It’s a monster motorsports weekend coming up headlined by the Indianapolis 500, but Monster Jam has their 21st World Finals going on this weekend in Orlando. For the first time, they had a course that wasn’t new to Monster Trucks in general, but a first for the promotion. That being a crossover jump figure-eight style racecourse instead of the patented ‘Vegas Style’ racing that had been used in the 20 prior events. Some progressively heavier off-and-on rain was another wrinkle as well. In the end, it was Grave Digger and Brandon Vinson picking up the World Championship. Doing so over Ryan Anderson in Son Uva Digger in highlight-reel fashion.
Put It In Reverse Terry
This is one of the better displays of skill/presence from a Monster Truck driver that you’ll ever see. Especially considering this was the World Championship race. After a brutal bounce on the crossover landing ramp, Vinson somehow had the presence of mind to get to reverse and floor it to keep off the wall. In an even better twist for the Digger driver, Anderson had popped his left rear tire after hitting a small line of brick on the inside of the crossover straight.
Even better was that Vinson had a straight shot to the finish despite losing second gear as he got back going forward. Bonus points as well for not completely tanking the engine. In addition to the murderers’ row he faced on the way to the finals. That path included teammates Adam Anderson and Tyler Menninga, along with Cory Rummell out of Jim Koehler’s Team Scream camp after qualifying 10th.
Grave Digger Anniversary
A big win for the Grave Digger bunch as this is their 40th-anniversary campaign. Vinson now joins the icon Dennis Anderson, Adam Anderson, and Morgan Kane as the four drivers responsible for all eight Grave Digger Monster Jam World Titles. Vinson does put himself into some rare air with this win, however, as he is the only Digger driver to win in an anniversary season. Dennis was a bridesmaid on several occasions in years past but never sealed the deal, 2002 and 2007 specifically.
It’s a Small World
Worth noting that it was Ryan Anderson who Vinson beat in the final round on Saturday. That is because he used to be the lead wrench for Son Uva Digger for several years before FELD gave him the call-up to drive full-time. You would have to imagine that Vinson will rub it in that he handed Anderson his second World Title race loss in three tries.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
