Lee O'Donnell (Born August 21st) is a retired monster truck driver from Bayonne, New Jersey, who drove many trucks. Most famously was Mad Scientist, where he would perform the first ever front flip at World Finals 18, which won him the freestyle championship and is synonymous with the event, the truck and Lee himself.
Career[]
Lee first began his career in CORR and Stadium Off Road Racing for many years (and still does to this day) before starting his Monster Jam career in 1999.
In 2001, Lee began driving Spider-Man on several occasions.
In 2005, Lee drove Vette King.
In 2006, Lee began driving full time first by driving Monster Mutt,
In 2007, Lee was drafted in to drive Taz for the season, filling in for Adam Anderson, who in turn was filling in for an injured Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger. Lee picked up the racing victory in Orlando, defeating defending Orlando champion Steve Reynolds and Cowboy. Lee also ran The Fox on Taz's chassis for Detroit.
In 2008, Lee won racing in Atlanta, driving Blue Thunder filling in for Linsey Weenk. That same year, he also drove a second Team Suzuki with a Ford F-150 body style, competing mainly in arena events. Alongside Team Suzuki, Lee also had a few sessions in Pastrana 199, which was being piloted by fill-in drivers due to Courtney Jolly getting injured. Lee piloted Blue Thunder again in Costa Rica
Lee returned to Monster Mutt for the 2009 season, also having a session in El Toro Loco in Knoxville, as well as Blue Thunder in Costa Rica again. In the European Tour, Lee drove Nitro Circus in Arnhem, winning racing at the third show and then Donkey Kong in Barcelona, picking up another racing victory.
In 2010, Lee debuted Iron Man which he drove until late 2014.
In 2015, Lee drove Zombie Hunter, where he was the first driver to perform a barrel roll in a monster truck. He drove Metal Mulisha in Foxborough.
In 2016, Lee moved to the VP Racing Fuel Mad Scientist. He drove El Diablo for its last show in Glendale.
In 2017, Lee won the freestyle championship in the Monster Jam World Finals 18 where became the first driver to successfully land a front flip in competition in a monster truck.
In 2018, Lee won the Stadium Championship Series 4 championship, giving him an automatic invite to compete in Mad Scientist in the Monster Jam World Finals 19. Lee retired from driving at year's end because his contract expired, which also coincided with Mad Scientist's retirement.
Trivia[]
- Lee was the first driver to perform a barrel roll and a front-flip. Both at the World Finals.
- Prior to getting a full-time ride in Iron Man, Scott Douglass called Lee "The best fill-in driver in the sport."
- He helped Todd Leduc get into Monster Jam.
World Finals appearances[]
- 2010 - Iron Man
- 2011 - Iron Man
- 2012 - Iron Man
- 2013 - Iron Man
- 2014 - Iron Man
- 2015 - Zombie Hunter
- 2016 - VP Racing Fuels' Mad Scientist
- 2017 - VP Racing Fuels' Mad Scientist (won freestyle)
- 2018 - VP Racing Fuels' Mad Scientist
Gallery[]
