Scott Rehn joins the podcast to discuss his colorful career across multiple motorsports disciplines—from motocross and late-model dirt track racing to short-course off-road, water skiing, Monster Jam, and beyond. Learn how an unplanned career launch led to decades in broadcasting.
Scott tried motocross as a teenager but found his true passion in late-model stock car racing. At just 17, a car appeared in his driveway—courtesy of a customer at his dad’s grocery store—launching him into racing with zero experience. After five years racing dirt tracks, the grocery store closed and Scott shifted to spectating and crew work.
His sister Valerie’s success racing short-course trucks led Scott to Crandon Speedway, where he instantly fell in love. He describes feeling the ground move during the races—a moment that “hooked” him on the sport forever.
SHOW NOTES
Originally a professional water skier and announcer, Scott reluctantly filled in as a short-course race announcer when the regular crew needed a break. His mother literally dragged him to the booth. That one weekend led to an ESPN2 opportunity with Marty Reed, launching a broadcasting career that took him from pit reporting to stadium racing to Monster Jam.
Scott’s career spans watercross (snowmobiles racing on water), stadium off-road championships, Red Bull Frozen Rush in Sweden, King of the Hammers, and nearly 20 years with Monster Jam. He’s worked alongside industry legends including Jimmie Johnson.
After the CORE series ended, Scott relocated to Oklahoma, where he now works as a brand ambassador and semi-truck driver for a Ford Racing marketing company, hauling NASCAR rigs. He’s transitioned from TV to radio work but remains passionate about the off-road sport that started it all.
TRANSCRIPT
[00:01:13.210] – Big Rich Klein
My guest this week first tried his hand at riding motocross, then late model sportsman cars, found off-road racing following his sister racing short course, soon became an announcer, and has great stories from all the types of racing he has been involved with. My guest is Scott Rain. Good morning, Scott Rain. It is so good to have you on the podcast. I’m looking forward to this. We’ve been trying to hook up for a little bit of time, but here we are.
[00:01:44.140] – Scott Rehn
You know, it’s my honor. I’m telling you, I’ve been following you for a long, long time. Our paths cross every once in a while, and It— I can’t believe you’re calling me.
[00:01:58.270] – Big Rich Klein
Well, let’s dive into your history. And we’ll explore why I called you.
[00:02:04.890] – Scott Rehn
Awesome. Let’s do it.
[00:02:06.530] – Big Rich Klein
Okay, so first question I ask everybody is, where were you born and raised?
[00:02:11.190] – Scott Rehn
Well, I was born in northern Wisconsin, probably about a half hour or so north of Green Bay, in a small town of Oconto, Wisconsin. But for the most part, I grew up in a small town outside— at that time, it was a small town outside Milwaukee called Heartland, Wisconsin. And I grew up there, went to high school there, went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for a few years, never graduated. I kind of did the John— or Jim Belushi thing and partied out.
[00:02:41.730] – Big Rich Klein
Right. Okay. Well, that’s— that sounds familiar.
[00:02:46.600] – Scott Rehn
Yeah, luckily more people have done that than actually graduated. So yeah, I’m somewhat embarrassed by it, but you know, I had some growing up to do, man.
[00:02:57.520] – Big Rich Klein
Right. So let’s talk about those early years. As a kid growing up, what were your interests, you know, in those early years? I mean, did you ride bikes, skateboard? You know, what, what would— what, what did you find yourself doing?
[00:03:15.560] – Scott Rehn
Well, I was kind of a scatterbrain, man. I, I don’t know if I had, uh, uh, I just— I was just all over the place. Um, I was really— I got to a point where I, I liked racing. We were watching NASCAR at the time on TV. Um, I had no vision, no aspirations, no dreams, um, at the young age. Um, I got my hands on an RM 125 dirt bike in the late ’70s, and I fell in love with motocross. I tried that a couple of times. I was not a motocross rider. Had a blast, but just wasn’t— I wasn’t confident, and I had no skill. But the passion for motorsports or racing started to evolve. And my dad had a major grocery store in town. And obviously, with that kind of thing, you know, he meets people, starts talking to people. And next thing you know, he’s— one of our customers races sprint cars and stock cars at Hills Corner Speedway in Milwaukee and invited my, you know, my dad and me and my brother, because he was younger than me. To tag along. And holy smokes, we got bit by the bug hard. READ MORE
