Monster Jam(s) Royal Farms Arena

The 12-foot tall, 10,000-pound beast with 66-inch tires and horns extending from the top of the driver’s cab drove over two cars as if they were mere speed bumps before Becky McDonough powered up the dirt hill so El Toro Loco could take flight.

And what a flight it was. The bright yellow Monster Truck with a bull’s nose painted on the front tip of the hood and teeth alongside of the doors and flames down the side looked personified power and grace, at least for a moment.

Have no fear: Daron Basl and Monster Mutt Rottweiler are here! (Costa Swanson)
Have no fear: Daron Basl and Monster Mutt Rottweiler are here! (Costa Swanson)

‘You never know where cars will throw you when you land on them,” McDonough said leading up to Monster Jam at Royal Farms Arena from Feb. 27 – March 1. “But they are like a pillow and a lot less forgiving than landing on concrete.”

McDonough is among eight drivers competing during a grueling, 48-show schedule in 10 weeks in which the winner of each of the six events at every show receives a point. The two with the highest scores earn a spot in the World Finals – call it the Super Bowl of Monster Trucks – in Las Vegas later this month.

For five shows, Royal Farms Arena was turned into a dirt track with a big dirt hill, taking fans back to their childhood when they would play with toy trucks in their backyard. Except these trucks had 1,500 horsepower engines that made wearing earplugs mandatory.

Coty Saucier wowed the crowd with his Monster Energy truck at Royal Farms Arena on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)
Coty Saucier wowed the crowd with his Monster Energy truck at Royal Farms Arena on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)

“There’s nothing like it out there,” McDonough, a 27-year-old native of Minnesota who has been driving El Toro Loco for the past five years. “It’s an action-packed sport full of adrenaline. It’s a entertaining and great for fans.”

Scooby-Doo, where are you? The Monster Truck version of the cartoon canine was at Royal Farms Arena on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)
Scooby-Doo, where are you? The Monster Truck version of the cartoon canine was at Royal Farms Arena on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)

The eight drivers compete in six scoring events using different types of vehicles – the Monster Truck for the wheelie, donut and freestyle competitions; a speedster for head-to-head racing and the obstacle course; and an ATV for group racing.

But the Monster Trucks are the main stars, as each has its own persona.

Dalton Millican’s Blue Thunder has lightning bolts splashing across its sides, while Coty Saucier’s Monster Energy showcases the energy drink’s iconic “M” symbol. Bailey Shea drives Scooby-Doo, complete with a blue collar, flopping ears and a tail. Aaron Basl drives N.E.A. (New Earth Authority) Police, a shiny car that could easily be used in the next RoboCop film. Aaron’s twin brother Daron mans Monster Mutt Rottweiler, which features menacing teeth, a black nose and of course, a spiked collar. Morgan Kane drives Max-D (Maximum Destruction), which features skulls on the doors and is covered with shiny bright spikes. It’s like it came straight out of Mad Max.

The eight drivers traded their Monster Trucks for speedsters during an event at Monster Jam on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)
The eight drivers traded their Monster Trucks for speedsters during an event at Monster Jam on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)

And don’t forget about Colton Eichelberger’s Grave Digger, the iconic vehicle that has transcended generations and is every bit as good today as it was in the 1980s.

“Everyone knows ‘Digger,” McDonough said.

On the surface, McDonough has a point. Monster Jam is a terrific spectator sport, as the two-hour show moves quickly and there’s a lot worse ways to spend a night than watching massive trucks soar through the air or ATVs and speedsters zipping around a track.

All eight drivers remained at the arena until they had signed their last autograph and everyone when home happy.

“We want our fans to know that when they come to see us they are going to get their picture taken with the favorite driver and autographs,” McDonough said. “That makes us different than any other sport.”

But how can these drivers maintain fans’ interest?

Every Orioles and Ravens game is on TV, but when was the last time Monster Trucks was on the air? The sport’s little – if any – TV exposure cripples fans’ ability to follow the sport. At a time where sports on TV are everywhere, Monster Truck’s TV exposure is running on fumes.

Who said racing isn't a contact sport? (Costa Swanson)
Who said racing isn’t a contact sport? (Costa Swanson)

That’s too bad since these eight drivers would be very easy to market to a TV audience.

McDonough, with her fire-red hair, and Shea, with her long blonde hair, are easy on the eyes and hard to beat behind the wheel. Grave Digger is as close to a household name in Monster Jams as it gets. The Basl brothers bring a familial angle, while Saucier and Millican are good enough to win any event on any night and drew some of the biggest cheers of the night at Royal Farms Arena.

And then there’s Kane and Max-D who won Feb. 27 competition at Royal Farms Arena to extend his lead atop the standings over Eichelberger’s Grave Digger and Saucier’s Monster Energy for a berth in Las Vegas.

But when the show was over, so was the crowd’s connection with the sport since it’s unclear when – or if – Monster Jam would return to Baltimore. Orioles fans know the exact date their team will return to Camden Yards, just as Ravens fans know when Joe Flacco and Co. will take the field again at M&T Bank Stadium.

But Monster Truck fans can’t say the same thing.

Morgan Kane, who drives Max-D (Maximum Destruction), won the Monster Jam event at Royal Farms Arena on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)
Morgan Kane, who drives Max-D (Maximum Destruction), won the Monster Jam event at Royal Farms Arena on Feb. 27. (Costa Swanson)