On the Monster X Tour, alongside the enormous modified trucks with 1000 horse power engines, K.J. Olson, a 7-year-old from Pompano Beach, Florida, is stirring up dust and inspiring young monster truck fans to dream big. Olson drives his custom-made “Monster Bear” truck, a vehicle only a little larger than the tires on the big boys, to the surprise of the hundreds of fans at the shows. Kids his age line up by the dozen to get his autograph and pose with his kid-sized truck. Olson, better known as “Kid KJ” on the tour, started driving his mini monster truck when he was six, and is the youngest monster truck driver in the United States. The Monster X Tour had a rally at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on Wednesday night, and Kid KJ showed that he can ride with the big trucks.
K.J. Olson looks out from inside his custom-built monster truck at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds before the Monster X Tour on Wednesday.
K.J. climbs out of his custom-built monster truck, “Monster Bear,” late in the afternoon after checking on the gears during pre-show maintenance.
K.J. listens during the driver’s meeting at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds before the rally.
K.J. has no trouble reaching the pedals in his custom-built truck before the Monster X Tour stop in Harrisonburg on Wednesday.
Kid K.J. drives “Monster Bear” over ramps in the pit at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds during driver introductions at the Monster X Tour rally.
Signing autographs on flags, t-shirts and license plates, K.J. mans a table beside his “Monster Bear” truck during the Pit Party.