With the month of February approaching the halfway point, the Monster Jam World Finals continued to take shape. Last weekend, four drivers and trucks were given the opportunity to go for the most rewarding championships in the industry.
The second weekend of February saw another round of events across the U.S. and Canada, with every driver and team hoping to get the opportunity to head to Las Vegas to compete with 23 other drivers and trucks.
At the end of the night, three more teams were given that opportunity.
Leading the charge from this past weekend was the top driver in the El Toro Loco team, Marc McDonald. On a very wet and soggy night in Miami, Florida, McDonald was given his qualifying flag to return to the World Finals yet another time, his third driving the "crazy bull."
McDonald started his World Finals tenure driving the Safe Auto Minimizer, sponsored by Safe Auto Insurance, and did so from 2007 until 2009. The first year he was tabbed to drive the El Toro Loco truck, which prior was driven by Lupe Soza until he stepped behind the wheel of the Grinder, McDonald showed that he could handle the horned beast.
His first year at Vegas behind the wheel of El Toro Loco started out spectacular, but ended early. McDonald put the bull in the No. 1 qualifying spot, actually in a tie between three drivers but he put the number up first.
McDonald would make it all the way to the semi-finals to face Dennis Anderson in the Grave Digger. But, as he tried to catch Anderson in the final stretch, he had a rough jump to the finish line, hitting the tabletop obstacle on the left side and tumbling across the line, tearing up the front axle and four-link bar.
The wreck was enough to keep him out of freestyle for the night.
After a better performance last season, McDonald is ready to bring the bull back to Sin City, and maybe enjoy a siesta if he wins.
The final two flags of the weekend were given to teams, but are awaiting drivers to be placed behind the wheel.
The first team to get the nod to the World Finals is one of the most popular teams in Monster Jam, the Monster Mutt. From it's debut in 2003, the Mercury chop-top concept vehicle with a tongue, tail and floppy ears has been one the kids have just loved. But, it wasn't until 2010 that the Mutt made it's biggest mark in Monster Jam as Team Grave Digger driver Charlie Pauken piloted the Mutt to the freestyle championship.
This year, while the Mutt was given the flag, no driver has yet to be named. History will automatically say to put Pauken behind the wheel, but that also creates a little quandry. The last couple years, Pauken has driven the Mutt but has done so using his Grave Digger chassis (as noted in video of his winning freestyle, bits of green came through the black paint). But, with this being the 30th Anniversary tour of Grave Digger, the rumor is to have all the Grave Digger trucks freestyle in an encore.
So, if Pauken is to drive the Mutt this year, question is if he will drive his own truck or will he drive another Mutt machine.
The other truck given the World Finals opportunity is the one with the most popular toy truck line in the country. Team Hot Wheels will be making a return to the World Finals for the first time since 2006, but has an entirely new look, and overall new team to go along with it.
This year, Dan Evans has been given the opportunity to pilot the Hot Wheels sponsored machine, and he accepted the flag for the World Finals in Anaheim, California.
But, like the Mutt, he is at this moment not the scheduled driver to drive the truck. Evans is a World Finals veteran, as he spent years competing with the Destroyer truck, and did so with two different chassis. Evans knows what it takes to run well at the event, and how to create the "wow" moment.
Whether he will get the opportunity is yet to be seen.
Continue to check out MonsterJam.com for the next round of drivers that get tabbed for the World Finals. Halfway through February has half the field filled. What kind of surprises are in store when the last 12 trucks are announced?
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