Monster Jam spends third week of Stadium Series West tour at Loan Depot Park (includes video story)

On Jan. 25 and 26, Monster Jam rolled into Loan Depot Park for the third week of their Stadium Series West tour. This year, four drivers out of 12 entered within 10 points of the leader. With such a small gap, the action was sure to get intense.

“I honestly believe we have the stacked tour” said two-time World Finals champion Todd Leduc, driver of Megalodon. “We’re gonna keep applying pressure and hopefully get a win here in Miami.”

Some notable names included Bryce Kenny in Monster Mutt, who led into the weekend, Tristan England in JCB DIGatron, who was the 2023 World Racing Champion, and brothers Ryan and Adam Anderson, who are also world champions and drive the iconic Son-Uva Digger and Grave Digger respectively.

Cole Vernard defeating Tristan England to secure the racing victory (Dylan Pezet/Caplin News)

Saturday saw three different winners in all three competitions, with Cole Vernard in Black Pearl taking the racing win and Ryan Anderson’s 13-0 round win streak broken by England in the semi-final round.

The skills competition was easily won by England, who achieved the highest score of the season so far.

Saturday’s freestyle competition was the highlight of the event, showcasing serious elevation, wild saves and controlled chaos. Despite not filling the clock, Ryan Anderson took the early lead with some tough competition from Zack Garner in Wild Side.  

But the true freestyle winner was second-generation driver Mike Pagliarulo in Excalibur. Last weekend, Pagliarulo achieved his first ever overall event championship. But this past one, he won his first ever stadium freestyle.

Mike Pagliarulo sending Excalibur skyward after an incredible backflip (Dylan Pezet/Caplin News)

“I’m a winner either way,” said Matt Pagliarulo, Mike’s father who also competed in Jester alongside his two sons. “Either I win and show them the old man’s still got it, or they win and I can be happy because my son won.”

Tristan England, the driver for JCB DIGatron, won Saturday and Sunday’s overall event championships. The Stadium Series West tour will head to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Feb. 1 and 2.

Dylan Pezet is a student at Florida International University studying Digital Communications and Broadcast Media. He joined Caplin News in the Spring of 2024 in hopes of improving his TV-production craft so that after graduation he may be able to get a job with the NHRA as a track reporter/announcer.