ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Monster Jam is back at full capacity at the Resch Center this weekend.
There are three competitions: Racing, a two-wheels skills challenge, and a donut competition. The race involves truck chasing each other around the dirt track. The two-wheels challenge involves any variation of putting the truck on two wheels, including wheelies, stoppies, ‘moonwalks’, and more. The donut competition, well, is exactly what it sounds like – the fastest or most creative one wins.
Tyler Menninga drives the legendary Gravedigger – and he says having fans back in the stands literally makes the event.
“The cool thing about it for us is the three competitions are scored by the fans. The fans can all vote on their phones on who wins, so it’s very interactive,” Menninga told WTAQ News. “They can actually decide who wins the competition, so it’s really cool.”
This is Menninga’s first event back at 100-percent capacity. He’s ready not only for the competition, but to connect with fans.
“So not only am I excited for that first time being in Green Bay, but seeing all these new people I’ve never met before and making new connections with people. I’m super excited for it,” Menninga said. “I’ve never been here before and I’m super stoked to be here. Can’t wait to do it.”
The three events are followed by the freestyle. That’s the Monster Jam most people are likely familiar with.
“Freestyle is 75 seconds of pure chaos. It’s my favorite, I know it’s all the fans favorite, so I know they really enjoy it,” Menninga said. “The adrenaline rush you get when you’re in the truck, it’s awesome. Hopefully your shocks are dialed in, because if you jump a big jump, it’s not gonna feel to good when you land. But for the most part, your shocks, you kinda know exactly where they’re at. You get yourself strapped in tight and you’re good to go.”
For those who might be curious about how one might end up as a Monster Jam driver, Menninga had a little insight.
“I grew up doing off-road racing, started I was 8 years old, and kind of just met right people. I met Adam Anderson, he’s the son of Dennis Anderson, the creator of Gravedigger. I went and worked for him for a summer in high school and it kind of just snowballed into what it is now, and I’ve been driving for 5 or 6 years,” he said. “I never said ‘Yeah, I want to be a Monster Jam driver!’ But I always enjoyed motorsports and respected Monster Jam and monster trucks and everything else, so it worked out awesome.”
Monster Jam starts the engines at 1pm and 7pm on Saturday , and again at 1pm Sunday afternoon. You can find tickets here.
