Monster Truck Rally Rolls Into Tulsa

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The noise is as deafening as a detonation, the exhaust lies in your lungs and the tall tires make the drivers of these massive movers pint-sized in comparison.

"I'm an entertainer, I'm a performer, I'm a rock star, I'm a role model, I'm a dad," said monster truck driver Rod Schmidt. "You have to be all those things when you're in this position."

It's the many hats of being a monster truck driver. Rod Schmidt is one of seven drivers of the famed Grave Digger - a fan favorite at Monster Jam rallies.

"I think the draw is they can live vicariously through us -- we're so close to the action," Schmidt said. "We give them two hours of adrenaline, two hours of fear -- you know -- things that people live for."

Round and round they go - doing donuts - literally leaving their mark in each city the Monster Jam rolls through.

"When I'm in that truck bouncing and banging around, your adrenaline is flowing," Schmidt said. "You do have an alter-ego. You come out and you're all jacked up, waving and screaming to the fans. They love to see that because that's what they'd do if they were me."