Linsey Read

Linsey Read is a former Monster Jam champion from El Paso, Texas, who made history as the first mother to win a World Finals freestyle championship and became only the second woman ever to claim that title.

EARLY YEARS

Born February 7th in El Paso, Texas, Linsey Read grew up attending Franklin High School for three years before graduating from Coronado High School. Like many kids drawn to the roar of engines and flying dirt, she fell hard for Monster Jam as a spectator, captivated by the sheer audacity of drivers launching 10,000-pound trucks into the air. After high school, she skipped college and went straight into retail work—but the pull of those massive machines never left her.

While working her retail job, Read kept showing up to Monster Jam events, watching drivers like Candice Jolly and Madusa (Debra Miceli) command the arena. She didn’t just admire them—she wanted to be them. The dream was clear, even if the path wasn’t. So she started where she could: competing in a Tough Truck Competition to get her feet wet and prove she had what it took to handle heavy machinery at high speeds.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond driving monster trucks, Read has been deeply involved in supporting her husband, Jerrad Warhurst, who spent much of 2019 racing sprint cars. She served as his crew chief, proving she’s just as comfortable wrenching in the pits as she is behind the wheel. Balancing motherhood with motorsports, she’s raised three daughters while maintaining a career that demanded constant travel and intense physical training.

EARLY SUCCESS

Read’s Monster Jam career officially kicked off in 2016 when she joined the circuit. Before becoming a full-time driver, she attended Monster Jam University, where she trained relentlessly to master the technical and physical demands of piloting a 12-foot-tall, 1,500-horsepower beast. Her early years saw her behind the wheel of Wonder Woman, learning the ropes on the Arena Championship Series.

In a major career moment, Monster Jam asked her to drive Scooby-Doo, one of the franchise’s most beloved and recognizable trucks, originally piloted by Nicole Johnson. Taking over an iconic truck came with pressure, but Read handled it with confidence, quickly making the role her own. She competed on the Arena Championship Series in 2018 and placed third overall, signaling she was a serious contender. Later that year, she also drove Zombie in Santiago, Chile, expanding her reach internationally.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2019: Won both the Monster Jam World Finals XX Showdown championship and the Freestyle championship, becoming only the second woman in Monster Jam World Finals history to win freestyle, after Debra Miceli in 2004[1][2].
• 2019: Became the first mother to win a World Finals championship, outlasting 23 fellow drivers after starting in the 24th position—the earliest a driver had ever come out in freestyle and won at the World Finals[3][4].
• 2019: Finished third overall on the Arena Championship Series for the second consecutive year[5].

INSPIRATIONS

Read has consistently pointed to female Monster Jam pioneers Candice Jolly and Madusa as her biggest inspirations. Watching them compete as a young fan, she thought they were “so cool” and knew immediately that she wanted to follow in their tire tracks. Their presence in the sport gave her permission to dream big in a male-dominated arena, and their example fueled her determination to not just compete, but to win.

As a mother of three girls, Read also became acutely aware of her role as an inspiration herself. She’s spoken about the profound experience of meeting young fans—especially little girls—who tell her they want to drive monster trucks someday or that she gives them the courage to pursue what they love. That responsibility drives her as much as any trophy.

REPUTATION

Read earned respect not just for her win record, but for how she got there. She trained harder than most, attended Monster Jam University, and put in the hours to refine her skills in racing, two-wheel driving, and freestyle. Her 2019 World Finals freestyle victory was especially meaningful because she had to battle through seven drivers with bigger names and larger tour schedules just to earn that 24th starting spot—then proceeded to beat them all.

Known for her focus and consistency, she drove Scooby-Doo from 2016 to 2023, one of the longest tenures with a single truck in the modern Monster Jam era. In 2024, Read took on Lucas Stabilizer duties on the Stadium Championship Series after Cynthia Gauthier went on maternity leave, showcasing her versatility and reliability as a driver. She competed in high jump, lost in round one to Velociraptor in racing, and finished 14th in freestyle during her final competitive season.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

On May 21, 2024, Read announced her retirement from Monster Jam to focus on her personal life. After nearly a decade of competing at the highest level, she chose to step away from the sport to dedicate more time to her family and other pursuits outside the arena.

REFERENCES

[1] Linsey Read | Monster Trucks Wiki – Fandom
[2] Monster Jam World Finals freestyle winner Linsey Read on being a role model – ESPN
[3] Monster Jam World Finals XX – Monster Trucks Wiki – Fandom
[4] Linsey Read reflects on her 2019 Monster Jam freestyle victory – NBC Sports
[5] The El Paso Monster Truck Driver Who Won A Championship – KLAQ