Courtney Jolly's enthusiasm and energy rivals that of her truck's namesake, Travis Pastrana. She easily explains that she has spent her entire life racing. "I've been at the track since I was in diapers, " comments Courtney. This young woman finished second in the Immokalee Raceway points series in the IHRA Drag Racing Combo class this year, two places ahead of her father.
She comments, "My whole family is involved in racing. I've raced go-karts, swamp buggies, and dragsters. My sister raced go karts and stock cars. My dad races and so does my mom."
Courtney sang the National Anthem at the Monster Jam at Florida Sports Park in her hometown of Naples, Fla. "They gave me a pit pass - which was a huge mistake," says Courtney. "I met Alex Blackwell, who drives the Turtle and he let me sit in the truck. I said, 'I want to drive a monster truck.'"
No one could believe that this young woman had the stuff to drive a monster truck. But, the next day she returned to the Monster Jam with her photo-credentials. "Really, I just wanted to drive the truck into the speedway to sing the National Anthem. I thought it would be cool."
Courtney got a little more than she bargained for -- Brian Welch, the Event Manager brought her photos to Mike Wales, and within a few days Mike had plans for her to go test drive a monster truck in North Carolina.
"I was nervous because I didn't really know what to expect," says Courtney about her test drive. Wales asked her to "take it easy" with the monster, "then he said to me 'are you going to give it some gas?' and I was like, okay, and I let it rip. I drove the truck around for awhile getting the feel of the seat and learning how to use the rear steer. I took a few jumps. All I can say is that the automatic shut off on monster trucks is a good thing. In my trip to the airport on my way home, Mike Wales told me thats I was a keeper."
Jolly attends college at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she is majoring in business and marketing. She will take classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays this winter, flying out on Thursday and return on Sunday to do it all again.
Jolly will travel with Grave Digger driver Rod Schmidt all winter, touring mainly in the northern United States and Canada. She also recently spent a weekend at the races with her future crew chief Bob Bennett in Virginia.
Courtney wants to do well this season -- she wants to have fun and make the fans happy, putting on a good show, but she knows she is going into her rookie season as a monster truck driver. "I am going into a show with almost no practice." Here's the burning question on everyone's mind: will she keep singing the National Anthem? Says Courtney, "I'd rather been sitting in the pits listening to someone sing than singing myself."
Fun Facts
Favorite Food:
Chicken Marsala
Favorite Color:
Hot Pink
Type of Music You Listen to:
Country
Favorite Song:
"I Break Things" By Erika Jo
Hobbies:
Rock Climbing, Racing, Jeeping, 4-Wheeling
Superstitions?
13 is not a lucky number for me. I broke my arm 13 days before my 13th birthday. Most racers say that green is unlucky, but for me it's good luck.
