Maximum Destruction (primarily known as simply Max-D since 2013, though also referred to as Max-D: Maximum Destruction) is a 2000 futuristic SUV monster truck owned by FELD Entertainment and created by Tom Meents. Introduced in 2003, Maximum Destruction is the successor to Goldberg and Team Meents and themed after Tom’s own driving style, personified as a powerful robot named “Maximus” (formerly the “Creator of Chaos”) that destroys anything in its path. Alongside Tom, Max-D’s list of full-time drivers have included Neil Elliot, Kreg Christensen, Colton Eichelberger, Jared Eichelberger and Blake Granger. As of 2023, there are four Max-D trucks in use, though only two of them regularly compete at Monster Jam events; one is used for stunts, while the other was on hiatus until 2024 when Colton started filling-in for his dad. Maximum Destruction is one of the most popular monster trucks of all time and has been the main rival to Monster Jam's other flagship truck, Grave Digger; Tom and Dennis Anderson shared a fierce on-track rivalry that started long before the debut of Max-D. It is also one of the most successful monster truck teams, and has collectively won fifteen Monster Jam World Finals championships (Tom has fourteen by himself, nine of which have come under Maximum Destruction and one by Blake Granger in 2019).
In March 2001, the shutdown of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) led to Monster Jam losing the license for most of their wrestling-themed trucks, resulting in the near-immediate retirement of Sting and WCW Nitro Machine. The Goldberg truck, however, was apart of a separate contract between the wrestler himself and Clear Channel Motorsports. As such, Tom Meents was allowed to run the identity until the contract ceased in September 2001. Shortly after Goldberg's retirement, a silver and orange, robot-themed truck titled "Maximum Destruction" was conceptualized as a new identity for Tom and was named after his chaotic driving style and reused its predecessor's 2000 futuristic SUV body.[1]
However, in 2002 the truck would instead run as Team Meents, essentially the Goldberg body with different decals, for just that year before transitioning into his longest-lasting ride (see "Trivia" for more information).
The original Maximum Destruction at its first show in Houston, January 2003.
In 2003, Maximum Destruction made its competition debut in Houston on Tom's second Goldberg chassis; his teammate Neil Elliot would also begin running the name.[2] Tom would have a great season, even double-downing at the truck's first appearance in the Metrodome;[3] however, Monster Jam World Finals IV would be the first Monster Jam World Finals in which Tom didn't win any competitions, losing in round two of racing and getting fourteenth place in freestyle after getting stuck on a camper van.[4][5] Also in 2003, Maximum Destruction makes its video game debut in Monster 4X4: Masters of Metal.
In 2004, Tom would run a modified version of the Maximum Destruction paint job for just the winter season and World Finals, featuring orange bolts of electricity instead of flames. In Jacksonville, after a bad pogo off of a bus, the rear end was separated from the truck.[6] At Monster Jam World Finals V, Tom would snap the right-front wheel off early in freestyle after hitting the camper van, but continued to run his truck, ramming it into obstacles and covering the entire track in a thick cloud of smoke; ironically, he was the only competitor who'd fill the entire freestyle clock.[7] He ended up tying with Madusa and El Toro Loco for the win, becoming apart of the only multi-person freestyle championship in Monster Jam World Finals history. Neil Elliot would join Tom to perform in the encore, bringing two Maximum Destructions out onto the track.[8]
In 2005, Neil took a break from racing for the year and Phil Foster filled in for him. At Monster Jam World Finals VI, Tom dedicated his run to his deceased friend Derik Trenholm from Make-A-Wish, putting "In Memory of Derik Trenholm" in place of his regular nameplate.[9] For the encore, Tom and Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger freestyled at the same time; Tom ended up driving two Maximum Destructions after the first one crashed.[10] Later that year, he used the truck to jump over his old house before completely smashing it to pieces.
In 2006, Neil returned to driving. At Monster Jam World Finals VII, Tom would jump over Neil's Maximum Destruction, perched high atop the volcano fountain obstacle, during freestyle.[11] He'd also get the biggest air of the night; though this broke the truck's rear steering, Tom filled the clock and won that year's freestyle championship.[12]
Maximum Destruction's first "backflip" in Gothenburg, June 2007.
In 2007, Tom once again got the biggest air of the night during his freestyle run at Monster Jam World Finals VIII, but unfortunately snapped the entire rear axle in half due to a hard landing after the jump, ending his run early.[13] Later in June, at Monster Jam's first-ever show in Gothenburg, he completed the first-ever prototype backflip in monster truck history after landing the tailgate on top of a steep dirt ramp and rolling back down on all four wheels.[14]
In 2008, at Monster Jam World Finals IX, mechanical problems prevented Tom from entering the final round of racing; Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter, whom Tom had defeated in the semi-finals, would take his spot. During his freestyle run, he infamously rolled over and broke a wheel off in the first hit; this would be the second time Tom ended his Monster Jam World Finals freestyle in one move, since 2003.[15] During the encore, Tom brought out a second Maximum Destruction, only to crash early yet again.[16]
In 2009, Neil took another break from racing; this time, former Iron Outlaw driver Kreg Christensen filled in for him. At World Finals X, Tom won his fourth racing championship, and his first under Maximum Destruction. His opponent in the finals race, Alex Blackwell in Captain's Curse, violently crashed into the stands due to brake failure.[17] In the encore, he'd complete a full backflip, though the truck landed on the tailgate and rolled on its lid.[18] Maximum Destruction appears on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, where Tom would destroy the Mattingly family's old home.[19]
In 2010, Neil returned to driving yet again. A front-engine El Toro Loco, driven by Chuck Werner, debuted as a teammate to Maximum Destruction, replacing Bulldozer. Tom made it to the championship round of racing at Monster Jam World Finals XI, but lost to his arch-rival Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger; this was the first and only time they'd race against each other in the final round in the entire history of Monster Jam World Finals.
The aftermath of Maximum Destruction's crash in Arlington, February 2011. Tom has since cited this crash as being "[his] favorite Max-D moment"[20].
In 2011, Tom introduced a brand new chassis at the start of the season, with the previous one now being driven by Neil. A third Maximum Destruction truck was also added to the team, driven by as Kreg Christensen; unlike the other two, Kreg's was a CRD chassis rather than the usual Meents. In Arlington, Tom would tear the entire front of the truck off at the end of his freestyle run, causing a massive fireball; he'd later win that year's Crash Madness award.[21] At Monster Jam World Finals XII, Tom won the racing championship by taking out long-time rival Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter, but would roll over early in freestyle after locking up the right-rear wheel planetary.
In 2012, Neil would debut a new chassis for his truck and successfully complete a backflip in Houston.[22] Rod Schmidt drives the truck in Ontario. Tom won the racing championship again at Monster Jam World Finals XIII, defeating Damon Bradshaw in Monster Energy and becoming the first-ever ten-time Monster Jam World Finals champion.[23] The rear shocks broke after the race but Tom's team was able to fix them in time for freestyle; only for Tom to break them again (as well as a four link bar) in the middle of his run, thus ending his run early once again.[24] In June, he attempted the first double backflip during the Path of Destruction finale in East Rutherford but was unsuccessful, as the truck crashed in the middle of the second rotation.[25] In December, the original Maximum Destruction body sees its last use in competition at Minneapolis.
Max-D Double Backflip attempt - Monster Jam World Finals XIV Encore 2013 - Max-D 10th Anniversary
In 2013, the Maximum Destruction team celebrated its 10th anniversary (branded as the Decade of Destruction), with brand new body styles for all 3 drivers. Neil and Kreg received "3D/spiked" bodies with 3D Maximus faces on the sides and large fender plates. Tom's design stayed truer to the classic Maximum Destruction body by not featuring the spike panels and was covered in yellow LEDs. However, it did feature the new 3D Maximus faces on the sides as well. From this point forward, the truck is primarily known by its nickname "Max-D". At the Monster Jam World Finals XIV, Tom ran a chrome version of Neil and Kreg's bodies and won freestyle. A 10th Anniversary Max-D encore took place, where Tom unsuccessfully attempted another double backflip, while the rest of the team performed their own backflips. and leaped into the air.[26]
In 2014, the "3D/spiked" bodies would become the default Max-D design. Kreg leaves the Maximum Destruction team to drive independently in Australia; former Stone Crusher driver Morgan Kane takes his place. At Monster Jam World Finals XV, in the semi-finals race between Tom and Lee O'Donnell in Iron Man, Tom was shut off for unknown reasons; in a highly controversial move, the race was re-run, with Tom defeating Lee amidst numerous boos from the crowd. In the final round, however, Tom spun out in the first turn, launching into the track and losing the championship to Adam Anderson in Grave Digger the Legend.[27] In freestyle, Tom broke the rear steering after performing a backflip, yet was still able to save his truck at the end of the run; he finished in third place.[28]
In 2015, Morgan began driving Max-D for the #MoreMonsterJam tour while Neil began competing on the Fox Sports 1 Championship Series. Morgan and Neil would both win their respective tours, while Tom received an invitation to Monster Jam World Finals XVI. This would be the first Monster Jam World Finals in which more than one Max-D or Grave Digger would compete. To compensate for this, Neil and Morgan ran special bodies for the event. Neil's was a metallic red recolor of the 3D/spiked design, while Morgan's was a gold version of the classic Maximum Destruction body, likely intended as a throwback to Goldberg and Team Meents, with the modern logo/name.
In June, Tom attempted the first-ever monster truck frontflip in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the use of a specialized mechanical ramp. The truck landed on its rear tires before somersaulting forwards; as such, the attempt was considered unsuccessful by Guinness World Records, who required that the truck land on its front wheels.[29] Later that month, Tom once again attempted a double backflip at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; though the truck successfully landed on all four wheels, it turned sideways during the second rotation, making him unsuccessful yet again.[30]The chrome 3D/spiked design would return without its 10th anniversary decals for both of these stunts and retire after.
The Santa Clara six-truck jump, April 2016. Notice that the trucks are to the side of the ramp, rather than under it.
In 2016, Morgan and Colton Eichelberger switched between the Maximum Destruction and Grave Digger teams.[31] Colton, Tom's step-son, joined his brother Jared Eichelberger as they'd compete in the West and East Triple Threat Series tours, respectively, while Neil drove in the west coast and Tom competed in the Fox Sports 1 Championship Series. Each driver on the team, aside from Tom, ran a special recolor of the 3D/spiked Max-D body for that year. Colton's was gold, Jared's was yellow/black, and Neil's was red (the same body used at Monster Jam World Finals XVI the year prior). In January, former Liquidator monster truck driver and Feld Motorsports' Director of Fleet Operations, Mike Wales passed away; in his honor, Tom ran a "Mike Wales" nameplate in place of his own in Anaheim, California.[32]
At Monster Jam World Finals XVII, Tom successfully performed a five-truck jump in the racing encore and was slated to perform a six-truck jump less than a month later at Santa Clara, California.[33] However, due to the muddy conditions of the track, the stunt was controversially changed. The six trucks were parked vertically next to the center ramp rather than under it, meaning that Tom didn't actually jump directly over any trucks.[34] The stunt was reattempted at East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it was performed successfully.[35]
In October, Jared ran Neil's red body on a spare CRD chassis from Monster Jam University at Glendale, and would later run Colton's gold body on the same chassis in Jackson. In December, Tom debuted a new chassis in St. Louis, earning a racing win in Minneapolis a week later. Chuck ran the Max-D body on his El Toro Loco chassis in Chile.
In 2017, all Max-D drivers returned to running the grey 3D spiked body. Tom and Neil competed in the Fox Sports 1 Series East and West Tours, respectively; Colton and Jared ran the Triple Threat Series tours yet again, though switching their respective tours from last year. Jared would also debut a new Max-D chassis. Early into the year, Tom suffered a lower back injury and could not drive from the end of January through the end of May;[36] Ironically, his arch-rival Dennis Anderson also sustained an injury in January, though Dennis' would later prove to be the end of his driving career. [37] Colton took Tom's place in the Fox Sports 1 East Tour, while new driver Blake Granger took over for Colton in the #MoreMonsterJam East Tour.
Monster Jam World Finals XVIII would be the first World Finals in which Tom did not compete, as well as the first to have neither him nor Dennis as competitors; they were still present at the event, however, appearing in the pit party and doing interviews.[38] Neil would successfully perform two first-ever moves: a forward momentum backflip in the Monster Jam 25th Anniversary stunt truck during the racing encore,[39] and a reverse backflip in freestyle, where he'd get second place.[40]
Neil and Colton's red and gold Max-Ds performing "maximum moonwalks" in the World Finals 19 encore, March 2018.
In 2018, team Max-D celebrated its 15th anniversary. Tom and Neil each ran a Monster Jam Stadium Tour, while Colton and Jared once again ran in the Central and EastTriple Threat Series tours, respectively; Neil also received a new chassis. Neil won the Stadium Championship Series 1 in February, and he, Tom, and Colton would be invited to the next Monster Jam World Finals, while Jared would compete in the Double Down Showdown. At Monster Jam World Finals XIX, the racing encore was dedicated to Max-D, with all of the 2016 season bodies (except for yellow) making an appearance, as well as the original Maximum Destruction. An all-new "Blackout" body run by Tom would also debut.[41]
The next day, before the freestyle competition, Diesel Dave drove Max-D as part of a donut contest against Heavy D in Grave Digger 30; though Dave failed to perform any donuts, he was humorously declared the winner.[42] After the Monster Jam World Finals XIX, Neil ran Max-D in the European Tour on a CRD chassis, while Chuck Werner drove the truck at events in Chile. This would be Chuck's final season before his retirement.
In 2019, Tom debuted Max-D Fire as a part of Monster Jam's new Fire & Ice team element, competing in and winning the Stadium Championship Series 1. Jared retired from driving (though he'd later return to the sport under Harper Motorsports in 2020); Blake took his place and competed in the Triple Threat East Series. Colton and Neil continued to run their own trucks, competing in the Triple Threat West Series and Stadium Tour 2, respectively. Tom and Neil competed in the main field at Monster Jam World Finals XX, where Tom won his first championship since 2013 in the brand new Monster Jam World Finals two-wheel skills championship.[43] Blake and Colton competed in the ATV championship. Blake won, becoming the first Max-D driver aside from Tom to win a Monster Jam World Finals championship and the only driver ever to so as the ATV championship would only exist for this event.[44] Tom was selected as the Team Captain for Team Fire for the inaugural All-Star Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada. Colton joined him on Team Fire, while Neil competed against them on Team Ice.
In 2020, Neil and Tom ran as part of the Green and Yellow Stadium Tours, respectively, while Colton and Blake would compete in the Triple Threat East and Central Series, yet again. Tom continued to run Max-D Fire, while all the other Fire and Ice variants (aside from El Toro Loco Ice) were discontinued. After the series were prematurely ended by the COVID-19 pandemic, Neil and Colton were named champions of their respective series as they were in the lead at the time of the shutdown.
In 2021, Neil announces his retirement from the sport,[45] while Tom competes in that year's sole Stadium Championship Series. Max-D Fire makes its last appearance in Arlington, TX, and the regular silver body (with the larger fenders removed) would make its return at Monster Jam's first show at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Colton made his return in Austin, Texas on Neil's former chassis. In East Rutherford, a failed backflip severely damaged Tom's chassis, and he'd end up sharing Neil's chassis with Colton for the rest of the year.[46]
In 2022, two Max-Ds were run during the first quarter. Tom competed on and won Stadium Series Red, while Blake returned to compete on Arena Series Central. Colton was originally scheduled to compete in Stadium Series Yellow, but dropped out of the first quarter due to family issues and has remained on hiatus from competing ever since. At Monster Jam World Finals XXI, Tom won both the two-wheel skills and freestyle championships,[47][48] becoming a fourteen-time world champion (he was also the fastest qualifier by only a few milliseconds). Colt Stephens and Mark List would drive the truck at international shows.
Max-D XX, circa March 2023
In 2023, the Max-D team celebrates their 20th anniversary, with Tom running a special "Max-D XX" body for the season while Blake runs the regular body. Tom competes on Stadium Series Red. Unfortunately, at the first stop in Oakland, the truck blew its motor in intros and was unable to compete in the event. In February, Tom would win racing at the second Minneapolis show over Adam Anderson in Grave Digger, being his first stadium racing win since Kansas City in June 2021.[49][50] After the win, he gave an emotional tribute to Bill Meents, his father, who passed away earlier that week.[51] Tom finishes the tour in third place. At Monster Jam World Finals XXII, Tom runs a "Bill Meents" nameplate on both sides of the truck to honor his father. He would lose in round 1 of racing due to a five-second penalty and got seventh place in freestyle.[52][53] Colton made a surprise return, driving the new ThunderROARus truck as part of a nine-truck jump in the opening ceremony.[54] Blake drives Max-D for the international tour. On August 31st, Tom announced his retirement after the 2024 season. On October 9th, it was revealed that Tom was picked as a competitor for the Monster Jam Superstar Challenge. He would also attempt a forward momentum backflip over two monster trucks in ThunderROARus to open said show. The stunt would be unsuccessful, as he would land on top of the stunt truck, damaging the chassis. He would be eliminated in round 1 of racing and would place 3rd in best trick and 10th in freestyle.
In 2024, Tom runs his final competitive season, before becoming a full-time teacher for rookie drivers, as well as the stunt coordinator. He also plans on bringing back many fan-favorite bodies throughout the season. Blake Granger will drive Max-D for the stadium shows on the international tour and drive El Toro Loco for the arena shows. He would run the split 20th anniversary/Maximum Destruction body in San Antonio. For the Houston shows, he would run the original Maximum Destruction body. In St. Louis, he would run the regular spiked body. He would run the black body for the first time ever in competition at Indianapolis. Tom and the truck would pick up a freestyle win during the Saturday show and a skills win on Sunday. Unfortunately, during the freestyle portion of the Sunday show, Tom would be involved in a scary crash that would dislocate his neck. He would later make an official announcement that a returning Colton Eichelberger would be filling in for him for the rest of the season. In Tampa, the candy apple red body returns, driven by Eichelberger on a CRD chassis. No special intro was used in Tampa, and presumably for the rest of the season, due to Tom being out for the rest of the season. The Max-D Fire body would return in Minneapolis and the 20th anniversary would return in Miami. Blake Granger drives for Colton in Orlando and Jacksonville with the split scheme returning in Orlando. In Jacksonville, the red body is used & Blake would win skills. In Costa Rica, Blake would win skills and freestyle and record the highest winning skills run with fan judging with a score of 9.998. The regular spiked body would appear once again for the Hartford shows, with Blake Granger driving. Coty Saucier will drive the truck for the last 5 stadium shows on the east stadium tour. In Syracuse, he ran the original Maximum Destruction body. In Atlanta, the Nitro body was used. Blake Granger would be the international tour champion & get his first main field invite at World Finals XXlll.
The original Maximum Destruction design, introduced in 2003 and ran until late 2012. During that time, several changes would be made to its appearance, primarily to the brightness of the coil pattern and logo. During the 2004 winter season, Tom ran a version of this design with orange electric bolts instead of flames. Reappeared in the Monster Jam World Finals XIX racing encore, where it was run by Chuck Werner. The body would make a return in 2024 for the January Houston shows.
At Monster Jam World Finals IX, 2008.
Grey (3D/spiked)
A reimagined version of the original Maximum Destruction body. This design more prominently features the Creator of Chaos/Maximus on both sides, depicted as a 3D head and hands. Additionally, the body is covered in scratches, large fenders have been added to the front and back, small spikes are placed all over the body and a new, smaller logo is present. The large fenders were removed in 2021. Originally introduced under Neil Elliot and Kreg Christensen as part of the Decade of Destruction in 2013, this design has become the default appearance of Max-D since 2014. Would briefly run for the St. Louis and Hartford shows in 2024.
Circa 2015.
Part-time or anniversary designs[]
Design
Description
Picture
Glow
Run exclusively by Tom Meents in 2013, as part of Max-D's 10th anniversary. While this design had the same 3D face as the "spiked" bodies, its paint job was much closer to that of the original Maximum Destruction 2000 futuristic SUV. Additionally, the body was outlined with yellow LED strips. Its formal name by former Monster Jam Senior Designer Neil Vandenberg is "Max-D Glow"
Circa 2013.
Chrome (3D/spiked)
Tom ran a chrome version the 3D spiked Max-D at Monster Jam World Finals XIV, during his 10th anniversary season celebration, where he was the fastest qualifier and won freestyle. This design would later return (without the 10th anniversary decals) for the double backflip and front flip attempts at Gillette and Metlife Stadiums respectively.
Truck on display at SEMA 2013 with the 10th anniversary decals.
Red
A metallic red recolor of the 3D spiked design, introduced at Monster Jam World Finals XVI under Neil Elliot. The following year, Neil would run this design full-time before returning to the regular design in 2017 (aside from a brief reappearance in Saudi Arabia with a darker maroon color body). In 2018, the body would be re-used in the Monster Jam World Finals XIX racing encore, yet again under Neil Elliot. It would return in 2024 for the Tampa shows driven by Colton Eichelberger on a CRD chassis and later in Jacksonville under Blake Granger.
This design was originally an all-gold rendition of the classic Maximum Destruction body (with the modern logo/name), introduced at Monster Jam World Finals XVI under Morgan Kane. It was updated in early 2016 with the newer 3D spiked design. Colton Eichelberger ran this version for that year until its retirement. It reappeared in the Monster Jam World Finals XIX racing encore, again under Colton.
Truck on display at the Monster Jam World Finals XVI pit party, circa 2015.
Newer 3D spiked design at Monster Jam World Finals XVII, circa 2016.
Yellow
A yellow and black recolor of the 3D spiked design, run by Jared Eichelberger for the 2016 season. Later in the season, new bodies would be painted a darker color with orange accents and dubbed the "mac & cheese" Max-D.
A matte black recolor of the 3D spiked design, based on a Hot Wheels die-cast release in from 2017, first ran by Tom Meents in the Monster Jam World Finals XIX racing encore. It featured glossy black decals for the scheme and chrome Max-D logos. Would make its competition debut in 2024 for the Indianapolis shows.
As part of the new Fire & Ice team element introduced in 2019, Tom and Max-D would represent Team Fire, running a red body with a yellow Maximus face and spikes. It would become the only Team Fire truck to run past the 2019 Monster Jam All-Star Challenge, and would continue to run until Atlanta 2021, when Tom returned to driving the regular body. The body would return in 2024 for the Minneapolis shows, driven by Colton Eichelberger, on his CRD chassis.
For the 2023 season, Tom ran a new design to celebrate Max-D's 20th anniversary. The design uses the classic 2000 futuristic SUV body and features several elements of previous designs etched in fire, such as the "On a Mission" logo and Maximus' face. It was only run by Tom Meents, as Blake Granger would run the standard grey spiked 3D body on the International Tour. At Monster Jam World Finals XXII, a Bill Meents nameplate was added, as a tribute to Tom's father who'd passed away earlier that year. The body makes a return at Miami 2024.
As part of Team Nitro for the 2023 Monster Jam Superstar Challenge, Tom would run a special Nitro scheme based on the trucks 1:64 toy counterpart, minus the spikes, with purple beadlocks. This scheme would be retired after the event.
Miscellaneous[]
Design
Description
Picture
Red (2000 futuristic SUV)
An unused design from 2006, intended to compete alongside the "Green Ghost"Grave Digger.[55] This version was similar to the 2003-2012 design, but with a more "fiery" theme and was primarily red instead of gray. While it was never made into a real truck, it was released by Hot Wheels in the die-cast line from 2007 to 2009 in several variations.
Concept render, 2006.
1:24 Hot Wheels toy, 2007.
Incomplete (2007)
An unusual body, only used at Cardiff 2007. It was almost the exact same as the 2003-2012 scheme, but lacked the "On a Mission" front slogan and had rear flames that were painted in a darker orange color than the rest of the body. This body was confirmed by Adam Anderson to be the result of a lack of resources available overseas; when the time to came to repair the truck's body, no spare decals and correct paint were available, resulting in this unique body style.
Note how much darker the flames on the back are compared to the hood.
Split (WF22 Display, 2024)
As part of Max-D's 20th anniversary, a unique version of the Max-D XX body was displayed In the Monster Jam World Finals XXII pit party, with half of it replaced by an original Maximum Destruction body. The Maximum Destruction half featured the truck with older rims and its classic "zoomie-style" headers, paying homage to the classic era the body ran in. The scheme would return for the first show of the 2024 Monster Jam season for Stadium Championship Series East in San Antonio, TX and later Orlando, FL.
Right side.
Left side.
Chassis[]
There have been 10 full-time Maximum Destruction trucks.
Driven by Neil Elliott from 2003 to 2011, except 2005 when Phil Foster drove it. The truck was formerly the first Goldberg then the second Team Meents. Kreg Christensen also drove it as a fill-in for Neil in 2009. The truck was retired in 2011 and turned into the first stunt truck in 2012. The truck was retired from stunts in 2020 after failing the double forward momentum backflip at Monster Jam Breaking World Records.
Driven by Tom Meents from 2011 to 2016. Tom won a total of 3 championships while driving it. It was displayed at the Monster Jam World Finals XIX pit party in 2018 as part of Maximum Destruction's 15th anniversary, depicting its famous crash in Arlington, Texas, in 2011. Now retired.
Formerly driven by Kreg Christensen from 2011 to 2013, Morgan Kane from 2014 to 2015, and Jared Eichelberger in 2016. It has a mid-mounted engine instead of the front-mounted engine of other full-time Maximum Destruction trucks. This truck won the first More Monster Jam tour in 2015 to get an automatic bid into Monster Jam World Finals XVI. It is now used as a display truck.
Driven by Tom Meents from 2017 to Mid 2021. Colton Eichelberger drove it in the FS1 Series East for much of 2017, including the Monster Jam World Finals, due to Tom being injured. It used the Maximum Destruction Fire design from 2019 through early 2021. Tom drove this truck while winning Stadium Tour 1 in 2019 and winning the first-ever Monster Jam World Finals Two-Wheel Skills championship that year. The truck was retired after Tom attempted a backflip and landed on the cage, destroying the front in the process. The truck has since been restored and is now the Monster Jam Stunt Truck.
Driven by Neil Elliott from 2018 to 2020. The newest chassis in the fleet. In 2021, Colton Eichelberger drove the truck for a few events. Driven by Tom from 2022-2024, when Tom received an injury at a show in February.
Additionally, the Maximum Destruction body design has been used on chassis owned by Monster Jam parent FELD Motorsports for international tours; these do not feature the front-mounted engine usually used by the team.
World Finals appearances[]
2003 - Tom Meents
2004 - Tom Meents (won freestyle)
2005 - Tom Meents
2006 - Tom Meents (won freestyle); Neil Elliott (encore only)
2007 - Tom Meents
2008 - Tom Meents
2009 - Tom Meents (won racing)
2010 - Tom Meents
2011 - Tom Meents (won racing); Neil Elliott (encore only); Kreg Christensen (encore only)
2012 - Tom Meents (won racing)
2013 - Tom Meents (won freestyle); Neil Elliott (encore only); Kreg Christensen (encore only); Chuck Werner (encore only)
2014 - Tom Meents
2015 - Tom Meents, Neil Elliott (Red), and Morgan Kane (Gold)
2016 - Tom Meents; Colton Eichelberger (Gold)
Young Guns Shootout: Jared Eichelberger (Yellow)
2017 - Neil Elliott & Colton Eichelberger
Double Down Showdown: Jared Eichelberger
2018 - Tom Meents; Neil Elliott; Colton Eichelberger
The original Maximum Destruction, alongside its 2013 redesigns, were created by longtime and former Monster Jam Senior Designer Neil Vandenberg,[56][57][58][59] while the Max-D XX body was designed by Starr Creations.[60]
Many have speculated that Maximum Destruction was temporarily shelved after the September 11 attacks in 2001, which occurred only a week before Goldberg's final show; as such, Team Meents was then quickly created as a fill-in for the name, debuting in December of that year. Similar to Inferno being canceled and renamed to Flashfire by Hot Wheels in the same year.
In an episode of the Inside Monster Jam podcast in 2022, Tom stated that Team Meents was created as a year-long buffer between Goldberg and Maximum Destruction (by doing so Tom indirectly and unknowingly denying the aforementioned assumptions).
The Creator of Chaos, as it appeared on the back of the original Maximum Destruction.
The robot character on Maximum Destruction was originally named the "Creator of Chaos". It has since been renamed "Maximus".[61]
Since 2006, Maximum Destruction has primarily used "Doperide" by Saliva as its theme song. Before then, it used "Corruption N' Destruction", an original song composed by Clear Channel Entertainment, originally created for Team Meents.
Despite the Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction video game and Crash Madness 2 VHS both featuring the subtitle "Maximum Destruction", neither feature the truck whatsoever, as they were both released before its debut.
From 2003 up until Monster Jam World Finals V, the roof of the truck displayed "3-Time World Champion", despite Tom being a 5-time world champion at that point. This is an artifact of the truck's initial planned December 2001 debut.
Although promoted as an 15-time world champion, only 10 of those titles have been actually won under the Max-D name, as Tom Meents won his first 5 championships in predecessor trucks Goldberg and Team Meents.
Tom Meents was the only Max-D driver to win a title until 2019, where Blake Granger became the second Max-D driver to win a world title.
In 2023, the Max-D roof would be updated to just say "World Champion" instead of list its championships. This change has been applied to all actively-competing Monster Jam-owned trucks' designs. The reasoning behind this design change is due to the fact that multiple drivers drive the same body design and the championships do not belong to some (if not all) of the currently competing drivers depending on the truck.
At Monster Jam World Finals XXII, all of the previous Max-D color-coded bodies would be on display in some fashion. This included: Maximum Destruction (hood only/half body on split 20th anniversary scheme display body), Blackout, Chrome (non-10th anniversary design), Fire, Gold (hood only) and Yellow (hood only).
Gallery[]
Preliminary concept art, late 2001.
Early concept art, late 2001.
Early concept render, circa 2001-02.
Revised concept art, 2002.
Render over Team Meents, 2002.
The truck at its original unveiling.
Announcement in the 2003 yearbook.
Maximum Destruction in its debut in 2003.
Circa 2003.
With a Falcons flag at Atlanta, circa 2003.
Maximum Destruction in late 2003.
Tom's 2004 winter season body with electricity instead of flames, ran only during that season.
Maximum Destruction in 2005.
In memory of Derik (Right side panel, World Finals VI).
In memory of Derik (Full, 2005).
In memory of Ryan Coe logo.
Bill Meents dedication (Both side panels, World Finals XXII).
Maximum Destruction in late 2007.
Maximum Destruction mid the first public monster truck backflip attempt at WFX in 2009.
Maximum Destruction St. Louis 2010.
Maximum Destruction 1 at Costa Rica, circa 2010.
Maximum Destruction in 2011-2012.
Aftermath of Maximum Destruction's famous crash in Arlington, 2011.
Kreg Christensen's Maximum Destruction in 2011.
Maximum Destruction's original body on the stunt chassis.
Original Maximum Destruction in 2018.
A Maximum Destruction hood on a Grave Digger chassis.
Tom Meents Decade of Destruction body.
World Finals 14 chrome body.
With a flat tire.
Max-D, circa 2014.
Morgan Kane's Max D in 2015.
Max-D, circa 2015.
Tom Meents' Max-D, circa 2017
Colton Eichelberger's Max-D, circa 2018.
Jared Eichelberger's Max-D, circa 2018.
Neil Elliott's Max-D, circa 2018.
Tom Meents' Max-D in Atlanta, circa 2021.
Tom Meents running Neil Elliot's chassis in New Orleans.
Circa 2021 in St. Louis.
Max-D 9 with the front clip damaged in Cleveland, Ohio.
Max-D 9, circa 2021.
Blake Granger's Max-D, circa 2022.
Max-D 9, circa 2021.
Neil's red Max-D for World Finals 16.
2016 red Max-D original render.
Candy apple red Max-D in Glendale, circa 2016.
Candy apple red on a rear engine chassis in Glendale 2016.
Candy apple red Max-D in 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
Candy apple red Max-D in 2018.
2016 gold Max-D original render with a front engined chassis opposed to the rear engine CRD chassis in real life.
Morgan's gold Max-D for World Finals 16.
Gold Max-D, circa early 2016.
Roof of the Max-D (Maximum Destruction) gold scheme.
Gold Max-D, circa 2016.
Gold Max-D in 2018.
After the 2018 encore.
2016 yellow Max-D original render with a front engined chassis opposed to the rear engine CRD chassis in real life.
Yellow Max-D, circa 2016.
A darker yellow Max-D in 2016.
Black-Out Max-D at World Finals 19.
Max D Fire, circa summer 2019.
Max-D Fire circa 2021, note the broken support bar on the front of the chassis.
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