Monster Jam University is the name of the Monster Jam training institution located at the Team Meents shop in Paxton, IL. It was started in the summer of 2014, to train the drivers of the original #More Monster Jam tour. All the drivers on the Triple Threat Series have since trained at the facility, where they learned how to drive the ATV'S and Speedsters and hone their skills in their trucks. The rookie drivers coming into Monster Jam are also sent to train at the facility as well. The drivers don't only train in monster truck driving, they are also trained physically through exercises like monster truck pulling wherein a group of drivers pull a typical monster truck with a 10 meter rope attached in the front end. The facility is not just for rookies though, any Monster Jam driver can go to the University. Several stunts, such as the front flip or forward-momentum double backflip are even practiced at the facility before officially attempting them in stadiums.
Past graduate's include Morgan Kane, Colton Eichelberger, Coty Saucier, Dustin Brown, Becky McDonough, Tony Ochs, Bari Musawwir, Krysten Anderson, Kayla Blood, Mark List, Justin Sipes, Armando Castro, Elvis Lainez, Myranda Cozad, Linsey Read, the Diesel Brothers, The Groth brothers, Blake Granger, Bernard Lyght, Brianna Mahon, Brittany Marcotte, Macey Nichter, Ami Houde, Cole Venard, Brandon Vinson and other newer drivers, like Darius Royer, Ashley Sanford, Justin Hicks, Brandon Arthur & Joe Urie.
Trivia[]
- Tom Meents is the head instructor and is referred to as "The Professor".
- Charlie Pauken and Jon Zimmer have also worked as instructors.
- The facility has its own dedicated track crew and tech officials.
- Old trucks are sent to the facility to be tested and trained with, including BJ Johnson's Mohawk Warrior, Grave Digger's #22 and #24, the Feld version of Carolina Crusher, Lucas Oil Crusader, and others.
- The Monster Jam Rockets were developed and tested at the facility in the summer of 2015.
- Richard Rawlings, host of Discovery Channels Fast N' Loud, spent a day at the facility driving a test truck and receiving training from Tom Meents and Charlie Pauken.
- Rob Gill and Ezra Dyer are journalists who have trained at the facility.
- Teddy Williams trained at the facility, leading to speculation that he might become a driver; hinting at it in a promotional Instagram video in December 2018.
- Other drivers that trained recently are Estefania Stockli, Ben Eylander, Brenden Rassel, Taylor Heiman, Ashley, Karina, Chelsea VanCleave, Loghan Ashline, Julia, Dylan, Johnathan & Darius Royer.