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Weekend Recap: Firsts Abound in Monster Jam's Visit to Glendale

Authored by Monster Jam on October 2, 2023

The potential for excitement was high, and the Monster Jam competitors delivered at State Farm Stadium on September 30. A field of 12, including eight competitors from the 2023 Monster Jam World Finals, lined up to take on the challenge. The visit marked the second appearance of Monster Jam in 2023 at the venue, with five of the drivers making a return from the April stop. One of them, Cory Rummell (Megalodon), had reigned supreme with the overall event championship in April.

The firsts began right from the start. For competitors Jamie Sullivan (Monster Mutt Dalmatian) and Kurt Kraehmer (Rammunition), it was their first Monster Jam stadium event. The Racing final also saw a first. Ryan Anderson (Son-uva Digger) faced his brother Weston Anderson (Grave Digger) for the first time in their respective Monster Jam careers. Ryan prevailed for the racing title and it was the third time in three years that the racing final saw Anderson-against-Anderson. In a pair of 2021 events, Ryan beat brother Adam Anderson in Megalodon on opening night, but Adam got his revenge with a finals victory over Ryan on the final night of the State Farm Stadium appearance.

Weston’s racing defeat would not thwart him from his own highlight, as the 2022 Co-Rookie of the Year scored his first career stadium Freestyle win.

When it was all said and done, it was Armando Castro – who made his stadium debut here in 2021 – who stood proudly at the top. Castro took home the Great Clips 2-Wheel Challenge and placed second in Freestyle (losing by only 0.009 in Judges’ Zone scoring) to propel himself to an event championship, his first in a Monster Jam stadium event.

Full Event Results