It is not uncommon to see someone fall in love with
monster trucks, want to become a part of the sport, get the proper training,
start working on trucks as a mechanic, and then get the opportunity to drive
one of these amazing machines. It is rare, however, that a female takes that
path into the driver’s seat. Yet that is exactly the formula that Becky
McDonough used to become a driver in Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam. After
beginning to establish a relationship through emails with one of the sport’s
best known female stars, Madusa, who offered her advice on how to get into the
game, McDonough went through the necessary technician training to land a job
working on trucks and eventually became the Crew Chief for Nitro Circus.
McDonough worked hard to learn that part of the craft and showed her ability to
work with a team attitude, developing a tremendous chemistry with her driver
Cam McQueen on the Nitro Circus team. Despite her success as a Crew Chief,
Becky never abandoned her desire to be a driver, and she finally got the
opportunity, competing in Costa Rica in 2010 behind the wheel of Donkey Kong,
where her impressive debut performance landed her that coveted full time seat
as a driver starting in 2011. In 2012 McDonough’s career continued to blossom
when she joined the popular El Toro Loco team.
Q&A
with Becky McDonough
MonsterJam.com: How did you get started competing on the
Monster Jam circuit?
Becky McDonough: Back
in 9th grade, a bunch of friends were going to the Monster Jam event
in Minneapolis and had an extra ticket so hey, what the heck! I was always into racing and knew I wanted to
be a part of the sport in some way shape or form. By the time I left the dome,
I was in absolute love with the beasts and knew someday I was going to be a
part of it. I could feel it in my bones! Of course, all my buddies said I was
crazy because I didn’t even change my own oil.
After becoming a fan, I soon learned about Madusa. Watching her out there running with the big
dogs totally inspired me. We shared a
few emails back and forth and she gave me a phone number to call about a job,
and the rest is history.
MonsterJam.com: What do you enjoy doing while on the road
with Monster Jam?
Becky McDonough: Definitely
cool to meet all the new people around the world. If and when there is time, I
try to make it out and sight see in the different countries and get a real
experience of the culture.
MonsterJam.com: What do you do with your free time?
Becky McDonough: Love
being outside, weather its tooling around on my four wheeler or out on a lake,
boating and fishing, Being with my family and friends definitely tops the chart
doing anything from snowmobiling, hanging out on the North Carolina beaches or
horseback riding.
MonsterJam.com: What is your greatest memory as a monster
truck driver?
Becky McDonough: My
very first weekend out, I was in Costa Rica in Donkey Kong. Along with Madusa.
Back in high school she had sent me an email and had ended it with “see you at
the green light.” I was hoping and praying that we would get paired up in
racing, being my first weekend out and the history between us. As luck would
have it, our qualifying numbers put us in first round together!
MonsterJam.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals that you
run though?
Becky McDonough: Before
the show, I tire up the truck, set up the shocks and check nuts and bolts and
make sure fluids are full.
MonsterJam.com: If you were not competing on the Monster
Jam tour, what career path would you follow?
Becky McDonough: God
only knows! I wanted to drive monster trucks for so long I never thought of
another career!
MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite food?
Becky McDonough: Steak and boneless Buffalo wings
MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite movie?
Becky McDonough: Dumb
and Dumber, Son in Law
MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite television show?
Becky McDonough: Desperate
Housewives
MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite color?
Becky McDonough: Green
TRUCK INFO
Truck Name:
El Toro Loco
Engine size:
540 CI
Transmission:
Coan 2 Speed
Sponsors:
Advance Auto Parts, Arsenault Associates, ARP Automotive
Products, Auto Meter, Awesome Racewear, Cam 2 Racing Oil, Coan, Crower Racing
Products, Derale Performance, Energy Suspension, Fel-Pro Performance Gaskets,
FK Rod Ends, Hawk Performance, Jaz Products, K & N Filters, King Engine
Bearings, Lincoln Welders, Liquid Advanced Technology, Magnaflow Performance,
Mechanix Wear, MSD Ignition, NGK Spark Plugs, Optima Batteries, Piloti, TX7,
Powermaster, Rockford Rosgate, Speed Pro, Universal Technical Institute, Walker
Radiator Works, WISECO, World Products
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