07/23/2026
The beginning.
On the day of July 9th 1985 monsters took their first breath of Lebanon Valley air. Big block supercharged engines echoed throughout the mountains. A 12 foot tall truck was just about unheard of back then. Tires the same hight as adults, wheels so big you could stuff your child in. Although early monster trucks were much like seeing a deer take its first steps the spectators in attendance were still in awe of the car crushing action many had just witnessed for the very first time and instantly fell in love creating a fan base unmatched to anywhere in the country. Nobody could guess just how these early trucks would evolve.
What started as just crushing cars quickly turned to competitive racing long before freestyle was ever a dream. Things changed from who was the biggest to who was fastest. Pace Monster truck racing series, USHRA , and Monster jam all made the famed 1/2 mile clay track a yearly staple event throughout the years. Always bringing top talent and the best equipment to put on a show you were left talking about for weeks and on many occasions for years. Long straightaways offered room for over 130 feet in between jumps offering speeds not seen at any other venue. If you have ever heard the term “ no man’s land” the Valley definitely had it. It would eat trucks up and spit them out if you weren’t perfectly straight coming off the plane of them crushed cars. Videos of Dennis Anderson putting Gravedigger over on its lid from the early days of side by side racing are all over the internet. It just shows that your competitors were not the only battle you’d face at the valley of speed. The track itself was something to be proud to conquer. Years of fierce, racing and amazing freestyle. Would follow with what appeared to be no end insight. Covid would put the brakes on everything in a big way including the monster truck shows in Lebanon.
Post Covid
Monster Jam made the at the time unfortunate decision to forget about the little guys, the places that watered the seed, the seeds that grew to create a diehard fan base that went generations and If your venue wasn’t big enough to turn a huge profit and for a gigantic crowd they wouldn’t be returning. No monster trucks at Lebanon Valley? How could this be? 3 shows all but sold out every year, mid week at that and they made the call to not return.
The return of the monsters.
Some stories end with a silver lining and thankfully this one does. In 2021 monsters N Megas would have their inaugural event at a lower cost and twice the action . 8 of the basest monster trucks from around the country and 8 of the fastest mega trucks The Northeast had to offer would first race against their own and once one monster and one mega were left, they would face off in a winner takes all race. The night events conclude with both Mega trucks and Monsters having high flying freestyle usually followed by an autograph session with the drivers.
Tim Manny in his Dirty 30 Mega truck would be victorious over Maines largest lobster Crushstation both nights the first year. showing the Monsters that their younger brothers the Mega trucks where just as fast if not faster. Over the last 5 years Mega trucks have won the overall racing championship 8 of the 10 nights. This year in 2026 the Megas are bringing firepower from up and down the East will the but the Monsters have their own mussels coming and it’s anyone’s game. Only 9 more days we will have the next champion crowned and the next chapter written! Join In on the excitement. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your neighbor, hell bring the
