Jim Koehler

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Jim Koehler

2025 Truck

Avenger

2025 Tour

Stadium Championship Series East

Birthday

July 13

Residence

Columbus, MI

“Mr. Excitement” is one of the veteran competitors in Monster Jam and continues to live up to his nickname! Jim started his career in 1997, building Avenger as a tribute to his father who competed in drag racer with the same name. Jim says driving a Monster Jam truck is like being a superhero “without having to chase criminals.” He advises that it is important to stick to your dreams and, most importantly to enjoy life…and he leads by example. He is a two-time World Freestyle Champion (2003 and 2011) and has won Monster Jam’s Extreme Air award seven times!

career highlights

2003 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion
2009 Sportsman of the Year
2010 Stadium Freestyle of the Year
2011 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion
2011 Sportsman of the Year
2012 Extreme Air of the Year
2013 Sportsman of the Year
2013 Extreme Air of the Year
2014 Extreme Air of the Year
2015 Extreme Air of the Year
2015 Sportsman of the Year
2016 Extreme Air of the Year
2017 Extreme Air of the Year
2021 Stadium Freestyle of the Year
2022 Extreme Air of the Year
2024 Stadium BKT Freestyle of the Year

about

What are some of your interests/hobbies/favorite pastimes?
Welding and fabricating, riding four-wheelers, boating and jet skiing.
Who are your role models?
John Force and Dale Earnhardt.
Do you have any ‘pre-show’ rituals you run through?<
I usually tape things to my cab. A note to motivate me, a coin that I find for good luck or something I received from a fan.
What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
I think by now, everyone knows everything about me.
What is your favorite memory on or off the racetrack?
My newest, favorite memory was when we did an amazing job in racing and freestyle at the 2017 Monster Jam World Finals in a brand-new truck that we build. It was the first weekend it was ever driven.
What’s your most prized possession?
My trucks!

life on the road

What is the best and worst thing about being on the road every weekend with Monster Jam?
For me, the worst part is being away from home and driving all those miles to every show. The best is seeing the country and meeting all of the great fans and of course, getting to play with all of the Monster Jam trucks.
While on the road, what is your favorite thing to do during your free time?
What free time? There isn’t any free time on the road.
How do you keep fit?
Hard work keeps me fit. I never sit around.
What item(s) can you not live without while traveling on the road with Monster Jam?
Clothes and the basics. I’m a guy, I don’t take much to survive.

career

How did you get started competing in Monster Jam?
I built my own truck from scratch and started competing with it. I guess they liked what they saw!
What’s your favorite part about competing in Monster Jam?
The level of competition.
How would you describe your driving style?
Moderately out of control.
What advice would you give to kids who want to become a Monster Jam driver?
Stay in school, keep out of trouble and follow your dreams.
What is your greatest memory as a Monster Jam driver?
Winning Sportsman of the Year as many times as I have and my two Monster Jam World Finals championships.
Who in Monster Jam do you look up to for inspiration?
Everyone looks up to Tom Meents and Dennis Anderson but now-a-days every Monster Jam driver inspires me. A lot of these new kids can really drive and some come from great backgrounds and have amazing stories.

fun facts

Do you have any nicknames?
Mr. Excitement
What’s your favorite movie?
The Hangover
What’s your favorite television show?
The Walking Dead
What’s your favorite color?
Green
What’s your favorite thing to eat?
Steak and lobster
What’s your favorite restaurant on the road?
We don’t always eat at the nicest restaurants on the road. Not by choice, nice restaurants don’t have semi-truck parking!
How would your friend and family describe you?
A good guy… I hope!

Jim Koehler Gallery

STADIUM SERIES EAST – 2025

Champion: Tyler Menninga

POINTS THROUGH May 17, 2025

Position

Name

Truck

Points

Behind

Position 1

name Tyler Menninga /

truck Grave Digger /

points 629

behind –

Position 2

name Bari Musawwir /

truck Zombie /

points 619

behind -10

Position 3

name Camden Murphy /

truck Classroom Crusher /

points 551

behind -78

Position 4

name Armando Castro /

truck El Toro Loco /

points 503

behind -126

Position 5

name Dalton Widner /

truck Jurassic Attack /

points 484

behind -145

Position 6

name Colt Stephens /

truck ThunderROARus /

points 434

behind -192

Position 7

name Cynthia Gauthier /

truck Lucas Stabilizer /

points 406

behind -223

Position 8

name Chris Koehler /

truck Mayhem /

points 373

behind -256

Position 9

name Jim Koehler /

truck Avenger /

points 365

behind -264

Position 10

name Mike Christensen /

truck Vendetta /

points 329

behind -300

Position 11

name Joe Foley /

truck AXE / Rod Ryan Show /

points 315

behind -314

Position 12

name Kevin Crocker /

truck Megalodon /

points 212

behind -417

STADIUM SERIES WEST – 2025

Champion: Tristan England

POINTS THROUGH May 17, 2025

Position

Name

Truck

Points

Behind

Position 1

name Tristan England /

truck JCB DIGatron /

points 589

behind –

Position 2

name Ryan Anderson /

truck Son-uva Digger /

points 576

behind -13

Position 3

name Bryce Kenny /

truck Monster Mutt /

points 547

behind -42

Position 4

name Adam Anderson /

truck Grave Digger /

points 460

behind -129

Position 5

name Zack Garner /

truck Wild Side /

points 451

behind -138

Position 6

name Todd LeDuc /

truck Megalodon /

points 437

behind -152

Position 7

name Mike Pagliarulo /

truck Excaliber /

points 362

behind -227

Position 8

name Cole Venard /

truck Black Pearl /

points 340

behind -249

Position 9

name Kayla Blood /

truck Sparkle Smash /

points 326

behind -263

Position 10

name Jamey Garner /

truck El Toro Loco /

points 278

behind -311

Position 11

name Nick Pagliarulo /

truck Kraken /

points 223

behind -366

Position 12

name Matt Pagliarulo /

truck Jester /

points 189

behind -400

ARENA SERIES CENTRAL – 2025

Champion: Jon Zimmer Jr

POINTS THROUGH May 17, 2025

Position

Name

Truck

Points

Behind

Position 1

name Jon Zimmer Jr /

truck Terminal Velocity /

points 1108

behind –

Position 2

name Matt Cody /

truck Grave Digger /

points 1029

behind -79

Position 3

name Jamie Sullivan /

truck Sparkle Smash /

points 1027

behind -81

Position 4

name Fernando Martinez / Chelsea Vancleave /

truck El Toro Loco /

points 965

behind -143

Position 5

name Triton Robbins /

truck Krazy Train /

points 808

behind -300

Position 6

name Jon Zimmer /

truck Zombie /

points 683

behind -425

Position 7

name Montana Robbins /

truck Plane Krazy /

points 618

behind -490

Position 8

name Angelina Nock / Chelsea Vancleave /

truck Megalodon /

points 537

behind -571

ARENA SERIES EAST – 2025

Champion: Blake Granger

POINTS THROUGH May 18, 2025

Position

Name

Truck

Points

Behind

Position 1

name Blake Granger /

truck Monster Mutt Dalmatian /

points 1158

behind –

Position 2

name MJ Solorio /

truck El Toro Loco /

points 1014

behind -144

Position 3

name Tony Ochs /

truck ThunderROARus /

points 968

behind -190

Position 4

name Brandan Tulachka /

truck Just Get-Er-Done II /

points 893

behind -265

Position 5

name Krysten Anderson /

truck Grave Digger /

points 868

behind -290

Position 6

name Mikayla Tulachka /

truck Megalodon /

points 601

behind -557

Position 7

name Mark Hall /

truck Raminator /

points 429

behind -729

Position 8

name Kurt Kraehmer / Dale Benear /

truck Rammunition / Hotsy /

points 331

behind -827

Position 9

name Zack Garner /

truck Wild Side /

points 123

behind -1035

Position 10

name Jamey Garner /

truck Over Bored /

points 84

behind -1074

ARENA SERIES WEST – 2025

Champion: Weston Anderson

POINTS THROUGH May 18, 2025

Position

Name

Truck

Points

Behind

Position 1

name Weston Anderson /

truck Grave Digger /

points 1490

behind –

Position 2

name Devin Winfield /

truck Velociraptor /

points 1133

behind -357

Position 3

name Coty Saucier /

truck Dragon /

points 1128

behind -362

Position 4

name Brianna Mahon /

truck Scooby-Doo /

points 1111

behind -379

Position 5

name Tim Hall Jr /

truck Jurassic Attack /

points 962

behind -528

Position 6

name Ashley Sanford / Chelsea Vancleave /

truck Megalodon /

points 852

behind -638

Position 7

name Berto Treviño /

truck Monster Mutt Rottweiler /

points 670

behind -820

Position 8

name Alex Bardin / Carson Williams / Cory Rummell /

truck Earth Shaker /

points 571

behind -919

2024 – 2025 INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Champion: Blake Granger

POINTS THROUGH February 9, 2025

Position

Name

Truck

Points

Behind

Position 1

name Blake Granger /

truck Max-D / El Toro Loco / Megalodon /

points 346

behind –

Position 2

name Charlie Pauken /

truck Grave Digger / Megalodon /

points 320

behind -26

Position 3

name Matt Cody /

truck Grave Digger /

points 308

behind -38

Position 4

name Bari Musawwir /

truck Black Panther ™ /

points 281

behind -65

Position 5

name Brandon Arthur /

truck Iron Man ™ / The Amazing Spider-Man ™ / JCB DIGatron /

points 234

behind -112

Position 6

name Myranda Cozad /

truck Thor ™ /

points 180

behind -166

Position 7

name Bernard Lyght /

truck The Amazing Spider-Man ™ /

points 106

behind -240

Position 8

name Peter Nyman /

truck El Toro Loco /

points 105

behind -241

Past Points

Photo of Bari Musawwir in Zombie with caption Inside Monster Jam - Season 4 Episode 22

Inside Monster Jam, News