{"id":86150,"date":"2019-02-19T18:01:35","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T23:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=86150"},"modified":"2019-02-19T18:01:35","modified_gmt":"2019-02-19T23:01:35","slug":"monster-truck-driver-fulfills-lifetime-dream-interview-by-diane-fleischman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=86150","title":{"rendered":"MONSTER TRUCK DRIVER FULFILLS LIFETIME DREAM – Interview by Diane Fleischman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Featured Image: El Toro Loco (provided by Feld Entertainment, Inc.)<\/em>
\nInterview by Diane Fleischman<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Armando Castro, age 22, is a young man living out his dreams.\u00a0 A dream that started at age 6, after he saw his first Monster Jam show in Anaheim, California.\u00a0 He was determined to work hard and do whatever it took to become a Monster Truck driver.<\/p>\n

For the last three years, Armando has been competing and touring the world as a Monster Truck driver of El Toro Loco (The Crazy Bull), and as they tour on weekends, the production will arrive at the PPL Center on Friday, February 22 to Sunday, February 24.\u00a0 Recently, The Valley Ledger had the opportunity to talk to Armando.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to Allentown.\u00a0 I was there two years ago, when it was my rookie show, and can\u2019t wait to show you how much better we are,\u201d Armando spoke with excitement.\u00a0 \u201cOne of my favorite memories of Allentown was this deli that was right across the way from the hotel that had the most delicious cheese steaks I ever had, and I\u2019m looking forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, and that\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg!\u00a0 Plenty of \u201cgood eats\u201d to be found! So, do you know how many trucks and vehicles it takes to move this production from city to city?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo Monster trucks travel on a semi-trailer, so there are three semi-trailers.\u00a0 The crew stays on the road and the drivers fly in city to city on Thursdays for the weekend shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

How would you describe a typical Monster Jam show for someone who was going to go for the first time?\u00a0 What can they expect?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can expect adrenaline from start to finish. \u00a0It\u2019s the only sport in the world where women can compete in the same level for the same championship.\u00a0 It\u2019s action packed!\u00a0 Not just for kids, its family oriented and for adults too.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never been to a Monster Truck show they\u2019re very loud and big.\u00a0 The trucks are 12,000 pounds and 1,500 horsepower, you can only imagine what these trucks can do.<\/p>\n

Back in the day, it was more about who was the fastest and jump the biggest.\u00a0 But now, it\u2019s about the technique and what we can do. And it\u2019s more technical as we perform in arenas.\u00a0 You know, like trying to balance a 12,000-pound Monster Jam truck on its front two wheels, and try to walk it up the pod. We also race Monster Jam ATVs, and Monster Jam Speedsters.<\/p>\n

But it is a competition.\u00a0 How does that work?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe compete against each other and battle for points.\u00a0 There are six different competitions, so at the end of the show, whoever has the most points is the Event Champion of that show.\u00a0 At the end of the season, the points get accumulated, and whoever has the most points at the end of the tour is the Arena Champion.\u00a0 You get an automatic bid to the Monster Jam World Finals in Orlando to compete with the top dogs, 32 Monster trucks get to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s your favorite competition?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI would have to say the Freestyle competition is my favorite. You have 75 seconds to go crazy, burn it down, go as fast as you can and get that wow factor out of the crowd. \u201c<\/p>\n

Spoken like a true adrenaline junkie!\u00a0 Are you one?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

(laughing) \u201cYes, growing up I rode quads and stuff, and I was always like wanting to jump off a wall.\u00a0 It helps me be so comfortable behind a 12,000-pound Monster Jam truck.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t gone skydiving yet, but it is on the bucket list, that\u2019s yet to come.\u00a0 Maybe over this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite part of the show?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the Pit-Party.\u00a0 It\u2019s important and so special to meet the amazing fans all around the world.\u00a0 That was once me as a little boy getting to meet the drivers.\u00a0 I would do anything for the fans.\u00a0 The Pit-Party is before the show and tickets are sold separately.\u00a0 Fans can walk the floor, check out the trucks up close, and meet all eight athletes, take pictures, get autographs, and all that good stuff. It\u2019s just a lot of fun and extra special to me to meet the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How did this all come together for you?\u00a0 How did you make a childhood dream come true?\u00a0 <\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a child, I went to as many Monster Jam Truck shows as I could.\u00a0 In 2016, I was blessed by meeting someone at the World Finals in Las Vegas.\u00a0 I met someone within the company, and had the chance to audition, and made the cut. I trained at Monster Jam University and was taught by the best of the best, Tom Meents, driver, and twelve-time champion.<\/p>\n

I am the only Hispanic on the tour.\u00a0 It\u2019s really important to me to get behind the wheel and represent the Latinos out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s impressive, and something to be very proud of.\u00a0 But if you weren\u2019t as fortunate to live your dream, was there a back up plan, a plan B?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy goal was always to be a Fire Fighter. \u201c<\/p>\n

And yet you became an EMT instead.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>I like to help people out, and always be there for people, to be close to people. It was such an accomplishment, and something I hold onto very tightly. And I carry those values to my role as a Monster Truck driver, for my fans, to be a great role model. But at this time, I am not working as an EMT, I\u2019m more focused on my career as a Monster Jam Truck driver.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, it\u2019s a great occupation to fall back on.\u00a0 Tell me about your life in California.\u00a0 I\u2019m dying to know what kind of car you drive!<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m big about family.\u00a0 I have to give a lot of credit to my parents, they\u2019re my number one supporters and always push me to follow my dreams.\u00a0 Without them, I don\u2019t think I would be where I am.<\/p>\n

I come from a large family, six brothers and sisters, and I am the second to the youngest.<\/p>\n

I have four cars, a GMC Sierra Diesel Truck, a Dodge Magnum SRTE, if I want to go fast, a \u201968 Dodge Dart, and a Dune Buggy.\u00a0 It all depends on what the day brings.\u201d<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re out, driving around, or running errands, do you ever feel like you want to morph into Monster Truck mode, even if you\u2019re driving around in the (classic) Dodge Dart?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s always traffic in LA.\u00a0 I sit in traffic sometimes and imagine if I were in my Monster Jam truck.\u00a0 I\u2019d crush over all these cars, and we\u2019re going to go in like 5 seconds!\u201d<\/p>\n

You know, you\u2019re out there, on tour, what\u2019s the one thing you miss from home, that you can\u2019t find anywhere else in the world?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy Mother\u2019s food.\u00a0 I love Mexican food.\u00a0 It\u2019s very difficult when I go to the east coast to find a decent Mexican restaurant.\u00a0 It\u2019s really is a different world on the east coast then what it is on the west coast.\u00a0 I look forward to going home to my Mom and getting a very good homemade dinner and enjoy the little time I have at home. \u201c<\/p>\n

That\u2019s so great!\u00a0 What does your future hold?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am very satisfied with my accomplishments so far.\u00a0 My next goal is to end up on a stadium tour.\u00a0 They\u2019re bigger than the arenas.\u00a0 There\u2019s always more to do and more to grow and more opportunities with this company. I mean, I\u2019m only 22, and how many 22 year olds can say they are traveling the world driving a Monster Jam Truck, and living their dreams?\u201d<\/p>\n

Probably not many.\u00a0 For Armando Castor, he has made a name for himself and generated a lot of personal happiness.\u00a0 See Armando and the rest of the Monster Jam drivers as the Monster Jam Triple Threat blasts into the PPL Center Friday February 22, with additional shows on Saturday, February 23 at 1pm and 7pm, and Sunday, February 24 at 1pm and 6:30pm.\u00a0 Also check for the Pit-Party times to meet your favorite Monster Jam driver, and keep your phone handy to participate in the in- arena fan voting on your smart phone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

EVENT:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MONSTER JAM PIT PARTY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pit Party Early Access starting at 10:30am<\/p>\n

Pit Party from 10:30am-12:00pm<\/p>\n

Show dates and times:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday, February 22 at 7:00pm<\/p>\n

Saturday, February 23 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm<\/p>\n

Sunday, February 24 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

LOCATION:<\/strong>
\nPPL Center (Pit Party Entrance at Air Products Gate)<\/p>\n

701 Hamilton Street<\/p>\n

Allentown, PA 18101<\/p>\n

Tickets & Pit Passes start at $15 each and will be available for purchase at\u00a0www.PPLCenter.com<\/a>, charge by phone at 610-347-TIXX, or in-person at QNB Box Office at PPL Center.<\/p>\n

*Ticket prices subject to change \u2013 additional fees may apply.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Featured Image: El Toro Loco (provided by Feld Entertainment, Inc.) Interview by Diane Fleischman Armando Castro, age 22, is a young man living out his dreams.\u00a0 A dream that started … Continue reading MONSTER TRUCK DRIVER FULFILLS LIFETIME DREAM – Interview by Diane Fleischman<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":86151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5716,2290,1024,69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allentown","category-diane-fleischman","category-entertainment","category-in-the-valley"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/el-toro-loco.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86150"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=86150"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86150\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/86151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=86150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=86150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=86150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}