SPEAKER_00 0:11

Good evening everyone and welcome to Inside Monster Jam, the official Monster Jam podcast. I'm Scott Jordan. My guest this week is Angelina Knock. Angelina, welcome back to the podcast. It's been a while since I've seen you and you've had some amazing things going on. So thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Thank you so much for having me. And like you said, it's been a minute since I've been on the show with you. Um a lot has happened. Um I think it was my rookie year when I came in to uh, you know, be in the studio with you. So right now I'm in North Carolina. You know, if you would have told me this back then that I'd be in North Carolina, I wouldn't have believed you. But yeah, so much has uh changed in my life and uh so excited to talk about it.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Well, it seems uh all for the better. You are you're glowing. Every time I see you, you are smiling and happy, and that that rubs off on a lot of people, especially your fans. I do want to talk. So we we we are gonna go back to your rookie season because that's when I did have you here in the studio, and we just kind of introduced the world to you who maybe knew you uh from your family background as a Daredevil and from America's Got Talent, and now you are this established Monster Jam superstar. So from the last time I had you in in the studio, besides the things that have gone on in your personal life, what what have you experienced on the track that has elevated your game?

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Man, it's like night and day. Um, it you know, when I first started, I really was green. I I had such a different background to a lot of the drivers. I was just trying to keep up and I was trying to, you know, obviously do my best, but it it took me some time to get to where I am now. And um yeah, so such a different person. Um, you know, I started off, you know, it's like a what do you call that? Like a chart. We're building our way up. Um, but now I I can say like I'm finally like where I'm so content with my driving. I'm so proud of how far I've come, you know, it took me a little longer than most people, and it was a bit of a struggle, you know, in between where when I started and to where I am now. But you know, um, I grew up with uh someone, his name was Joey Lindsacum. I was also a professional water skier growing up. So he was uh a big influence in my life. And when I was growing up, anytime something, you know, negative or bad would happen and I was just down, he would always say, you know, it builds character. And I would just be like, what does that even mean? But um in the last couple years, I really I keep that in mind, and I have to think those moments that were tough and um not easy that made me who I am today, and that is uh something I'm so proud of.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Yeah, it's it's amazing the journey that you know you you've been on, not only to get into Monster Jam, but since you've been a part of Monster Jam because you came in uh on the Megalodon team, and then we we saw you a little uh intermittently. We would see you pop up every now and then, and then we're gonna get the Sparkle Smash because now you're gonna be back uh on Freestyle Mania driving full-time again. But what was it like for you uh, you know, to just kind of take a step back a little bit and and and start driving uh as sort of a fill-in driver?

SPEAKER_01 3:16

Yeah, no, that was the tough part, you know. At the time I didn't, it was really hard to accept. Um, I didn't understand at the time why why things like that happen. Um, it was a struggle. Uh I mean, I did see why I, you know, I I needed some time to take a step back, you know, take a breather, um, get better. And again, like back then, I it was it was hard. And sometimes we don't like to talk about you know tough situations in our life, but I think we should. I think it's it makes us who we are today. Um, that's why I get so emotional talking about um my journey and when I win, I get emotional because you know, anyone that's ever worked so hard for something and has wanted something so badly, you know how I feel. It's just uh again, here I am getting emotional again.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Well, I I I've I've been uh I've talked to you off air a little bit about you know my experience watching you this season. It has been uh a joy to watch you. It's it's been night and day. I always thought you were a great driver, very charismatic, but what you've done this year, I can tell how hard you have worked at this. And I respect that so much. And I I've not been shy about talking about it. Um, any opportunity I have when I see you come out and win these competitions, and I see you win the overall event championships, hard work pays off. And I hope that everyone out there that's watching this show and watching you understands the hard work that you put into this. It doesn't happen overnight. You can't just sit in a monster jam truck and be great. You have to put in the work. You've done that, and now I am so happy that the world gets to see you for who you are.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Thank you. And yeah, anyone that's followed my journey, like yourself, um, anyone that brings it up, you know, that means the world to me that you've noticed that, that um that means I've done my job, you know, that's such a relief. Because sometimes, you know, you do so good, but you're I'm honestly my hardest critic. Like I think uh nothing's ever really good enough. I'm always trying to have fun, enjoy the moment, but I always think, oh, I could have done this a little bit better. But sometimes you really have to uh, you know, I I have to hear it from others to, you know, know that I, yeah, I did do good. That was great. Um, although I'm happy every time I get to go out on the track, I treat it like it's the last time that I'm in the truck, that I'm out with the fans. I try to meet every single person around me, whether it be behind the scenes. I want to know all about uh every single little thing that happens uh throughout the events. I just I really love uh I I'm so passionate about it. And um my biggest regret, I always say, is that I didn't become a Monster Jam fan sooner. I just didn't really know about it. Um I grew up, I knew that Tulachka is uh back from Wisconsin, and I but I never really, you know, got into it and I really wish that I did, but it doesn't mean that I don't love Monster Jam as much as someone that's been a lifelong fan. I'm I I I'm just so uh passionate again about it and I I'm just obsessed. I I want to show the world that yeah, I'm not here messing around. I'm serious. I want to do as good as I can next year. Um, you know, I'm very confident going into next year now. Um, now that I'm getting to backflip, you know, uh one thing too that I've surprised myself with is two-wheel. Like I remember my first year just sitting in the truck and I was like, oh my gosh, that's insane. I don't know if I'd ever be able to do that. And then here I am um surprising myself constantly. And um that, you know, I think that's such a big message I hope someone takes away from as well. Is like I was at that point where I, you know, sometimes you in the back of my mind, I was raised that giving up was never an option, but you know, sometimes in the back of your head, you want to give up. You're like, maybe I wasn't meant for this, but I definitely had those moments, and I'm so glad that I didn't give up because here I am today.

SPEAKER_00 7:13

Well, uh one thing I love about doing Inside Monster Jam is that it's it's given me an opportunity to uh really peel the curtain back a little bit and and and get to know drivers on a personal level. We see each other at events, and you know, you spend a little bit of time, but it you know, there's so much crammed into an event weekend. So being able to you know bring drivers on the show and and talk about their background and their stories, it really gives people a reason to root for them. Uh, it's very easy to root for someone like you, and your success has paid off, your hard work has paid off because in 2027 you were joining the Sparkle Smash team on the Freestyle Mania Championship series presented by Spinmaster. So talk about what your feelings were when you first found out that you were getting this opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Um, first of all, I was just grateful for the opportunity to be back, you know, have my seat back, have my full-time uh just being back on a series again. I that was my first, you know, I relief I've been praying for, I've been working so hard for. Um, and then yeah, I definitely did not see Sparkle Smash. You know, uh when I Keith Speller called and that was like the last thing he had mentioned. I was like, I don't like it took me some time to process it. Like I still don't even believe it until I see the truck or like the day I'm in it. Um, because it's such a big deal. I'm so excited. I'm I you know been talking with Chelsea Van Cleave, uh, Logan, Ashlein were very close and um just super pumped to be part of the team and Kayla, Jamie, and yeah, just that one was definitely a shocker and probably the hardest secret that I've had to keep because um I know a lot of people they have been like asking, no one I think ever had any idea that I would be driving Sparkle Smash. So I was excited to see uh, you know, everyone how they would react to it, and it's been super like uh welcoming. Everyone's been so excited about it. So I'm I'm pumped. I can't be more excited.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Freestyle Mania is so fun. You're gonna be paired with Greg Duffy, who is a very good, experienced FMX rider. Um, uh what I love about Freestyle Mania is that the action is not just on the track, but you legitimately are rooting for your teammate, and they set up cameras backstage so that when you are on the track, Greg will be filmed watching you. And while Greg is on the track doing his tricks, you're gonna be filmed watching him. So there's a lot of competitive rivalries going on, a lot of friendly uh banter that goes on back there. Have you had a chance to really see Freestyle Mania? And are you excited to be a part of that?

SPEAKER_01 9:47

I have been uh, you know, well, last summer, a year ago, this time, Camden he was on Freestyle Mania. Uh he, you know, was there from the beginning of it. And so I got to watch it a little bit then, but I've been starting to do my homework. Um, yeah, super excited to be paired with Greg Duffy. And, you know, I love tearing on fellow competitors or fellow teammates. That's my I love it. I love it so much, and I'm I think it's absolutely perfect, you know. Also being able to uh be on a series again with Kristen Anderson. I just love her so much. She was um, you know, a big influence on me. My first season with Monster Jam. I was on a series with her on the East Coast, and you know, she is such a girls' girl, and I, you know, I would do anything for her. She's I'm just so thankful to be on a series again with her. And then Fernando, you know what? Uh also so excited because he's like a brother to me. We started together at uh Monster Jam University, so he's been there. We've both been uh with each other from the start, you know. Again, just super pumped to be on a series with him. And then, you know, I haven't spent too much time with Tony Oaks, but you know, from what I've heard, he's the a fun time. And yeah, just super excited to finally, you know, be at the level that I'm at. And, you know, I'm so excited to just bring it every single competition, every single event, and every single weekend. Just super ecstatic about it.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

And when it comes to driving a Monster Jam truck, uh, not everybody grows up driving these things. I mean, obviously the Andersons uh have had that, and and some other second generation drivers, uh, you know, John Zimmer Jr., Chucky Paulkin, uh, etc., have grown up around these. A lot of drivers, you know, change careers or they've they've raced other things. You you come from a completely different background, which we touched on this. And if you guys want to learn more about Angelina, go to our YouTube channel, go to Inside Monster Jam, find her episode. It's really fascinating where you came from. What is your advice to anybody out there that is in a career right now that looks at Monster Jam and looks at you and says, you know what, this is something I want to try. I would love to go to MJU. I want to put that work in. What would you tell that person?

SPEAKER_01 12:00

Man, um, me personally, what helped me, you know, I think that I'm a social butterfly. I want to meet everyone in the room. I um grew up in the public eye in a sense, you know, I was a daredevil performer, professional water skier. Um, I think for me growing up, my mom, she's a a strong like Mexican woman. Uh, she always taught me, you know, like, oh, if a boy does it, like we can do it better. And uh she's never let me give up or almost never let me say no to opportunities. So anytime the opportunity, any opportunity comes around, I try to say yes or see what it's about. Um, I remember I, you know, someone had mentioned trying out for Monster Jam. And right away I said yes. But then I remember when I was driving to the tryouts, I was like, what did I sign up for? And then I sat in the room and looked around, and I honestly felt a little overwhelmed because everyone had a racing background. And I want to say I was one, or maybe there's one other person that didn't have a racing background. And so, you know what? I was like, I may not make it very far, but I'm gonna enjoy every single minute uh being here, getting to know everyone. I was just being myself. And honestly, you know what I want to say to anyone that wants to try out for Monster Jam is yeah, just you know, it may take some time, you know, uh, but when the opportunity comes, you know, just give it your best and never, you know, regret. You know, I try not to regret anything in life. I try, that's why I'm I think I'm just so like full on all the time because I I give it my all no matter what it is that I do.

SPEAKER_00 13:41

Let's talk about Newark because you walk out of there with a BKT overall event championship trophy. Not only that, but you got to compete against Camden uh for the first time together at the same event. Um, I do want to, before we dive into that, Angelina, I I had this dream, and and I always say that, you know, I love Sparkle Smash, right? And I know that my dream to be a driver one day is a pipe dream, and I'm just gonna hold the microphone and you know walk off into the sunset. But I did have this sort of dream that one day I'd retire from the desk and somebody would say, Hey Scott, you know, why don't you come to MJU and just try it out? And then I'd leave MJU and they'd say, Scott, you know what? We're gonna let you drive Sparkle Smash for one event. You're gonna be the first male driver to ever drive Sparkle Smash. So in the back of my head, there was this dream, and then Camden Murphy steals that dream away from me and becomes the first male driver of Sparkle Smash. I know there's some fans out there at World Finals passing out Joe Foley's Sparkle Smash cards, which I thought were great. But Camden gets to drive Sparkle Smash, which was amazing. I thought it was great, and and I was very disappointed that you know he did not have the purple uh and pink fire suit. I wanted to see him really embrace this, but of course he comes out and wins because that's what he does. He's Camden Murphy. Talk about uh being there with him, uh watching him in Sparkle Smash and being able to share the track with him.

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Yeah, well, uh, first of all, I for those that don't know, I'm engaged to Camden Murphy, and um, whenever we are able to, I'll go to some of his events, he'll come out to mine, and it so happened to be a weekend that he was free. He was just coming to hang out, and you know, uh we just got done with practice and I'd just seen Jamie, she left. Um, but then I guess uh she wasn't feeling good, and so then Cam gets a phone call, and yeah, would you drive Sparkle Smash? And I was like, whoa! I was like, and at the time I just found out that I would be driving Sparkle Smash, so we were laughing about it. I was like, you get to drive it before I do. Um, but yeah, what uh an eventful weekend, you know, all of it was just so unexpected. And you know, we always say that that Monster Jam is unexpected, and that's exactly what happened that weekend. So many moments that weekend that I can look back at in uh probably the most memorable weekend that I'll ever have. Uh and then also with Monster Jam, but it was just such a roller coaster of emotions, you know, from getting to drive with Cam for the first time, him being the first um Sparkle Smash male driver, and then, you know, ending it the weekend with winning the overall myself because he won the overall um Friday, I believe it was, and then I closed off Sunday with winning. And yeah, definitely. Um uh I'll definitely go back to that weekend a lot. It's such a memorable one, and uh everyone behind the scenes too just had so much fun, and uh yeah, I I can't say enough about that weekend. What what a crazy one.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

Yeah, the emotion that you you had, you you could hear it in your voice when uh when when you won the championship trophy was amazing. Um, real quick before I let you go, what what is uh I always I don't know why Camden Sylvan talks to me because I always I always say, is this the year you're gonna win? Like I always just like I'm I'm on him about it all the time on TV, like you know, I always say Murphy's Law because obviously there's martial law, Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And sometimes that's happened for him, but he is such an amazing driver. Um, and he anytime Monster Jam needs a driver to bring in a new truck, it seems like Camden is the guy because he is such a positive influence, he is such a great dude on the track and off the track. But what has that effect been on you as a driver in in trying to hone your craft and get better at Monster Jam?

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Um yeah, well, like you said, Cam off the track is such a great person, and um, I think that's so important too. You know, we if you bring that positive energy off the track, and it's so important to me before anything to be a good person, to be a positive influence, to um, you know, show like I always show my emotion. I I don't like I try sometimes, you know, I I can't help it honestly. I I show um it's happy tears because I'm just so happy and excited to uh be a part of Monster Jam, to um, you know, just in general, I I want the world to know it's okay to like show how you feel. And um that weekend in in Newark, going back to that, I I remember hearing Ray over the microphone and he was like, uh, our first Latina driver, you know, that hits home for me. Um and you know, Camden, he all of this too didn't come easy for him. He spent his entire life racing. Um, you know, a lot of good things happen and not because you know, we don't work for it, we work so hard for it. And I think if you let out that positive and that um, you know, good energy throughout the world, it's gonna come back to you. I believe in karma. I try to give uh good karma out. And um I I do think it's gotta happen soon uh for Camden. I I truly believe so, you know, like you said, there's a reason why he's chosen to, you know, come out with all of the newer trucks. And um I have a I have a good feeling that this year or this coming year will be good for him. But um, yeah, I guess I don't know if I'm answering your your question correctly, but the best that I can. Um but yeah, I I truly believe, you know, your time, everyone's time comes, everyone's moments, big moments come, you know. Uh this year, I have to tell you like I can't a year ago, it was rough for me. I did not know what my future held with Monster Jam. I was uh, you know, I had to take a minute to be like, what do I want to, you know, do I want to keep pursuing this? But yeah, you know, Cam always says, never give up on your dreams. And we don't just say that, you know, we're living proof that we've pushed through it, pushed through the hard times, and here we are today, you know, with this incredible opportunity and we don't take any of it for granted.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

Well, you deserve every ounce of success that you get because you have put in the work and I do respect that and appreciate that wholeheartedly. Um, also with Camden, maybe this is his year. And I I always tell him, I said, if this is finally your year, you do win one, I'll be the first one down there to shake your hand. I want you to prove me wrong because uh you guys both uh deserve absolute success because you are uh two incredible people, and um I do appreciate and respect everything that you guys have done for Monster Jam.

SPEAKER_01 20:29

Well, thank you, Scott. And you know, I have to say, you were saying, you know, maybe one day you can drive. I just started, you know, I'm a little ashamed to say this, but I I've just recently became a fan of the WWE, and I've been following like on Netflix, you know, the everyone's story, and there's a host that eventually, you know, he started wrestling. And that with you saying that, I was like, that would be perfect. We got to get you in the truck.

SPEAKER_00 20:53

Well, listen, I I I would love that. I I think I'm better suited here. Uh, but obviously, if there was ever an opportunity, I would I would not say no just for one lap around Monster Jam University. That'd be great. But um I've given up, I've given up on that dream. I'm just gonna stay here and continue to uh shine the light on you wonderful folks. I do want to say though, Angeli, before I do let you go, that now that you're gonna have a full year of Sparkle Smash under your belt, if Camden does ever drive it again, please help him accessorize a little bit. I do need to see a little more uh purple and pink and blue color in that outfit.

SPEAKER_01 21:25

Absolutely. Yeah, no, I think that was something else I wanted to touch on. Like, I'm so excited to be driving Sparkle Smash. Definitely, like, I think any driver that steps into it gets to bring in their own flair. And like, you know, Jamie's like the country girl with her hat. And you know, I'm so excited to bring my own flair, maybe a little bit more edginess. Um, but yeah, I I'm so pumped for this coming year with Sparkle Smash and just to see what 2027 brings.

SPEAKER_00 21:51

I'm excited for you. You can catch Angelina not driving Sparkle Smash on the Freestyle Mania Championship series presented by Spinmaster. Tickets are available now at monsterjam.com. Angelina, thank you so much for coming back on Inside Monster Jam. I appreciate it, and good luck in 2027.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

You got it. That is all the time we have. I'll see you right here next week on Inside Monster Jam, the official Monster Jam podcast.