CLEVELAND -- Collete Davis may be a rookie driver on the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series, but that has not stopped her from inspiring a new generation of fans as she tears up courses from coast to coast behind the wheel of a first-year truck, “Wonder Woman.”
Davis is hoping to inspire girls and young women to pursue their dreams, even if that means competing in “male-dominated fields,” just as she has, previously on the race track, and now, on the dirt.
“I’ve been in the ‘male-dominated industry’ of racing for over 10 years now, so I’m used to being out there and kind of being a voice and telling the girls, ‘We can do this. We can drive 12,000-pound, 1,500-horsepower Monster Jam trucks. We can race against the boys, and we can beat the boys,’” Davis told WKYC.com in an exclusive interview ahead of this weekend’s shows at Quicken Loans Arena.
“It’s been awesome to see all the ‘Wonder Woman’ fans out there. I get so many little girls in their ‘Wonder Woman’ gear coming up to me, and it definitely fuels me throughout the weekend.”
Davis is more than a pioneer when it comes to inspiring women.
In her rookie season, Davis is driving “Wonder Woman,” which is in its first full season on the circuit after debuting at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts last summer.
“To be the driver for it in my debut Monster Jam season has been incredible,” Davis said. “It’s such a powerful and iconic brand. It’s a powerful truck, and I’m really excited about it.
“One of the things the fans love is that that lasso that you see on the back of the truck actually lights up, so that’s pretty awesome. It’s a brand-new truck, so a lot of the fans are seeing this truck for the first time in the Triple Threat East Tour. I’m the only driver for the ‘Wonder Woman’ truck right now, so it’s just been awesome to be a new driver and introduce a new truck.”
Although Davis is a product of Monster Jam University, where she spent time studying from legendary driver Tom Meents, there is quite a bit of learning that has continued out on tour, which is something the rookie driver is grateful to have the opportunity to do.
“I started off racing go-karts, and have driven everything from sports cars to rally cars professionally, but there’s absolutely nothing in the world like driving a 12,000-pound Monster Jam truck,” Davis said.
“This has been my learning year, but it’s been incredible. The competition and the level of competition in the Triple Threat Series is insanely high. The tricks we’re doing on two wheels with these trucks are incredible, and it’s just been awesome to learn all that.”
Now, Davis is looking forward to making an impression on the Cleveland fans by putting those lessons learned into reality.
“The only training I’ve had as a Monster Jam driver is for arenas,” Davis said. “I went into Monster Jam University specifically to get training to be able to tackle courses like this, and it’s awesome being on a tour that’s so competitive. We know every driver is top notch, so I have such a great opportunity to learn and keep learning every, single weekend.”
