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Featured Image: Monster Jam Driver Armando Castro & El Toro Loco ( Feld Entertainment, Inc)
Monster Jam Triple Threat returns to the PPL Center February 21-23rd. The incredible , Armando Castro took some time to talk with The Valley Ledger.
Hi Armando, tell us a little bit about what you are hoping or expecting for the upcoming shows at the PPL Center in Allentown?
Armando– Hi, I am looking forward to coming back. I’ve been there the last couple of years. We have five shows coming to Allentown. That’s the only weekend where we actually have five shows. Its going to be a lot of craziness going on. Like I said I’ve been there before so I’m kind of familiar with how the dirt’s going to work. It will be a lot of action, a lot of big trucks. I am excited to get going.
What is your favorite moment during the show or before the show?
Armando- This all started like a dream. I was six years old when I attended my first Monster Jam show here at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. Ever since I went to the show, I fell in love with how big these trucks are and how loud they are. One of my favorite parts is the pit party, getting to meet my favorite drivers and have that one on one with them and seeing the trucks up close. Now, the tables have turned and I got a chance to live my childhood dream, its kind of cool and surreal. I still can’t believe it and I am heading into my fourth year with Monster Jam. Something I hold close to my heart would be the fans, that connection that the drivers have with the fans. The kids with the handmade posters. Last week I was able to throw one of my hat’s out to a kid and I received a Facebook message from his parents thanking me and they told me he doesn’t want to take the hat off. He’s very excited and that’s something that means a lot to me because without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do every weekend. Obviously, the fans will always be close to my heart because I was once a fan.
Did you always know that this is what you wanted to do?
Armando- Oh yes from the start. I fell in love with the sport. I was always an adrenaline junkie growing up. I was always on my BMX bike or trying to hop on something with a motor and four wheels. My mom called me a little daredevil when I was younger so I knew I was going to do something in motor sports. There is nothing like it. I met a guy when I was sixteen, I met a guy and not knowing who he was, I went up to him at a show and found out he was a guy that hires drivers and works in the company. I am one of the few Hispanic drivers that Monster Jam has right now. It is pretty special to me and close to my heart being Hispanic and being able to represent for all Latinos. I am blessed.
That is awesome. What would you want to say to the fans and everyone coming to these shows?
Armando- If no one has ever heard or attended a show, I would say you have to see these in-person. You have to sit in the stands and hear the roars, the horsepower that’s vibrating in your chest. The stuff we are able to do with these trucks now, the technology has changed and evolved. We are able to do these crazy and insane moves. We can balance it on the nose, we call that the “moonwalk” and the wheelies and the craziness we are able to do with the trucks. It’s action-packed and you are on the edge of your seat from start to finish. We compete in the triple threat series so we actually drive three different vehicles. I am currently the defending reigning champion for the speeders. If you love motor sports, adrenaline, craziness then this is the show that you have to be at. It’s exciting and its not just for the kids bring the whole family. Spend a family day with us and just have a good time and forget about your problems. We strive to put the best show on that we can. Its pretty awesome and I recommend everyone come and check it out and have a pit party with us.
Do you have a favorite move you do with El Toro Loco?
Armando- We have quite a few different moves. I always have to say the “moonwalk.” And the freestyle. We have about sixty or seventy-five seconds to lay it all out there.
I am really excited and it was an honor to talk to you. Monster Jam brings a lot of positive and happy moments for people so thank you and we look forward to seeing all of you at the PPL Center in Allentown.
Armando- Thank you so much and yes we’ll see you there and hopefully we will meet all the fans at the pit party.
For more about Monster Jam driver Armando Castro and the upcoming show at the PPL Center visit:
https://www.monsterjam.com/en-US/drivers/armando-castro
http://www.pplcenter.com/events/detail/monster-jam-triple-threat-series-2
Click here for more interviews and articles by Janel Spiegel
