban (May 6).
After missing Racing and Skills, the sold out crowd in Cape Town, South Africa went WILD when Grave Digger came back out for Freestyle 🙌#MonsterJam pic.twitter.com/SON8ygK09m
— Monster Jam (@MonsterJam) April 22, 2023