MONSTERJAMONLINE

NEW MAJOR PLAYER IN THE MONSTER JAM WORLD
Scott Douglass
So, was it a one night wonder or have we just witnessed the arrival of a new major player in the monster jam world?

EUROPEAN ADVENTURES
Scott Douglass
When I walked into Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY, in October of 1988 to announce a monster truck race for the first time in my career as a broadcaster there is just no way I would have ever thought that this sport would eventually take me to Europe for one of the most amazing month’s of my life

THE 2005 SCOTTY AWARDS, PART 2
Scott Douglass
Now let’s wrap up the naming of this year’s Scotty Award winners by handing out the honors in several more categories:

THE 2005 SCOTTY AWARDS, PART 1
Scott Douglass
With an awesome summer heat season for Monster Jam winding down and the huge European Monster Jam Tour gearing up, and all of this following the greatest winter season of Monster Jam ever it is amazing that we are just around the corner from the launch of the next season in late October.

World Finals Recap
Scott Douglass
With the spectacular 2005 Monster Jam World Finals now a major new chapter in sport's history, it is time for me to look back at the Las Vegas event with a series of thoughts, reflections, and even a helping of humble pie being served to yours truly.

2005 VEGAS ODDS
Scott Douglass

AS WE COUNTDOWN...
Scott Douglass

STRANGE YEAR FOR MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION...
Scott Douglass
What a strange year 2005 is proving to be for six-time World Champion Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction. It has been the most unusual roller coaster ride of feast or famine that we may have ever seen in the history of Monster Jam.

We're Half Way There...
Scott Douglass
As we hit the half way point of the 2004-2005 Monster Jam season that will climax with the Monster Jam World Finals March 19th at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas let’s take a look at this season’s statistics to see what trends may be developing and which teams are building the momentum toward a run at the Monster Jam World Championships.

A GREAT START...
Scott Douglass
Now a month into the 2005 Monster Jam campaign we've seen some surprises, yes, but the dominant theme so far this year is that Tom Meents is back on top, and right now his Maximum Destruction rates as the early favorite to win both the racing and freestyle titles again at the Monster Jam World Finals March 19th in Las Vegas.

A NEW YEAR OF MONSTER JAM
Scott Douglass
In the USHRA this is the week when we go from "the most wonderful time of the year" to the most exciting time of the year. All of the USHRA monster truck teams are fanning across the North American continent to start the grind of competing virtually every weekend in the first quarter of the year, trying to earn one of the coveted 20 starting positions at the 2005 Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas this March.

MONSTERS IN MINNEAPOLIS
Scott Douglass
This week a series of random thoughts from yours truly following a night jam packed with monster thrills and excitement in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ONLY ONE MORE EVENT
Scott Douglass
There is still one more huge Monster Jam event in 2004, and with the star-studded line-up set to invade the Metrodome in Minneapolis this weekend it promises to be a real showdown for bragging right with the sport’s biggest guns looking to gain the final upper hand of this year, and establish important momentum as we head into the weekly grind for the superstars of monster truck racing that January annually brings in.

Happy Holidays from Speed
Scott Douglass
Monster Jam fans have a month long holiday gift coming from Speed Channel, a present that should get fans even more fired up and ready for the start of the 2005 portion of the USHRA Monster Jam season.

What To Expect
Scott Douglass
The first major stadium event of the new season proved to be another example of the parity currently being witnessed on the USHRA Monster Jam tour, and it was one of those nights that had plenty of surprises even though at the end of the race program the World Champion had successfully opened defense of his racing title.

The Real Beginning
Scott Douglass
Most Monster Jam fans are well aware that the major portion of the championship season for the monster truck teams goes from the first weekend of January each year through the World Finals at Las Vegas in March. Actually, though, the major stadium event grind gets going in the fall, with a pair of mega events coming up over the next six weeks.

MONSTER JAM SUMMER HEAT
Scott Douglass
As a very successful USHRA Monster Jam Summer Heat series draws to a close, looking back at some of the results may give us some insight into what to expect this fall and winter when life in the monster world really gets busy with the major events that lead up to the 2005 Monster Jam World Finals next March in Las Vegas.

Catching Up With Madusa...
Scott Douglass
Continuing with our "catching up with" theme here in the summer months, this time we're catching up with one of the co-World Freestyle Champions: Madusa.

Dan Evans & Destroyer
Scott Douglass
This week we're catching up with Dan Evans, the veteran owner and driver of the popular Destroyer monster truck.

ABOUT GARY PORTER RETIRING...
So this is how you retire? “I was planning on retiring a few years ago when I sold my Carolina Crusher to Paul Shafer” legendary monster truck driver Gary Porter explained to me recently. “I had an agreement with him to drive it for a year after he purchased it.”

SCOTT HARTSOCK IS THE MAN!
Scott Douglass
Scott Hartsock has been as close to the top of the Monster Jam mountain as you can get without reaching the apex, having driven his Gunslinger Ford to the runner-up spot in racing at the 2000 Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas.

Awfully good year...
Scott Douglass
This 2004 Monster Jam season has been one of the most successful, if not the best ever for veteran Jim Jack in the popular Reptoid. And the good times seem to keep on rolling this year for Jack, witnessed by his upset win over Grave Digger in the racing final last Saturday at the Summer Heat event contested at Oglethorpe Speedway Park near Savannah, GA.

SUMMER HEAT ACTION
Scott Douglass
We’re off and running with another exciting season of USHRA Summer Heat action all across the United States and Canada. With the support of Advance Auto Parts, the USHRA Summer Heat series is a unique opportunity for fans to see some of the greatest superstars in monster truck racing live at a variety of racetracks, fairgrounds, and arenas.

BREAKING THE TIE
Scott Douglass
Since we left Las Vegas last March with three World Freestyle co-champions there has been lots of discussion from fans and people involved in the Monster Jam business alike about freestyle scoring.

THE TRIO
Scott Douglass
There’s an old adage in the sports world: a tie is like kissing your sister. Reading Linda Ardehali’s excellent interviews on this site with Madusa, Tom Meents, and Lupe Soza, it’s pretty clear that the three co-World Freestyle Champions agree with that sentiment.

SCOTTY AWARDS: Part 2
Scott Douglass
This week it’s part two of my annual review of the top performances from the just completed USHRA winter Monster Jam season which I call the “Scotty Awards”.

THE SCOTTY AWARDS
Scott Douglass
With a few weeks to reflect on the sensational, just completed 2004 winter USHRA Monster Jam season it’s time for my annual tribute to the season’s best with the unveiling of the 2004 “Scotty Awards”.

THE FUTURE OF THE FINALS
Scott Douglass
Every year the anticipation for the next Monster Jam World Finals begins for many of us almost as soon as the previous World Finals ends and the new champions carry their titles off the stage. This year, thanks to some major announcements regarding the expansion of the event in the future, that anticipation is already stronger than ever before.

THOUGHTS & IMPRESSIONS FROM LAS VEGAS
Scott Douglass

THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS FROM LAS VEGAS
Scott Douglass
With the spectacular moments from the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas still fresh on mind, this week's column will simply be a series of thoughts and impressions from the biggest event in the sport, an event that you will be able to witness on television when Speed Channel broadcasts its two hour World Finals special Saturday May 15 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. In no particular order, impressions that are still strongest in my mind after that incredible weekend in Vegas, parity has arrived in Monster Jam.

VEGAS OVERALL
Scott Douglass

MONSTER JAM WORLD FINALS: ODDS
Scott Douglass
As I have done in past years, I will use this space to look ahead to Las Vegas, prepared to end up either a genius or a fool, by putting my amateur handicapping skills to the test, setting odds on the entire field. Before we start, let me remind you as always that these odds are "for recreational purposes only"!

SEE YOU IN PONTIAC...
Scott Douglass
Fans in the Motor City will be getting a preview of this year's Monster Jam World Finals this Saturday night with a superstar laden line-up of monster trucks set to compete in the Silverdome in suburban Detroit.

THE ROAD TO VEGAS
Scott Douglass
Like most Monster Jam fans, I'm already looking ahead to the World Finals March 20th in Las Vegas. When you start trying to determine who the favorites are for the "Big One", I think two factors are more important that any others: momentum and history.

WEATHER & MONSTERS
Scott Douglass
Rambling thoughts on a variety of subjects while trying to get warm again after a cold, damp, but exciting night of monster action in Northern California. Sometimes I am amazed at the toughness of the drivers and teams who compete on the USHRA Monster Jam tour and the hearty souls that make up the incredible fan base that has been turning out in record numbers at so many locales this year.

FIRST OR LAST, WHICH DO YOU PREFER?
Scott Douglass
My how things are changing these days on the Monster Jam circuit. It wasn't very long ago that most observers considered it an advantage to be the last driver to take the floor in the freestyle competition.

MORE ABOUT BEING BACK ON TV
Scott Douglass
Since you've made it to this column, you probably saw the lead story on the main page of this site, and/or have heard the good news at one of the USHRA's recent live events: Monster Jam is back on television! After a one-year hiatus due to programming changes at our previous network home, the monster truck superstars in action at their biggest and most challenging venues will now be a regular addition to the Speed Channel's line-up of top-notch motorsports programming.

MONSTER JAM ON TV
Scott Douglass
With Monster Jam coming regularly to Speed Channel soon, the USHRA has been scheduling the televised events to make sure a wide variety of monster trucks get the opportunity to battle in the major domes and stadiums, and on television.

BAD NEWS FOR USHRA COMPETITORS
Scott Douglass
I've got some bad news for USHRA Monster Jam competitors. Dennis Anderson is still not happy with the way his new Grave Digger #19 is performing. Yes, I know that Anderson has looked fantastic and has been racking up the wins since he hopped into his new piece, but the most popular star in the sport says it's still not 100% right yet. But it's getting there.

RIVALRY
SCOTT DOUGLASS
We are about to witness a classic confrontation among monster truck racing's greatest rivals. That seems unavoidable. The only question is where and when it will happen. My bet is that it will happen soon.

HOUSTON & A BRAND NEW YEAR
Scott Douglass
What a way to start 2004! A full field of 16 of the world's greatest monster trucks opened the New Year in an event full of spectacular moments and surprising results at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

Wow!!
Scott Douglass

Montreal Monster Jam And The Shape Of The Season
Scott Douglass

MONSTER JAM SUMMER HEAT DELIVERED AWESOME ACTION
Scott Douglass

What you might not know about Carl Van Horn...
Scott Douglass

Behind The Wheel
Scott Douglass

The Cretens
Scott Douglass

The Fans & Cedar Rapids
Scott Douglass

Gary Porter's Signature Style
Scott Douglass

Built Ford Tough Monster Jam Summer Heat
Scott Douglass
The USHRA's Built Ford Tough Summer Heat series is now in full swing, as evidenced by two awesome nights to begin the month of June at the "World's Fastest 1/3 Mile", Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, NE. It was a weekend of stark contrasts...

Watching It Again...And Again
Scott Douglass
One of the best things about the Speed Channel coverage of the Monster Jam World Finals this month is all of the chances that we get to watch the greatest event in the sport...

The Busiest Summer For The USHRA
Scott Douglass
We are heading into what appears to be one of the busiest summers ever for USHRA Monster Jam excitement. The action with the big boys is headed to a wide variety of facilities, mostly outdoor venues, across the country over the next four months.

USHRA Returns To Television
Scott Douglass
Monster Jam fans get ready! The superstars of the USHRA return to television, as the Speed Channel broadcasts coverage of the year’s biggest event, the 2003 World Finals several times in the month of May, debuting Friday, May 2. For those of you who were not fortunate enough to be on hand live in Vegas, don’t miss your chance to catch the excitement on Speed Channel.

The Scotty Awards - Part 2
Scott Douglass
This week this space brings you part two of the annual “Scotty Awards”, my picks as the best performers and performances of the 2003 USHRA winter points season. Last week we saluted the winners in the following categories: Team of the Year – Racing; Team of the Year – Freestyle; Upset of the Year; Freestyle Performance of the Year; Freestyle Move of the Year; and Crash of the Year.

The Scotty Awards
Scott Douglass
The time has come for my annual tip of the cap to the best performances from the busy winter points season of mega USHRA Monster Jam events with the unveiling of the 2003 winners of the “Scotty Awards”.

THE WORLD FINALS
Scott Douglass
Did you ever think we would leave Las Vegas saying the new Monster Jam World Champions are Brian Barthel in Wolverine and Jim Koehler in Avenger?

Vegas Odds
Scott Douglass
The time has arrived. The time for yours truly to risk complete embarrassment by trying to handicap the field for what I expect will be the most wide-open and competitive Monster Jam World Finals ever in Las Vegas.

As The World Finals Near...
Scott Douglass
With less than three weeks to go until the World Finals, it appears that the battle to claim the USHRA’s monster truck racing and freestyle world championships will be more wide open than ever before. Among the 16 trucks that roll into Las Vegas more of them will have a legitimate shot at taking home championship hardware than in the previous three title tilts held in Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Thunder in Thunder Nationals
Scott Douglass

Once again in 2003 the exciting USHRA Thunder Nationals series is bringing all of the thrills of big-time monster truck racing to indoor arenas all over the country. The unique format of the Thunder Nationals allows fans to see some of the sport’s biggest superstars in action all night long, actually putting the 10,000-pound monsters through a series of competitions.

Weather and the Monster Jam
Scott Douglass

The weather certainly played havoc with millions of Americans in the last few days, including many competitors, officials, and fans of the USHRA Monster Jam circuit.

The Monster Truck Food Chain
Scott Douglass
Tom Meents and Dennis Anderson continue to be at the top of the monster truck driver food chain, but the challenges to their supremacy continue to get tougher as other teams elevate their games.

The Other Superstars
Scott Douglass

It has already been quite a year for Lyle Hancock in the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder, but last week was especially significant. It was last Saturday night at Reliant Stadium in Houston that Hancock pulled off a rare feat: outscoring both Grave Digger and Maximum Destruction to win the Freestyle Competition outright.

The Last Few Weeks
Scott Douglass

The first month of 2003 has shown that monster truck racing and freestyle performances have, top to bottom, never been better.

Do It For The Fans
Scott Douglass

Everyone in the monster truck business knows that it is the fans that make the sport, and those of us who have the privilege to work in this industry appreciate the fans very much. That appreciation grew even more last Saturday night when a huge crowd braved conditions that, for central Florida, were frigid during the annual USHRA event at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Side Surfing
Scott Douglass

Some call it “side surfing”. In the world of monster trucks “side surfing” happens when a truck starts to rollover, but rather than roll onto its roof, the truck continues to move on its side, on two wheels, with the driver continuing to use the throttle to try and power his way out of flipping over.

Stepping it up
Scott Douglass

Following last Saturday’s 2003 debut Monster Jam at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis two things jumped out at me: first, that Dennis Anderson is definitely carrying the momentum from last year’s success into Grave Digger’s New Year, and second, that Lyle Hancock has elevated his game even further in the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder, and don’t be surprised if this is the team that pushes Grave Digger and World Champion Tom Meents the hardest on the road to Las Vegas.

A New Year of Racing
Scott Douglass

As the holiday season draws to a close, the busiest time of the year for the USHRA monster truck racing teams is here. Beginning this weekend at various sites across the country the best monster operations go to war on a weekly basis, battling for the right to be a part of the field when the winter points season concludes at World Finals 4 in Las Vegas this March.

The Holiday Season
Scott Douglass

During the holiday season, it seems like every newspaper, television station, and radio station has its own review of the highlights and/or lowlights of the past year in news, sports, entertainment and so on. Seizing that theme, we’ll use this space now to take a look...

Highlights
Scott Douglass

Any way you look at it, the 20th anniversary season for Dennis Anderson and the Grave Digger was a rousing success. In Dennis’ eyes the interaction with the fans, all the hype and hoopla, the 20th anniversary line of souvenirs, all of it was great. But what made the year more special than anything else was what happened on the track.

Looking back over 2002...
Scott Douglass

In 2002 we witnessed some of the most incredible events in the history of monster truck racing, fittingly capped off with a spectacular year-ending battle last Saturday in the Minneapolis Metrodome. And since 2002 was also the much-celebrated 20th anniversary for Dennis Anderson and the Grave Digger, it seems appropriate that the icon closed the season, one of his best ever, with a victorious, dominating performance.

Getting To Know You
Scott Douglass
Last week we spent some time with Scarlet Bandit driver Dawn Creten, so this week, in the interest of equality and fair play we’ll use this space as an opportunity to get to know Dawn’s husband, Jimmy Creten, a little better.

The Cretens
Scott Douglass

The Astrodome
Scott Douglass

It is sure to be a night for memories: nostalgic memories from some of the most spectacular events that have ever been held, and one more chance to create a whole set of new memories that may last a lifetime. It's the final appearance of Monster Jam in the legendary Houston Astrodome this Saturday night.

The Final Fling
Scott Douglass

The final fling in the legendary Houston Astrodome for the USHRA Monster Jam superstars lived up to the pre-event hype. It was a spectacular night that had a near capacity crowd on it's feet screaming throughout, a fitting closing chapter to a book that includes some of the greatest events ever contested in monster truck racing.

Help Wanted
Scott Douglass

HELP WANTED: A driver to pilot a top-flight monster truck. Should have experience driving a monster, preferably against top competition. Must be able to run on the ragged edge, but still take care of the equipment. Must be a team player, able to work on the truck, and have the people skills to deal with thousands of fans each week. Direct all inquiries to Brian Barthel, owner, Little Tiger Monster Truck Team.

Freestyle Motocross
Scott Douglass

When fans attend a USHRA Monster Jam there are always other events for them to enjoy. These days one of the most popular added attractions has to be the highflying Freestyle Motocross competitions.

IHRA
Scott Douglass

Last weekend I spent enjoying a spectacular display of awesome horsepower, great fans, and incredible competition. Even the legendary Grave Digger was on hand. But this was not at a USHRA Monster Jam. I was thrilled to take in the IHRA World Finals from Rockingham, NC.

Charlie Pauken
Scott Douglass

At different times in this column I've had the opportunity to profile top drivers on the USHRA Monster Jam tour, including several members of the Team Grave Digger roster. This week, we'll meet another of the talented shoes behind the wheel of the world's most popular truck - Charlie Pauken.

Innovators...
Scott Douglass

Innovation and advances in technology continue to improve monster trucks in many ways. Some of the innovators of these new advances in the sport also just happen to be drivers that fans are cheering for each week. One of those well-known innovators is Team Grave Digger's own Pablo Huffaker.

Getting ready for the new season...
Scott Douglass

With the major events that make up the USHRA Monster Jam fall and winter season just around the corner, I, like most associated with the sport, am already getting excited about the new campaign and the excitement the new season is sure to bring. Which has led me to think about many of the things I can't wait to see when we return to the country's major venues for the sports biggest events.

Wrapping Up the Summer...
Scott Douglass

As we pass Labor Day, with the official end of summer mere weeks away, the teams set to battle for the next USHRA Monster Jam World Championships are in busy preparation for the new campaign. But before we start to look ahead, here's a look back at a collection of thoughts and memories from spring and summer 2002, getting ready for the big battles to come this fall and winter.

Pablo Huffaker...
Scott Douglass

Pablo Huffaker has made his name in monster truck racing mainly as a Team Grave Digger driver, but many who follow the sport on television know Huffaker for a pair of strong performances at the World Finals in Las Vegas in his other truck, the classic looking 1941 Willys named Blacksmith.

Chatsworth, GA
Scott Douglass

A pair of racing wins last weekend in Chatsworth, GA, are just another confidence booster for John Seasock and his Sudden Impact team, building momentum toward a 2003 season that Seasock hopes will be his best ever.

Getting to the top...
Scott Douglass

In many ways 2002 has been a year of transition in USHRA Monster Jam competition. Tom Meents did win his third consecutive World Championship last March, but 2002 has been a year in which several new faces graced the TNN winner's stage, a trend that is likely to continue in 2003.

Wolverine & Brian Barthel...
Scott Douglass

In just it's second year on the USHRA circuit, the Wolverine monster truck has become one of the most successful, and popular in the sport. For driver Brian Barthel, joining the Marvel Comics team and campaigning in such a unique machine has been a tremendous opportunity but the new truck has also posed some challenges for the veteran shoe.

Sky Hartley...
Scott Douglass

When Brian Barthel joined the Marvel Comics team to pilot the awesome Wolverine, he remained committed to having his Little Tiger truck remain on the USHRA circuit as well. After switching drivers in the Little Tiger several times in his attempt to keep the truck at the top level, earlier this year Barthel switched to a veteran driver who appears to be a perfect fit for the truck and the team - Sky Hartley.

Quincy, IL
Scott Douglass

I'm back from a thoroughly enjoyable weekend with the USHRA Monster Jam presented by Ford Trucks at the Quincy (IL) Raceways.

About Tom Meents...
Scott Douglass

Midway through the 2002 winter USHRA season it appeared, at least in freestyle, that Tom Meents was ripe for the picking, and that the World Championship was up for grabs. But at the season's end in Las Vegas it was Team Meents again winning both the racing and freestyle crowns.

Chatting with the Champ...
Scott Douglass

This week we're spending some time catching up with the World Champion, Tom Meents. After winning his third straight racing world title, and his second consecutive freestyle crown last March in Las Vegas, Meents hasn't just been resting on his laurels.

Racing in Springfield...
Scott Douglass

World Champion Tom Meents, Gary Porter, Brian Barthel, Sky Hartley, and Neil Elliot. Some of the greatest stars in Monster Truck racing spent last weekend putting on awesome performances at the USHRA Monster Jam in Springfield, IL.

This Time of Year...
Scott Douglass

I'm really looking forward to lots of Monster Jam thrills this coming weekend, getting the opportunity to be back at a live event in Springfield, IL, along with catching and reliving World Finals 3 Saturday on TNN Monster Jam.

"Grass Roots"
Scott Douglass

As the USHRA continues to thrill fans all over the country with Monster Jam summer events, it's worth noting that while these "grass root" type events may be smaller than the winter extravaganza's, the top stars in the sport are very much a part of the summer schedule.

2002 Anatomy of a Freestyle...
Scott Douglass

A couple of years ago I wrote a column called "Anatomy of a Freestyle" in which I broke down, from purely a viewer's perspective, what components made up a great freestyle.

Scott Pointbriand...
Scott Douglass

It's the highest profile and most popular team in Monster Truck racing - Team Grave Digger. The team includes some of the most accomplished drivers in the sport's history, including the icon of the sport, Dennis Anderson. The driver roster includes all-time greats like Gary Porter, Pablo Huffaker, and Charlie Paukens. The team also includes an up and coming racing star that is thrilled to be a part of Team Grave Digger - Scott Pontbriand.

Dennis Anderson...
Scott Douglass

When he pulls to the line, he is the one superstar in monster truck racing that every competitor wants to beat more than any other. At the same time, Dennis Anderson and the Grave Digger command more respect from peers than any team in the business. Everyone wants to knock off the Digger, but at the same time, virtually every other appreciates everything the icon has meant to the growth of the sport.

The Best of 2002 (continued...)
Scott Douglass

Let's get right back into handing out the accolades, with the second part of the 2002 "Scotty Awards" for excellence in the just completed USHRA winter season: CRASH OF THE YEAR Winner: BULLDOZER, Reliant Astrodome, Houston, TX - Guy Wood caught huge air in the big bull but then, uncharacteristically, the truck nosed down and crashed viciously on the left front.

The Best of 2002
Scott Douglass

With the busy USHRA winter season now complete, and the dust settled from the incredible World Finals 3, it's time to look back at the winter's best with the doling out of the 3rd annual "Scotty Awards".

Response to Emails...
Scott Douglass

From time to time I receive e-mails from long time monster truck fans asking me about some of the drivers who were popular during the early years of the sport. One of those names that I get asked about often is Bennett Clark. Earlier this season, in Biloxi, MS, I had the pleasure to announce at a non-televised USHRA Monster Jam, and it was great to see Bennett and his Clydesdale in action, still looking as strong as ever.

World Finals Analysis
Scott Douglass

Several readers responded to my request in last week's column and e-mailed me with their analysis of the USHRA World Finals 3 freestyle competition. After reading their comments, and talking with other fans, I'm convinced that the performances at WF3 were so great and varied that while Tom Meents and Team Meents are very deserving champions, had a couple of different people been on the judging panel Dennis Anderson and Grave Digger, Pablo Huffaker and Black Smith, and even Lyle Hancock in Blue Thunder could have left Vegas as the champ.

The Week After...
Scott Douglass

Here it is more than a week removed from the World Finals 3, and virtually every person I run in to who wants talk about monster trucks focuses solely on that night, March 23rd in Las Vegas.

World Finals 3
Scott Douglass

It was a fitting climax to an absolutely incredible season of USHRA Monster Jam action. Saturday's World Finals 3 at Sam Boyd Stadium again lived up to the hype. It was a night we'll always remember for sensational high-speed racing and some of the greatest freestyle performances ever. The entire weekend in Vegas was full of great action and several interesting and entertaining stories.

The Odds Are In...
Scott Douglass

The big moment is just about here, and it's time for this space to once again reveal my amateur handicapping "skills" with my annual odds for the Monster Jam World Finals 3, coming up this Saturday night from Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas live on pay-per-view.

The Countdown Is On!!!
Scott Douglass

The countdown is on! It is less than two weeks until the premier monster truck racing superstars in the world converge on Las Vegas to battle for ultimate supremacy in World Finals 3 at Sam Boyd Stadium. Now is the time to be making your plans to be a part of the greatest monster event ever, either by joining us live in Vegas, or by bringing the World Finals 3 into your home live Saturday night March 23 on pay-per-view.

Jacksonville Monster Jam
Scott Douglass

Last Saturday's Monster Jam at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium will go down as a night the fans there, and all of us working the event, will remember for a long, long time. It was a real test battling rain, at times heavy, but the monsters staged an awesome event with surprising results that had the fans on their feet and screaming their approval throughout. Because of that, this column will be more a collection of thoughts and reaction from the Jacksonville event rather than focusing on any one topic.

Smaller Events, Big-Time Fun...
Scott Douglass

The month of February has been a very interesting one for many of us who spend most of our time these days at the big stadiums and domes that are part of the TNN Monster Jam series. Without any TNN events in February, except for the Houston stop on the first Saturday of the month, many of us got to spend the rest of the month at events in smaller arenas for Monster Jam and Thunder National events. And boy did we have a blast.

Battles in the USHRA
Scott Douglass

The teams that battle on the USHRA Monster Truck racing series throughout the country have always shown tremendous resiliency. Still, I was amazed to see Guy Wood's rebuilt Bulldozer grab a pair of racing wins over Grave Digger in Biloxi, MS, just two weeks after his devastating crash in Houston.

20th Anniversary Rolls Right Along...
Scott Douglass

The 20th anniversary season for Dennis Anderson and the Grave Digger continues along, and it may end up being the Digger's greatest season ever. It's not just Anderson, though, that is chipping away at the huge advantages Tom Meents has had the last two years. It is the entire Grave Digger team, and one of the key pieces that has solidified the return to the top is "new" driver Gary Porter.

The Road To Las Vegas
Scott Douglass

The road to Las Vegas and the battle for the 2002 USHRA Monster Truck World Championships is shaping up as the most wide open we've seen. One month into the new year reigning World Champion Tom Meents is still at or near the top each week, but he certainly has not been as dominating as he was in the previous two seasons.

An Amazing Night
Scott Douglass

After what turned out to be a simply amazing night in Tampa, I can't wait to get to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis this Saturday night to see what new twists are in store as the 2002 USHRA/TNN Monster Jam season continues.

High Roller...
Scott Douglass

With the start of a new season there are so many interesting new stories right off the bat, and one that surfaces at the start of every new campaign involves new trucks, teams, and drivers. At the start of the new points season a few weeks ago in Minneapolis we witnessed the impressive debut of Neil Elliott in the High Roller Ford.

Team Meents...
Scott Douglass

The December 1 USHRA Monster Jam at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, the first event of the new points season and the new TNN Monster Jam series for 2002 marked the "debut" of Team Meents. World Champion Tom Meents is driving the same piece that has earned championship honors in each of the past two seasons. It's the same truck, same driver, and same crew.

Freestyle Predictions
Scott Douglass

This week my column is part two of my season preview heading into the opening points battle for the new season, which will kick off on December 1 at the Minneapolis, Metrodome. Last week it was a peek ahead to the racing season. This week, it's predictions on who will top the freestyle standings. So, here are my amateur handicapper's odds on how the season points will shake down in freestyle for 2002.

Racing Predictions
Scott Douglass

As we near the first event that will count for championship points toward the 2002 USHRA and TNN Monster Jam series, I pull out the old crystal ball this week, and try to use my good ol' boy Kentucky handicapping skills to preview the contenders for the 2002 USHRA Monster Truck points championship in racing. Remember, the odds listed here are "for recreational purposes only":

The upcoming season
Scott Douglass

As we get closer to the start of the new USHRA & TNN Monster Jam winter points season, it's easy to tab the favorites heading into the points chase. Tom Meents, Dennis Anderson, Brian Barthel, Scott Hartsock, and Lyle Hancock are just a few of the names that have to be rated as pre-season favorites to win events and have a shot to be crowned World Champion in Las Vegas next March.

Little Rock
Scott Douglass

A couple of weeks ago after two outstanding Monster Jam events at the Barton Coliseum, I found it interesting that drivers John Seasock and Jim Jack both sought me out to ask me the same