Newark 2016

Newark 2016 was a planned weekend of three Monster Jam events to occur on January 23-24, 2016 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Only one event went on that weekend as planned, as they were scheduled the same weekend that a massive blizzard hit the northeastern United States. That one event took place on Sunday the 24th at 4:30 P.M., with many of the fans originally planning to attend unable to make it. Many fans wanted the events to be rescheduled, but the course had already been built and competitors were already at the arena.

The show featured the normal 2016 arena format being the Speed and Skill competition, Wheelie contest, Donut contest, and the Freestyle competition. The show also featured a BMX demonstration following the intermission and ATV Races (only about half of the ATV actually made it to the show). The shows competitors were:

Grave Digger #26: Jon Zimmer

Carolina Crusher: Gary Porter

Backdraft: Ty Cornelius

Instigator: Paul Breaud

Higher Education: Jim Tracey

Black Stallion: Matt Cody

Saigon Shaker: Ryan Disharoont

Bad News Travels Fast: Brandon Darrow

There was some controversy surrounding the fan judging. Some fans were upset that the judges gave high scores to trucks that did not complete the required performance time, such as when Backdraft only made three hits in freestyle and rolled over and got a 10 and other high numbers from the judges and when Grave Digger was given the top score in the wheelie contest when the truck only made one hit, where as Carolina Crusher made all four hits including a wheelie where Porter stood the truck straight up on the logs and walked across the table top. After the conclusion of the wheelie contest Zimmer stated that Porter deserved the win and gave him the wheelie plaque (which Porter proceeded to give away). Porter would also win the Speed and Skill, and Donut contests, and Zimmer would win freestyle.