Back in the 1970's, modified trucks were an exciting new craze as enthusiasts turned their pickups into road warriors fit for mud bogging and tuck pulls.
But the hobby went even bigger in 1981 when a man named Bob Chandler took his legendary Bigfoot and started crushing cars.
An event promoter saw the destruction, and now 30 years later, crushing cars has turned into a motor sport unlike any other — and an industry as big as the tires.
Monster Jam is one of the most popular, with over 350 events each year. It's a brand of Feld Entertainment, the same company behind the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus and Disney on Ice.
There are several more monster truck circuits spanning the globe, bringing in fans and drivers from all over the world.
CNBC Prime
Monster Truck Survivor on Jay Leno's Garage.
One of the current trucks on the circuit is called Survivor, and it's owned and driven by Tony Canedo. The Spaniard came to America when he was a child and was always fascinated by monster trucks. At 16, Canedo started competing in demolition derbies and mud dragging. He's been driving monster trucks for over a decade.
On a recent episode of CNBC's "Jay Leno's Garage," Canedo taught Jay Leno how to drive Survivor. Watch the video above to see how Leno handled the awesome power and big air of a monster truck.
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