When the roaring monster trucks of Monster Jam return to Spokane this weekend, the infamous Grave Digger will also make an action-packed return. Behind the wheel of this famous oversized vehicle is a man named Matt Cody.

Hailing from Williamsport, Maryland, Cody spent much of his youth watching Monster Jam on television and eagerly anticipating his annual birthday treat of watching a rally on the local highway. Like many, he was fascinated by the sheer power of man-made monsters on four wheels. And for as long as Cody can remember, all he wanted to do was be one of the drivers behind such a fascinating motorsport.

By the age of 14, Cody had begun to turn this fascination into a lifestyle. He was taken under the wing of the famous Michael Vaters of Vaters Motorsports, one of the longest-running independent monster truck teams and home of the famous Black Stallion.

Cody was all-in, even if he was just sweeping floors and polishing vehicles before helping the mechanic. Not long after Vaters graduated from high school, he offered him a spot behind the wheel of a large suspended truck.

“And I was like, ‘What kind of a question is that? Hell yeah!'” Cody said.

And just like Cody spent every week on the road, he was traveling from city to city to compete on some of Monster Jam’s biggest stages. The now 32-year-old quickly proved why he should be in the driver’s seat by winning the 2015 Arena Wheelie of the Year title.

He is also the 2019 Monster Jam World Finals Speedster Obstacle Course Champion; He holds this title particularly dear as the event has only been held once, making Cody the sole champion.

“It was amazing, I was dreaming about it,” Cody said. “And no one can take that away from me, I am the one and only.”

He parted ways with Vaters Motorsports a few years ago and took a job as a driver exclusively for Monster Jam. He was soon offered the role of being one of the select few to pilot the famous Grave Digger.

“There are big shoes to fill and a lot of pressure,” Cody said. “This means a lot to me and I receive it with great pride and joy.”

As he approaches his 11th year of running Monster Jam, the job has taken him to six continents and arenas; however, this will be his first trip to Spokane.

Even though he has traveled many kilometers, he still maintains his passion for sports. In fact, a driver like Cody typically only drives for about 10 minutes during the usual two-hour show. But he said he felt the intense horsepower when he put on his helmet and took his time to shine by performing backflips during an event such as freestyle.

Cody also loves the family aspects of Monster Jam. Few sports give fans the ability to be this engaged, as events like pre-show “pit parties” allow fans to meet drivers and see trucks up close.

Cody remembers what it was like to be a captivated kid in the stands and continues to take every question personally, always trying to give the best advice he can.

“If you can dream it, you can do it,” Cody said. “Nothing can bring you back unless you let it bring you back.”