Fathers Day has always been a special day in motorsports, and Monster Jam is no exception as the sport now enters an era where many second-generation stars are set to take the lead into the future.

While there are plenty of examples of father-son success stories in other sports, like the Griffey’s and Bonds’ in baseball, motorsports has for years thrived and moved forward when sons of famous racers entered the sport themselves. Last names like Petty, Andretti, and Earnhardt stay at the top of the motorsports world decade to decade, as it always seems like the next generation is on its way. With Monster Jam now some three decades old we are seeing the beginning of our next generation of superstars, but here the names, so far, include Anderson and Evans.

Monster Jam, like many of its motorsports brothers, thrives as much as anything because of the true family nature of the sport. Like Richard Petty in NASCAR, Dennis Anderson has become an icon because of a combination of on the track excellence and a real love for his fans. And like “The King”, Dennis is passing those traits along to his sons. While some newcomers to the NASCAR ranks seem to jump in at a young age without an appreciation for what it took to bring the sport to where it is today, the sons of famous racing fathers are the ones who really understand what it took to bring these sports to the forefront. Petty is the prime example. In NASCAR no one has ever spent more time signing autographs and doing things for his fans than the sport’s winningest driver. So it was natural when his son Kyle followed in his footsteps on the track he would do the same off the track as well. Raised around racing, Kyle Petty saw how his father treated his fans and has always been one of NASCAR’s most accessible stars. And he has gone even further in the charity world with his amazing commitment to children through his Victory Junction Gang.

I mention Petty here because I see so much of the same in the Andersons. With all due respect to “The King”, it is my opinion that no person walking this earth has signed more autographs for his fans than Dennis Anderson. He has always been the leader in the sport when it comes to making time for his fans and showing appreciation to them. He’s never forgotten that the Grave Digger is just another 10,000 pound piece of equipment without the loyal allegiance of the millions of Digger fans worldwide. It is clear that growing up and seeing how his father treats his fans has rubbed off on Adam Anderson. None of the lack of appreciation for the fans that seems apparent with many of the new motorsports stars making their names these days in Adam, and I expect that when Ryan Anderson hits the tour he’ll be the same. Adam, while still new to the sport as an actual competitor, has embraced the fans everywhere he goes, and while he is already vastly popular in this country his attitude toward the fans that he has learned from his famous father has made him a huge hit in Europe as well. He may be young and seem like he has bolted to the top in no time, but I believe that Adam Anderson’s upbringing in the sport gives him the appreciation that others may lack about what it took to get to the level motorsports has reached in today’s world.

That’s why on Fathers Day it got me thinking about how the next generation will take Monster Jam forward, and among those leading that next generation of Monster Jam superstars will certainly be Adam and Ryan Anderson as well as Deric Evans. Like the Andersons, Dan and Laurie have raised their son around the sport, part of a family team that is as well liked and respected as any in the sport. When the parents lead by example it is natural that the youngsters who do decide to follow in their footsteps will do it the right way, because they’ve seen how it’s done, and how the sport has been built, first hand.

Monster Jam is such a strong family sport that down the road the Andersons and Evans are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. World Racing Champion John Seasock’s sons are at several events throughout the year and both are always pitching in any way they can to be a part of Monster Jam, and I won’t be surprised if following their Dad’s career path becomes appealing to them as well. And who knows, maybe in 10 to15 years or so we’ll see a daughter of Jimmy and Dawn Creten have the desire to do what their parents have done inside a truck. I’m just mentioning a few families here, but the sport is full of hard working people whose families are already a part of the industry, and the children already want to be part of our next generation. The family aspect of motorsports has always been unique to me, and I think it is as strong in Monster Jam as it is anywhere.

So on this Fathers Day here is a salute to all of the Monster Jam fathers in the industry today. Many of their offspring will be the drivers, crewmembers, and behind the scenes players who will build this sport to even greater heights for decades to come. If Adam Anderson and Deric Evans are examples of the others who will be coming into the game their parents have built, the future of Monster Jam is indeed in great hands.