For Monster Jam fans living north of the American border, this coming weekend showcases one of, if not the, highlight of the Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour.
The Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, is preparing for two days of the biggest name in monster truck competition to bring in thousands of fans that will be screaming their lungs off. On January 21 and 22, a huge 12-truck field will be on hand to provide a sold out crowd with metal crushing, air-grabbing action.
In the field are two former world champions, three qualified drivers for this year's Monster Jam World Finals, and one team that is making the Maple Leaf Tour his own stomping ground.
Right off the get-go, last year's world champions will be in the competition as Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction, along with Jim Koehler in Avenger, will be strapped in tight for a weekend of mayhem.
For Meents, returning to the Rogers Centre is a major highlight of this season.
“Last year was my first year there. It was two spectacular shows. I was treated really well by the fans in the Toronto area and I am really excited about coming back this year," Meents said on Tuesday.
Koehler also is excited to be back in Canada as he spent a majority of the year after winning his championship competing on the Monster Spectacular tour, which included stops all across Canada including the huge venue in Montreal.
"We've got the whole Team Scream coming up to rock this place," Koehler said. "I have a lot of Canadian fans. I haven't been to the Sky Dome (now the Rogers Centre) in, gosh, six, eight, 10 years. I want to recoup those fans, and let them know I'm still around."
Team Grave Digger will be well represented as Rod Schmidt will bring Grave Digger #18 to compete alongside the field. Schmidt is a veteran of the team and has long known how to make the Digger name live on, and with the 30th Anniversary Tour in high gear just a few weeks into the first quarter of action, he will be hoping to make some noise north of the border.
If he is able to make as much excitement at this show as Charlie Pauken, along with teammate Randy Brown, did at last year's shows, it will be a successful weekend for the team.
Alongside these three major names, the newest driver to be named to the World Finals is going to be bringing an entire nation with him...the Mohawk Nation.
George Balhan makes his trip to Canada after a minor run out west in his Mohawk Warrior Cadillac. the black and purple machine with a mohawk to match will surely be riding wheelstands throughout the Rogers Centre on both days of competition.
As stated earlier, the rest of Team Scream will be at the two-day event as Brutus, Spike and Wrecking Crew will all make their presence felt. Fans will certainly be screaming when those trucks hit the track.
The one driver everyone will be watching closely is the Canadian-born driver who swept the entire opening weekend in London, Ontario. If he was a nightmare the first time, no driver or fan will be able to sleep if Cam McQueen can double down in his homeland.
The new Northern Nightmare Ford was a hit right away when it debuted, and was not only the top truck in London, but also went undefeated in it's first weekend out.
Three racing wins, three wheelie victories, and three freestyle trophies later, McQueen was riding high in his new machine.
Toronto will be a major event for the new Canadian truck as there are still 19 spots available for the 2012 Monster Jam World Finals. McQueen has competed there the last two years, finishing second one year ago in freestyle after successfully pulling off his second backflip.
Along with this lineup will be Candice Jolly in the Monster Mutt Dalmatian, Krazy Train, Aftershock, and also the craziest concept for a monster truck to hit the circuit in the last two years, Greg Winchenbach in his "Monstah Lobstah" known as the Crushstation.
Two huge days of action kick off Saturday night at 7 p.m. For those wanting a closer look at the trucks, and meet the drivers beforehand, the pit party will be from 3-5 p.m.
Sunday's program is a matinee as it will begin at 2 p.m. with the pit party lasting only an hour from 11 a.m. until 12 noon.
Visit MonsterJam.com for all the information on this weekend's Maple Leaf event, along with all the rest of the events Monster Jam will be holding this weekend.
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