monster jam

Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment[1]. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) and takes place primarily in the United States. Although individual event formats can vary greatly based on the "intermission" entertainment, the main attraction is always the racing and freestyle competitions by monster trucks. Contents [hide] 1 Live events 2 Television Show 3 World Finals Champions 4 Licensing 5 See also 6 External links 7 References //

Live events McGruff the crime dog, one of the many Monster Trucks that have been around since 1997.

Although Monster Jam events are held year round, the traditional competitive season (when televised shows are taped) runs from January to March, with a few events to start off the season in November. During the winter run, it is not unusual for up to 10 events to be run in different areas on the same weekend, with one or two major stadium events with 10-16 trucks, and a group of smaller arena events with 4-8 trucks. The season culminates in the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas in late March. There is also a Monster Jam Europe tour in the summer and autumn, as well as a domestic series of summer events known as Monster Jam Summer Heat.[2]

According to the USHRA in 2004 season more than 2.5 million people attended these events.[3]

Because of the large number of events and massive popularity of the series, the list of trucks competing in the series is the longest of any promoter. The most popular trucks, which are usually featured on the television show, come from three primary groups: Trucks (or names) which are owned by Feld (such as Grave Digger and Batman), independents or "privateers" (such as Gun Slinger and Avenger), and "corporate privateers" which are independently owned but sponsored by major companies (such as Bounty Hunter, sponsored by CSK Auto, and T-Maxx, sponsored by Amsoil). Feld's ownership of several of the most popular trucks often leads to allegations of favoritism, although they maintain that events are run fairly.

On January 16, 2009 in a show at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, a six year old boy was killed by debris flying from the field of a Monster Jam event. Despite the boy's gruesome head injury, the show continued. In a statement after the accident, a Monster Jam representative said only "Our company follows strict safety guidelines designated to protect both spectator and competitors alike."[4]

Television Show

The hour-long Monster Jam television show has aired on Speed Channel since 2003 with the 2003 World Finals 4. Previously, the show was aired on TNN, and in a half-hour clip show format as "Inside Monster Jam" on ESPN2. In the United Kingdom, the show is currently viewed on Bravo 2 and occasionally Channel 4.

World Finals Champions

Racing: Tom Meents won the first three racing championships at the Monster Jam World Finals from 2000