As a boy growing up in Houston, Colt Stephens had a front row seat to motorsports. His daredevil dad, Scott, was one of the original monster truck drivers.
“I remember him bringing me to see the trucks everyday,” Stephens said. “He used to put me in a swing and hang me on the motor crane. It was the best jungle gym a kid could ask for.”
Years later, Stephens is now in the driver seat. Stephens will join other drivers when Monster Jam comes to Petco Park this weekend.
Stephens, who has been driving with Monster Jam for three years, will drive Cleatus, delivering an action-packed show filled with stunts.
The show, which has been in existence for 25 years, is known for its 10,000-pound trucks driving on mounds of dirt. The event gives fans the opportunity to watch intense racing, stunts and demolition in two hours.
“(The audience) can expect to be on their feet,” Stephens said. “It’s loud, passionate, and a whole lot of emotions thrown into a two-hour period. You can bring anyone from your grandma to a 3-year-old and they’ll have fun.”
But the best part of the show isn’t the competition, Stephens said. For him, it’s the fans.
“There are so many different types of fans, young and old, small and big,” he said. “This is one of the only industries where fans can shake hands with the drivers because it’s family-oriented. I love meeting people.”
Aside from truck Cleatus, audience members can expect to see Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Bounty Hunter, and the debut of Soldier Fortune, Black Ops, Alien Invasion, Storm Damage and Hurricane Force.
On top of the event, event-goers can attend a pre-show experience where they can get up-close to trucks and take photos with the drivers.
The event takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 18. Tickets start at $15.
