Monster Jam 2025 Championship Series

I’m never one to shy away from photographing a sport or event I’ve never shot before. So when the opportunity came up to photograph the Monster Jam 2025 Championship Series event at loanDepot Park for the Marlins, I didn’t hesitate. I will preface by saying I know nothing about monster trucks or the Monster Jam 2025 Championship Series, so I was completely in the dark about how the event takes places or how to go about shooting monster trucks. My only exposure to monster trucks was knowing the truck Bigfoot from the 80’s and 90’s.

My assignment at the Monster Jam 2025 Championship Series event was to capture the Pit Party and get action of the trucks for social media promotional purposes. I had no idea what a Pit Party was. Google did give me some creative results, but ultimately, I learned that a Pit Party was a chance for fans to see the trucks up close and meet the drivers.

I got to the event a littler early and used that time to corral some of the drivers to pose for individual photos by their trucks. Now this was my first time seeing these trucks up close and they definitely fit the bill of a monster truck.

The event portion of the night was broken up into three events. One was a head to head time race around the track, the second was a truck trick event and the third was a freestyle event. I was hoping to sit as close to the action as possible, but due to the risk of a truck going off course and losing control, I had to shoot from a higher vantage point for safety concerns. While disappointed, I understood the need for safety. I ended up in the centerfield tv platforms which allowed me a full view of the trucks and track.

The head to head race event was uneventful for me. I was hoping for destruction and mayhem, but got monster trucks racing around the track. I wanted to see trucks demolish junk cars or fly over other trucks, but I had to settle for them racing each other.

The truck trick event was a bit more interesting. I’ve never seen trucks stand inverted and basically bunny hop a hill before, so I was amazed at the feats of these drivers. Other drivers basically made their trucks move on their sides and then prop themselves up.

While perched in centerfield I did notice a huge mound of dirt below me. I just thought it was leftover dirt to help fill in other sections, but I quickly learned that the dirt there was for when trucks wanted to do a backflip. I was shocked and amazed the first time a truck was directly under me and then proceeded to flip in the air. It was an awesome sight to behold.

Now the final event of the evening, the freestyle portion, is when things finally went my way. I’m talking trucks flying off jumps. Trucks slamming to the ground, breaking pieces of their trucks off. Transmissions being blown out, trucks flipped on their sides. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together; mass hysteria.

The final event was worth it. Those monster truck drivers are talented, crazy and fearless. I’m not sure how they do this day and out. I will say this though, for my first time at the Monster Jam 2025 Championship Series event, I know it won’t be the last.

Check out the loanDepot Park Instagram to see more of my photos!

Mike Pagliarulo
Mike Pagliarulo | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Nick Pagliarulo
Nick Pagliarulo | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Cole Venard
Cole Venard | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Zack Garner
Zack Garner | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Tristan England
Tristan England | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Excaliber
Excaliber | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Black Pearl and Wild Side
Black Pearl and Wild Side | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Monster Jam 2025 championship
Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Sparkle Smash, Black Pearl
Sparkle Smash, Black Pearl | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Black Pearl
Black Pearl | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Monster Mutt
Monster Mutt | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Wild Side
Wild Side | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Excaliber
Excaliber | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Kraken
Kraken | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Megalodon
Megalodon | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Jester
Jester | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Wild Side
Wild Side | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
sparkle smash
Sparkle Smash | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
jester
Jester | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
son-uva digger
Son-uva Digger | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
son-uva digger
Son-uva Digger | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Wild Side
Wild Side | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Digatron
Digatron | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Jester
Jester | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
Digatron
Digatron | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
excaliber
Excaliber | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
grave digger
Grave Digger | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)
grave digger
Grave Digger | Monster Jam | loanDepot Park in Miami, FL on January 25, 2025. (Photo by JC Ruiz)

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