Daughter follows footsteps of her father by driving monster trucks

Jun 22, 2023

After carving out his own path in the monster truck world, Shane Phreed has opened the door for his kids, and they’re ready to take on the challenge.

Faith Phreed, 14, got hooked on monster trucks after hearing the engine roar. She’s most comfortable behind the wheel of her truck named Animal House. However, it’s a different story when she’s on the streets.

“I don’t have any desire to be on the road or drive cars on the road. It’s like, terrifying to me,” said Faith.

Another sound she doesn’t get sick of is when Faith gets introduced as the world’s youngest monster truck driver.

“It just blows my mind when I hear that announcer say it every weekend,” said Faith.

The North Fort Myers teenager put on her racing helmet for the first time in Aruba about a year ago, when Hurricane Ian hit. Monster truck drivers couldn’t make it to an event there, so Shane had an idea.

“I always carry a spare race suit with me. So I’m like well let’s put her in it because she has some aspects of what’s going on. So we put my suit on her duct tape put pillows in the seat,” said Shane.

“I was so nervous I almost cried. I think I did cry,” said Faith.

“By the end of the weekend, she actually won her first freestyle,” said Shane.

“They had named me queen of Aruba,” said Faith.

Ever since then, she hasn’t slowed down one bit. It’s been a bit easier because her dad is helping her every step along the way.

“I find the love of the sport again because I get to experience it with her,” said Shane.

Faith’s goal is to follow the same path as her dad.

“I’m definitely going to work nonstop till I’m old enough to go to monster jam. I mean that is the definite goal,” said Faith.

At 14 years old, Faith can do much more than drive an enormous monster truck, considering she’s already a high school graduate.

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Manasota Key Road is impassable at this time. The road that runs along Englewood Beach has been washed out.

Hurricane Idalia tore into Florida at the speed of a fast-moving train Wednesday, splitting trees in half, ripping roofs off hotels and turning small cars into boats

The water is slowly receding from Charlotte Park, Port Charlotte. According to Maclean flooding went down around 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

On the beach, the wind is dying down and the the water is beginning to calm down. Also, the people of the beach are emerging, converging and submerging once again.

High tides have come and gone in Matlacha. Earlier in the day, the roads were flooded, blocking oncoming cars.

Homes flooded in Port Charlotte Tuesday night as Hurricane Idalia passed by. Melissa Spence woke at 2 a.m. to debris hitting her home.

This is a breakdown of all the information and updates you need to know for Collier County in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.

This is a breakdown of all the information and updates you need to know for Charlotte County in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.

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