Thunderous Weekend for Ochs and Stephens

It was another wild weekend of Monster Jam action across the globe as we said goodbye to March and hello to April. As the months fly by and we get closer to World Finals XXIV in Salt Lake City, drivers continue to try to cement their place among the 24 superstars who will compete in the main field at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Two of those drivers stepped up in a huge way last weekend, and they both happen to drive a 12,000-pound wrecking machine named ThunderROARus.

 

Tony Ochs has been in a dogfight for second position on Arena Championship East for most of the season. The significance of that spot is that with series leader Blake Granger already clinching the International Series and heading to Salt Lake City, perhaps (and these is just my opinion) the runner up in the east will get the automatic bid to World Finals. The 10-year military vet certainly helped his cause with a great weekend in Wilkes-Barre which saw him earn two racing wins, two freestyle wins, a skills win, and an Overall Event Championship on Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. While it always a great feeling to win in your home state, I am sure the possibility of inching closer to a first World Finals appearance made it that much sweeter for Tony Ochs.

 

In Birmingham, my former broadcast partner Colt Stephens reminded us why he is a two-time World Finals Champion with perhaps the save of the year, if not the run of the year at Protective Stadium. Stephens defied gravity, launching ThuderROARus across the Birmingham sky, before cartwheeling and rolling the truck onto its sidewalls. Then the second-generation driver took over, powering the truck to eight revolutions in what may have been one of the greatest cyclones in Monster Jam history, finally getting upright after a flashy break-dance ending. Colt rightfully earned the win and in the process showed the selection committee why he deserves to be in Salt Lake City to contend for a third straight championship.

 

 

As the field begins to get announced, keep an eye on Ochs and Stephens to possibly slide their way into 2 of those 23 spots. And, if they get there, don’t be surprised if Team ThunderROARus leaves Salt Lake City with some World Finals gold.