Akins Ford Arena was filled with dirt, engine noises and dust as monster trucks took to the track for the first Monster Jam ...

Monster Jam is a big business, too big to limit itself to one venue at a time. So, while fans are watching their favorite trucks smash cars in Jacksonville, other fans will be doing the same thing ...

The trucks themselves weigh 12,000 pounds, have 1,500 horsepower, are 12 feet tall, and have custom-made, 66" tires. Colt Stevens, the driver for ThunderRoarus, said he got into Pittsburgh last night.

Sparkle Smash is a 12-foot-tall monster truck competing in Monster Jam this weekend at the MVP Arena. Rick Marshall/Times Union But it’s not all about the looks.