Thinking about attending Monster Jam this May in Greenville, SC? You’ll get to see Linsey Read compete in the Scooby-Doo Monster Truck. Find out all about this driver, her family, and what she loves about driving the Scooby-Doo truck!
“Linsey Read driving Scooby-Doooooo,” announces Linsey’s adorable four-year-old daughter when she walks into the kitchen. Or anywhere in the house.
This is a common scene at Linsey’s house. After all, she’s one of Monster Truck’s most loved and entertaining female drivers and someone who loves putting on a show. And you can see Linsey and all your favorite Monster Trucks at the Monster Jam show in Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena May 14th through May 16th.
Becoming a Monster Truck Driver
Getting paid to drive an enormous truck, racing them around an arena and doing tricks sounds like a really cool job. Linsey Read from El Paso, Texas thought the same. She was working in retail after high school and loved going to the Monster Jam shows. She watched the female drivers speed around in the huge trucks and knew what her calling in life was at that moment.
She skipped college and went straight into pursuing her dream of driving a Monster Truck. Linsey started by doing a Tough Truck Competition in El Paso, placing fifth of 25 drivers – with zero experience. The next year she was only milliseconds away from first place. That got her noticed by a few Monster Truck drivers, who asked if she had ever thought of driving a Monster Truck.
Bingo.
Linsey went to Monster Jam University where she was trained on how to drive a truck and then started her career in 2016. Monster Jam asked her to drive Scooby-Doo, a hugely popular truck originally driven by Nicole Johnson. It was off to the competitions from there.
Mom and Monster Trucks
Linsey became pregnant with her daughter about a year into her Monster Truck career and took some time off to have her baby. Her daughter is now four-years-old and isn’t afraid to give her mom advice.
“My daughter was four months old when she went to her first show,” said Linsey. “Now she tells me I should have taken a turn differently or did a different trick. She loves watching me drive.”
And of course, her little girl loves to practice announcing mom at home.
“I think she’s going to grow up to be a Monster Jam announcer,” said Linsey.
Linsey’s husband and daughter would often travel with her to shows pre-pandemic. Now it’s a bit different but they are still her biggest supporters and for fans, she loves meeting kids who want to grow up to become Monster Truck drivers.
“I remember how I felt when I was watching them and I want to be that person for them. I want to show them that it is possible – you don’t need to have motorsport experience to become a driver,” she said.
Greenville Shows
Monster Jam usually comes to Greenville every winter but because of COVID, they just recently resumed shows and will now come to our city this year May 14, 15, and 16.
The Pit Party will still happen on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. This is where fans can get up close with the trucks and meet the drivers and take photos. That all will still happen, just with some extra distance.
Tickets can be purchased here. There will be five shows in all so plenty of time to see Linsey Read and the other drivers show off their skills!
If you’re wondering what to expect at a Monster Jam show, we have a detailed review of Monster Jam.