Setting the odds for the most unpredictable event in Monster Jam is an exercise in stats and track records. As we’ve seen, because of the challenge of the course that will be built and the incredible talent and level of competition for Monster Jam World Finals XVIII Freestyle, the winner has to fill the clock while being spectacular, creative, fearless, and more than a little bit lucky. Any one of the 32 in this field could put that combination together and walk out of Sam Boyd Stadium a champion. With that said, these odds aren’t predictions, they simply take into account previous performances here and the overall body of work to set the line. Once again, a reminder that these odds are presented for “recreational” purposes only:
8 – 5 Monster Energy®– Todd Leduc (FS 1 Championship Series West Champion/2014 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): LeDuc has won this event before, and has turned in some spectacular runs on the FS1 Championship Series West. His 4 stadium freestyle triumphs on that televised series are tied for the most in Monster Jam in 2017. And LeDuc has the best freestyle scoring average in Monster Jam World Finals history among drivers with 3 or more previous appearances. The numbers say LeDuc and Monster Energy are the freestyle favorite. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 28.70.
9 - 5 Son-uva Digger® – Ryan Anderson (Stadium Tour 3 season points Champion): Ryan also brings impressive numbers into the competition and Son-uva Digger is the second choice in the odds by the slightest of margins. He has turned in some great freestyles here the past few years and has come close to claiming the freestyle crown. This year, his freestyle performances have been both breathtaking and innovative. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 27.50.
2 - 1 Grave Digger® – Adam Anderson (2008 and 2016 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): The defending World Finals Freestyle Champion is a threat to win this title again. He won 3 freestyle competitions on the FS1 Championship Series West this winter and of course is one of only three Monster Jam drivers who has won this championship multiple times. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 24.50.
11 – 5 Max-DTM– Neil Elliott: All things being equal, Elliott has as good a chance as any of the favorites to win. He has to keep the equipment together and fill the clock. If he does, he’s got a shot. Max-D will be on the ragged edge and, when Elliott’s equipment has been able to withstand his aggressive driving style, he’s been a winner, taking 2 stadium freestyle crowns on the FS1 Championship Series West this year. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 25.50.
5 – 2 Team Hot WheelsTM Firestorm – Scott Buetow:Mr. Backflip has been close to this title multiple times, maybe this is the year he makes it all the way to the top. While he has not won a stadium freestyle in 2017, if you take the stats back a full year between last year’s Monster Jam World Finals and this year, Buetow and Team Hot Wheels Firestorm have the most stadium freestyle victories in the sport. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 25.75.
3 - 1 Monster Mutt® – Charlie Pauken (Stadium Tour 4 season points Champion/2010 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): Pauken is having a sensational 2017 and it’s thanks to freestyle that he pulled out that extremely tight Stadium Tour 4 points championship. Pauken won 4 out of the 7 freestyles on that tour to push his Grave Digger team to the title. Now he’s back in Monster Mutt, the same body style he was in during the 2010 MJWF Freestyle when his epic performance earned him the Monster Jam World Finals XI Freestyle Championship. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 22.21.
5 – 1 Max D – Colton Eichelberger: He jumped into his Dad’s Max-D without missing a beat and won 2 of the 4 freestyle competitions he competed in on the FS1 Championship Series East. He is clearly ready to compete for stadium championships and for the ultimate the world title. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 20.75.
7 – 1 Northern Nightmare® – Cam McQueen (2012 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): The 2012 winner here is always a threat to do it again. His amazing corkscrew back flip last year just proved that McQueen is always looking for that next thing he can pull off that no one has ever done before. That’s the kind of innovation that can result in victories. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 23.44.
8 – 1 Avenger – Jim Koehler (2003 and 2011 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): With Tom Meents out of the line-up this year, Mr. Excitement will hold the distinction of being the only driver to compete in all 18 Monster Jam World Finals as soon as he pulls onto the track this year in Las Vegas. A two-time winner here, he can be counted on for some of the biggest air of the night as long as the Avenger can take the pounding Koehler will surely give it. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 20.61.
9 – 1 DragonTM– Jon Zimmer: Thanks to his successfully filling in for Team Grave Digger on Stadium Tour 3 and running the other weeks on Stadium Tour 4, Zimmer has the distinction of being the only Monster Jam driver with a freestyle win on two different stadium points series’ this year. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 17.00.
10 – 1 Grave Digger – Tyler Menninga (Monster Jam Triple Threat East Champion): Here’s one to watch closely. This will be his first freestyle here in Sam Boyd Stadium, but you can’t view him as a typical first timer. Some of the innovative moves he has mastered, his moonwalks, stoppies, wheel stands, and the like could really make him stand out in this incredibly balanced line-up. First MWJF Freestyle appearance.
12 – 1 Lucas Oil CrusaderTM– Linsey Weenk (FS 1 Championship Series East Champion): Weenk is consistent and can be spectacular and has finished high in the standings here before. Lucas Oil Crusader recorded one stadium freestyle win on that team’s march to their season points winning effort this year. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 25.00.
15 – 1 Monster Energy – Coty Saucier: Like I noted in his racing odds, Saucier has taken to the Sam Boyd Stadium course from his first appearance here, and that includes freestyle. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 22.50.
17 - 1 Grave Digger – Morgan Kane: You know team Grave Digger drivers will be pulling out all of the freestyle stops and Kane is no exception. While you can expect some big things from Morgan, the belief is that this team’s number one focus is defending the World Racing Championship, and rightly so. Still, Morgan is versatile as shown by his 3 stadium freestyle wins already in 2017. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 26.50.
20 – 1 El Toro Loco® – Marc McDonald: A talented veteran who can balance technical excellence with the Wow factors needed to win here. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 24.80.
22 – 1 VP Racing Fuels Mad ScientistTM– Lee O’Donnell: Bringing momentum into Las Vegas, O’Donnell’s most recent freestyle performance in VP Racing Fuels Mad Scientist on Stadium Tour 3 a few weeks ago in El Paso was arguably his best ever. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 22.71.
24 - 1 Bounty Hunter – Jim Creten (2005 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): Back for another crack at the championship he claimed more than a decade ago. Creten has had some outstanding freestyles here and always scores well as long as he fills the clock. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 20.46.
25 – 1 Overkill Evolution – Mike Vaters II (2015 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion): Looking to duplicate his success from two years ago when he shocked the field to claim the World Freestyle Championship just a year after taking the win in the Double Down Showdown. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 28.17.
28 – 1 FS1 CleatusTM– Colt Stephens: This second generation superstar may be a longshot here but proved to be a threat for the win all season on one of the TV series.
30 – 1 Gas Monkey GarageTM– BJ Johnson: You keep going down this list and it just validates the point made earlier that any one of the 32 in this field could win this. He’s low on this list but won’t shock anyone if he’s a contender Saturday night. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 13.00 – 1 event.
32 – 1 ZombieTM– Bari Musawwir: He’s not had great scores in the past here but his experience and being familiar with the Triple Threat developed obstacles that will be used here is an advantage. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 14.00.
35 – 1 Monster Mutt® Dalmatian – Candice Jolly: Has turned in some excellent freestyle performances during her strong season on Stadium Tour 4 and has plenty of experience at Sam Boyd Stadium. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 18.25.
36 – 1 Great Clips Mohawk WarriorTM – Bryce Kenny: So much potential in this rising star bringing Great Clips to the Monster Jam World Finals in a truck that has a strong track record on this floor. First MJWF Freestyle appearance.
37 – 1 Grave Digger – Randy Brown (Arena Tour 5 season points Champion): Looking forward to seeing Brown in his Grave Digger to do what he does best, freestyle, at Monster Jam World Finals. His previous appearances here came in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Man of Steel trucks. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 18.75.
40 – 1 Scooby DooTM – Brianna Mahon: As mentioned in the racing odds, she made a big splash with an exciting freestyle performance in her debut last year and if she improves on that she could put up a big score. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 24.50 – 1 appearance.
45 – 1 Soldier FortuneTM – Chad Fortune: When you’ve competed in this competition 14 times you can expect the scores to be up and down, this track is so tough but Fortune has had some nice runs and good scores here in the past. MWJF Freestyle Scoring Average of 19.86.
50 – 1 El Toro Loco – Becky McDonough; MegalodonTM - Justin Sipes (Monster Jam Triple Threat presented by AMSOIL Central Champion); Metal MulishaTM– Matt Buyten; Razin Kane – Buddy Thompkins; Wild Flower – Rosalee Ramer; and the Double Down Showdown Winner: The other first time Monster Jam World Finals competitors are an exciting group who you have to believe will need to have some time to get used to a track like they’ve never seen before. They’ll be fun to watch.
There you have it – the odds for the entire freestyle field ready to compete at Monster Jam World Finals XVIII Saturday March 25th at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
