From The Gridiron To The Dirt Track

This weekend, race fans poured into the dirt track at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a different kind of show, as the monster trucks were the main event. Behind the wheel of one of the mammoth trucks was a young man who went from the gridiron to sitting behind the wheel.

“I decided to be a monster truck driver when I was four, it was the first thing I said I wanted to be when I grew up,” said Dalton Widner.

Too young to drive, Widner took the gridiron which proved to be a good decision.

“I did play division one football, I played at the University of North Carolina Charlotte for two years.”

However, Dalton’s true passion still focused on getting behind the wheel of a monster truck. As like he did with football, he started putting in the hard work.

“I had no friends that were in this so I had to scratch and claw my way up to the point I am now.”

Dalton is now one of the best in the series and finds himself living out his dream that started years ago.

“My truck is jurassic attack. I have been all over the world. I have been from California to New York this year. I have competed in the World Monster Jams final in Florida this year. It has been awesome.”