Q&A with Monster Jam Truck Driver Brianna Mahon

I am so excited to interview one of the Monster Jam truck drivers! Brianna Mahon has taken the time to answer a few questions for any Macaroni Kid and Monster Jam fans out there!

Q: How long is a tour for you?

A: We travel pretty much all year, but what we call are first quarter is January through the end of March.  Afterwards we will go into our summer shows and international shows.

Q: Is there a best and worst thing about being on the road every weekend?

A: I actually love seeing all the different cities. I grew up on the road because I participated in motocross when I was younger, which got me used to the “tour lifestyle”. But definitely being away often makes you a little homesick every now and then.

Q: Do you have a favorite city you’d like to visit again?

A: Wow, well we go through so many cities I’d have to think…...My favorite one would probably be Birmingham, Alabama because the people were so amazing down there. The kids were so polite and so nice, and I love the South because I kind of grew up down there.

Q: You mentioned living in Illinois, what do you do when your home?

A: I have a business here that I run. I own a salon and a clothing boutique and we are always busy.

Q: Wow! Do your customers know you drive a monster trucks!?! They probably think you are so cool!

A: Oh yeah especially when I get new customers and they ask why I am only available three days a week. And then they realize and say “Oh my gosh how cool is that? My hairdresser drives a monster truck! But it is actually good for business, because I have local fans who realize I’m nearby and come in to meet me.

Q: Outside of work, do you have hobbies or sports?

A: I race sprint cars right now, and I teach motocross as well for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And then my boyfriend is a bull rider! So we are always hitting up rodeos.

Q: You mentioned participating in motocross growing up, was that something you competed in?

A: Yes, I raced professionally. That was my career, my whole life, all that I knew all that I did.

Q: So is that where you got the interest to transition into driving Monster Trucks?

A: Motocross was what I did for a big part of my life, and that was kind of my career path and profession until I was injured severely in 2011. I was in recovery for two years, so I had to put an end to that dream, and decided to pick up racing dirt bikes. They say with age comes a cage, so I put myself in a roll cage, and the Monster Jam opportunity presented itself in 2014. That’s when they brought me in and trained me, 2015 is when my shows started, and I started doing this fulltime.

Q: How did you get yourself in motocross?

A: I was kind of born into it. I’m an only child, my dad’s side raced, and my mom’s side raced and it was kind of a family thing. I fell in love, worked really hard at it, and got really good. It became a lifestyle.

Q: Was your family supportive when you switched over to Monster Truck?

A: Oh yes, for sure. To be able to have such an amazing job like this that takes you around the world, you can’t really pass up that opportunity.

Q: Wow, it sounds like your family is really supportive!

A: Yes, they have always been supportive of everything that I have ever done.

Q: That’s really great! What’s your favorite part of being a part of Monster Jam?

A: I would have to say meeting the fans. You meet thousands and thousands of people every single week. It is kind of cool to hear everybody’s stories. And I have made some lifelong family friends through the sport, and met some families that kind of adopted me into theirs. It has really been awesome.

Q: I saw in your picture that you drive a Scooby Doo car?

AL Yes, I am in Scooby. The kids love it, and even the adults. I have some who will come in with Scooby tattoos.

Q: Do you get to pick your car or is it assigned to you for that season?

A: They kind of feel out our personalities and put us in which truck they feel we will thrive in and connect with the most. The Scooby Doo is such a staple in kid’s lives, so it’s important we are able to relate to them and are able to get down on their level.

Q: Ok so if you could design your own monster truck what would it be?

A: It would definitely have to be a country princess with the truck body. That’s just me! I’m a home grown southern girl and like every girl I’m a princess. You know, you can be a little girly and be tough at the same time. I always felt like that would be a really cool truck to have.

Q: Yeah! That would be really cool. And all I can imagine now is you stepping out to wave at the crowd in a big poufy dress and cowboy boots! Are there a lot of other female drivers?

A: Oh yeah, we are growing every single year. I think there about 10 or 12 females now, and we are all from a motorsports background. We weren’t just a pretty face on the street. We all worked really hard to get where we are today. And I think that’s the coolest thing that a lot of people don’t understand, is that we actually have a huge motorsports background and we have been around this stuff our entire life.

Q: It has to be really difficult maneuvering with such a large vehicle. What kind of training did you have to go through?

A: We had to go through a training program called Monster Jam university, where you have to be at least 18 to enroll. We have kids straight out of high school who have wanted to do this their whole life. Monster Jam really allows the opportunity for those without motorsports background to enroll and train. And there was a facility here in Illinois. And we would spend a week or so there, and they would teach us everything about the truck and different driving styles. We would also go through nutritional programs, workout programs, media training, we had full on practice shows to really get comfortable enough for a real life situation. So we are not just drivers, we are athletes.   

What advice would you have for kids who want to one day be a Monster Truck driver?

I would honestly encourage anything motorsports related or mechanics related. We have a lot of kids who come from mechanic school. We honestly wouldn’t have a show without our mechanic guys, so that is a great starting point because they get to learn about the truck, how everything works, and then they can drive it! If it’s a dream of somebodies I would say to keep moving forward and do anything that you can to get your foot in the door, and build a name for yourself in the motocross world.

Thank you for again for taking the time to talk with me! It’s been a real pleasure! Good luck on the track!