Female monster truck drivers, including former pageant queen, compete at Monster Jam Candice Jolly and Cynthia Gauthier are leading the pack in a traditionally male-dominated field and told ABC News' 'Nightline' that they're in it for the thrill of the chase. As a female driver, Mahon, whose everyday car back home is a large lifted pickup truck, is definitely in the minority, but there were more women at Monster Jam World Finals this year than ever. Monster Jam driver Linsey Read had a pretty good year last year. The Texas native, who’ll be behind the wheel during Monster Jam’s visit to the Charleston Coliseum this weekend, said, “2019.
This young woman from the Sunshine State is the youngest Monster Jam driver in the circuit…. Have you heard about Kristen Hope? Well, if you haven’t heard her story yet hopefully you’ll have the chance to meet her in person at the Monster Jam pit! On Saturday, March 2nd, from 10:30am to 12Noon, the Pit is open for ticket holders to go in and meet the drivers for the ultimate selfie. Ms Hope will no doubt have a long line waiting for families to get the best selfie with her and her Monster Jam truck named Monster Mutt Dalmatian!!
Kristen is an all American girls HERO!~ This young lady drives her Monster Truck like a queen and works on it too! Growing up with a dad that loved to tinker on engines, she knew she had a place with a stick shift in hand and a loud engine! Ask her what she loves about this thrilling fast paced sport and she’ll tell you that it’s one of the few sports where men and women are on a level playing field once they hit the pit. Monster Mutt Dalmatian is up against the best of the best drivers but Kristen is holdin’ her own like a BOSS! Drivers at each Monster Jam series, which runs from approximately January thru April go to World Finals in May if they earn enough points with each show. You see each performance isn’t just a stunt show, these drivers are competing for a title – yes!
Kristen is as cute as she is sweet and she still hears regularly, “Where’s the driver?” when she politely explains that she IS the driver! She straps into a 5 point harness and revs up her engine and then hits the pit with a roaring crowd. She said she still gets nervous every time she comes out but that hearing that crowd roar is what keeps her going. She truly loves her fans and is an admitted “adrenaline junkie.”
At just 20 years old she’s got the world at her finger tips! She does admit to feeling “pressure to win and compete, no doubt!” Do you find yourself wondering what a super-hero does for fun? Well, in addition to working on her truck when she’s not competing, she loves to shop and hit the mall just like most people in her age range. While in Baltimore at the Royal Farms Arena March 1st, 2nd & 3rd she’s also hoping to find a few extra hours to hit the local aquarium and tour the Baltimore Inner Harbor. “Travel is fun,” she says, “Monster Jam has allowed me to go all over the place.”
I couldn’t help but ask her about the inside of those enormous vehicles! She shared that there’s just one seat and it’s not really located on the left or the right side like we would think of our own vehicles, but towards the middle. I guess that makes sense to keep balance and safety while driving and jumping the trucks. Kristen says safety is super important in this industry and that they wear specially made fire retardant suits as well as helmets.
My favorite story from Ms. Hope after hearing all about Monster Jam….. I loved her humble story from childhood! Yes, Kristen is a homeschool child, a total and complete success story! Because of bullies in school Kristen was homeschooled from 5th grade on and she’s quite modest sharing that part of her emotionally evoking story. Success comes in all packages and nothing was going to hold her back!
Show information:
- WHERE: Baltimore, MD
Royal Farms Arena, 201 W Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21201 - WHEN: Friday, March 1 @ 7:00 p.m.Saturday,
March 2 @ 1:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 3 @ 1:00 p.m.
The Pit Party is on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and it gives fans the opportunity to get up close and personal to the Monster Jam trucks and drivers (really fun and exciting)!
Featuredtrucks/drivers:
- Grave Digger
- Max-D
- El Toro Loco
- Alien Invasion
- Earthshaker
- Zombie
- Megalodon
- Monster Mutt Dalmatian
*Trucks/driverssubjecttochange.
Female Monster Jam Drivers 2020
TICKETS:
- Tickets and Pit Party Passes are available at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information on a Monster Jam near you, please log onto MonsterJam.com or follow us via our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.