At Monster Jam events, monster trucks face off in three forms of competition: racing, two-wheel skills, and freestyle. Racing is traditional heads-up tournament racing, where the first truck to cross the finish line moves onto the next round; the final race of the night is for that particular event's championship.

The trucks race along a prescribed course with the first advancing in the competition. Winners advance until only two trucks remain with the finals determining the racing champion. Racing may be preceded by qualifying to establish brackets.