In addition to running events in about 40 U.S. states and a half dozen Canadian provinces, Monster Jam holds competitions in Canada, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Finland, Wales, Sweden, Denmark, Costa Rica and Mexico. It's likely the series will expand to more states, provinces and countries in the near future. Monster Jam seems determined to single-handedly fix America's balance of trade problems.

Forget what you thought you knew about monster trucks. Today's Monster Jam trucks are about as closely related to the backyard concoctions of 20 years ago as a current Nextel Cup car is to a new, showroom-floor Toyota Camry.

Today's Monster Jam trucks are powered by midship-mounted, supercharged, alcohol-fed 1,500-horsepower engines, most based on the Chevrolet big block. No stock parts are used: Even the engine blocks and heads are specially cast for racing. Minimum weight is 9,000 pounds but some trucks weigh more than six tons. However, sophisticated suspension and the latest in shock absorber technology keep the vehicles planted to the ground. Except, that is, when they're supposed to be jumping over dirt mounds or junk cars. The trucks are more than 10 feet tall. Many use four-wheel steering to negotiate tight turns.

Races are run two at a time, side-by-side, drag racing style. Indeed, events are sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association. Vehicles negotiate corners and jumps and often have to hit-or miss-obstacles. In addition, there's the fan-favorite freestyle competitions. Monster Jam is kind of like a cross between drag racing, motocross, and freestyle snowboarding, with a bit of professional wrestling thrown in.

Monster Jam was created by Live Nation, which was formerly known as Clear Channel Entertainment. Live Nation owns some of the trucks, though many are owned and entered by independent racing teams.

Events are held in stadiums, at racetracks or pretty much anywhere big mounds of dirt and junk cars can be placed. Some Monster Jam events are held indoors, especially in the winter. Inside an arena, the sound level of Monster Jam makes Motorhead-considered the loudest rock band-seem like John Denver on an acoustic guitar.

Computer game makers and marketers are producing Monster Jam-base computer games by the dozens. It's likely as many young people are familiar with The Grave Digger or other popular Monster Jam trucks as they are with the Boston Red Sox. In addition, youtube.com would have many fewer videos without Monster Jam. And Wal-Mart has almost an entire aisle devoted to Monster Jam-related toys and games.

If you're looking for some of the craziest, most entertaining motorsports you've ever seen, you've got to see a Monster Jam event live.