Height and Weight 2023. Meet Krysten Anderson, the first and only female driver of Grave Digger. "I was the slowest qualifier last year. Your IP: Letsgetstarted. [8] After Mitt Romney lost the 2012 youth vote, she co-developed a guidebook outlining strategies for the Republican Party to garner more votes from young people. No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried. Youre not a competitor. But, even though Dennis Anderson has ended his Monster Jam career, he still has children who followed in the same footsteps who can carry on the family legacy: Adam Anderson, Ryan Anderson, and the newest driver of the three, Krysten Anderson. Carrying on a family tradition 23| Driver of Grave Digger | Daughter of Dennis Anderson Instagram: @krysten.anderson #mamatried #teamdigger Im not nearly as flawless or as smooth as my brothers or some of the other senior, veteran drivers who know what theyre doing a little better than I do, but that trick was a thorn in my side for an entire year. RJ Hampshire to debut in 450s It drove me insane. World Finals can be intimidating for younger drivers such as Anderson, who might have been driving in smaller courses. Standing at 5 feet, 7 inches, just a little taller than the tires on the monster truck she drives and lets fly in stadiums and arenas around the world, she learned the basics of commanding a 12-foot-wide, 12,000-pound vehicle at Monster Jam's training facility in Illinois. Racing up Thunder Alley like that is the fastest racing that we do all year and its the most fun. Kristen and Chris Anderson were married on April 28, 2012. Im an Anderson everyone looks at me the same way they look at Adam, Ryan and my dad.. Thats what I decided to do.. I [worry] about doing badly that is my biggest fear every time in the truck. I leveled the truck out and it started coming down. Is it even in my blood?, I went out there and took to it pretty naturally. Safety is a big priority and Anderson says she never feels at risk when on the track. Im only 23, so if you think about my dads career being 35 years, hes been Grave Digger my entire life. In 2010, her findings were mentioned by Democratic political strategist and commentator James Carville, leading to appearances on television news shows as a guest commentator and political pundit. She has talked often about how grateful she is for her parents and how well they raised her. And if family history tells us anything shes going to make it big. If you ask me to do 15 backflips in a row, I can do 15 backflips in a row, she says. Im not scared, Ill do it. This shops dedication to quality engine work, its growth, its machining capabilities and its impact in the diesel industry, all make Choate Engineering Performance well deserving of Engine Builders and Autolites 2022 Americas Best Diesel Engine Shop award. Anderson has known Connor Anapol, pictured in wheelchair, for many years as he's a regular at the Monster Jam events. "The most successful people at World Finals just run their own race and pay attention to what's in front of them," she says. For the third consecutive week and the fourth time overall, the top three in points stood on the podium together. We have the trucks that look like dogs and theyre called Monster Mutt. After the pit party, Anderson has to get suited up for the race. Only Cory Rummell in a truck named Rage was better the second night with his 9.551. I got around Tom [Vialle] in the whoops and if got a little sketchy at the midpoint with a light sprinkle. [10] They have a daughter named Eliana Christine Anderson, born in June, 2022. Its the same horsepower, but much faster and its meant for more speed and racing through the mud and obstacle course. Krysten is the only daughter of Dennis Anderson. Not that I dont love Grave Digger. I was progressing at such a rapid rate, whereas when my dad or my brothers had started, if you rewind 10 or 15 years, the caliber of racing and technical skills and stuff was nothing to where it was when I started. Theres pressure from your own team, the fans and typically, the athletes themselves are their own biggest critics. I was struggling in practice straight up, Tomac told James Stewart on NBC Sports. My mom and everybody would go to shows with my dad. Ill be one to look out for.. With his 2008 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Championship, Adam holds the record for youngest titleholder at 22. She's obviously been surrounded by the Grave Digger brand since she was a child, but now aims at defining her own name. She had been on the circuit for a while, but he had been too busy. I was brand new. But while he built the brand, he didnt build strong family ties. And, she was also the first female driver for the Grave Digger team. Thrasher with a HUGE get off! I basically had an idea of it from my dad and my brothers and what they told me and what its like and this and that, but I had never fully understood how complicated they can be until I actually sat in the seat of one. One line from the song says, No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried Even though Krystens mom has since come around to career choice and is fully supportive Krysten and her mom both think its very funny when Krysten uses the tag #mamatried on her social media posts as a reference to this song and her moms initial lack of enthusiasm for her career choice. I cant , his voice trails off, he pauses and chokes back that uncommon emotion. I think that it would be really cool if before I retired, I could have an opportunity to drive my own truck. In 2022, she would win Arena Championship Series Central, becoming the first (and so far only) woman ever to win a championship series in Monster Jam. [7], During the 2012 elections, she was a communications adviser to Crossroads Generation, a Republican organization focused on the youth vote. In 2020, she broke the World Record for the highest leap in a Monster Truck at 33 ft, 9.6 in. Subscribe to our free Breaking Sports News newsletter. I would have to say it kind of drove me in that direction to keep going.. After a year on the Triple Threat Series in small arenas, it was Anderson's time to shine at the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas last month. Another passion that my family has is when were not racing monster trucks we are really into the mud racing or the mega truck racing. And then she went out and won that part of the competition. Oakland: Eli Tomac ties Ricky Carmichael with 48 wins My brothers, they came out swinging both of them are going on 10 and 15 years of having a really awesome career. I love good country music, but the arena itself has really nice dirt in it and its a very large venue. I always put an immense amount of pressure on myself anyways, and then on top of that, the fans put a lot of pressure on me too. He began the race among the top five and faded a little in the Main event, but no one can take away his first heat win in his first ever start on the bigger bike. I didnt want to look back, I didnt want it to be a big what if,' she told ESPN. They are a very difficult vehicle to control and maneuver and especially do some of the things that we do with them, Anderson says. It was rough for me being an 18 or 19-year-old girl on the road by myself, racing my dads truck and I had all this pressure on me. Or, I could put on the show of a lifetime. One lap earlier, an aborted block pass almost sent both riders to the ground. Finally, at the time that I tap my brakes we tap our brakes just like they would do in Motocross and that helps our wheel speed slow down and it also jars the momentum of the truck and it makes it able to level out. in political science in 2005; she obtained her M.A. All the way from the start, me and Cooper [Webb] just locked up into two the whole time, Tomac said from the top spot of the podium as the stands emptied and fans rushed the stage. Krysten is among some of the tallest women we write about, and this has certainly helped her stand out in the crowds. He had a huge foot in the door for me. She was set to defend her record this spring at the World Finals in Orlando, Florida, but mechanical problems forced her out of the competition, opening the door for her brother Ryan, who set a new. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Her two older brothers, Adam and Ryan, both drive for Monster Jam as well. Its easy to understand why her fans love her and why her fellow drivers enjoy being around her as well. I had to basically catch up to speed from where my brothers had gone 10 or 15 years to where we are now, where we are doing those two-wheel tricks and doing backflips and corkscrews and nose wheelies and bicycles and everything else. "The only time I ever really get nervous in the truck is right before I'm about to go out," Anderson says. "I don't try to overthink anything. Id imagine she gets some pretty dang good tips from her fans. After finishing last in the opening night with a score of 6.071 to Todd LeDuc and Monster Energy's 9.437, Anderson improved massively in Night 2 and scored a 8.919. And, like I mentioned earlier many people are looking to her as a new beginning for Monster Jam, not just with more female drivers but more female fans as well. At 37 years old, Adam Anderson height not available right now. You cant create a diamond without a little bit of pressure. How quickly I learn and pick up on things. Anderson was the third of her siblings to follow in her dads tire tracks when she joined the tour in 2016. Join Facebook to connect with Krysten Anderson and others you may know. "She hoped I'd go on to college and be a veterinarian.". I remember being in the bottom of the rig playing with my monster trucks. "Once I had a bad spill and it was time, that was The Man knocking on the door and saying, Hey, old guy, you better back it down and chill out and live life.' Carrying on a family tradition 23| Driver of Grave Digger | Daughter of Dennis Anderson. That would be cool. I love the city of Nashville. #NBCSports #NASCAR #NASCARAmer. This physically demanding Monster Jam series is awesome to watch and Krysten has demonstrated all kinds of growth and skill during her time on the tour. Other. That same emotion will grip Dennis Anderson, 58, Friday and Saturday when he watches three of his four children - 21-year-old Krysten, 29-year-old Ryan and 33-year-old Adam - compete in the . Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Tomac came into a bowl turn hot, but Webb would have nothing of it. When he arrived at the stadium in Charlotte, N.C., his home state, to finally watch her burn rubber and drag metal across a dirt floor, he offered a bit of advice about how to turn a donut. ", The first official women's cycling team in Afghanistan. Krysten Anderson (born May 16) is a driver out of Currituck, North Carolina who drives Grave Digger since 2017. Don't miss a story! Especially me being the first and only female to drive Grave Digger, I feel like I have extra eyes on me., Anderson has heard the questions that surround her new role: How will she do? Why is she driving Grave Digger?. Tomac grabbed the holeshot by inches, but Webb took the early lead, but he could not shake the points leader. Theyve added five competitions and, of course, the popular pit parties will be held from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Obviously, my dad doesnt really need any introduction, Anderson says. I was out making everybody else's kids happy. After the truck is on I pull the black fuel knob to get fuel into the engine and start the truck," says Anderson. In a level of talent that almost matches her driving skill, she can sing almost every Hank Williams Jr. song from memory. Krysten is the first female to compete as a driver of Grave Digger. As Andersons, we have a certain level of expertise for driving, Krysten told NBC Sports. It is so insane," says Anderson. [5], In 2013 Time named Anderson one of the 30 People Under 30 who are changing the world. [8] In 2015, she published The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials are Leading America (and How Republicans Can Keep Up).[7]. In 1979, Dennis Anderson created Grave Digger and has since gone on to win numerous Monster Jam World Championships. The 4 Piston Racing facility in Danville, IN houses two buildings one is 12,000 sq.-ft. and the other is 2,500 sq.-ft. 5 ft 5 in / 165 cm. I think its a little different for guys and girls. Her original plan was to go to college and study studio art and graphic design. My brothers are World Champions. I'm in the stands, and I had tears of joy. "My mom never wanted me to be a Monster Jam driver," Anderson says. I couldn't even make it down the track correctly," she says. Krysten Anderson (Monster Jam/Feld . My brother Adam had a ride where, for $5, you could get on the back of a monster truck.". View the profiles of people named Krysten Anderson. I loved it. If I didnt do so well or something, they had no problem telling me the truth about how I did and the truth hurts sometimes. "I can sing almost every Hank Williams Jr. song front to back," she says. Krysten Anderson is Monster Jam's only female Grave Digger driver Anderson is the only female driver coming to the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ont. There are others who struggle with it like I did, but I struggled with that for a really long time getting those skills down and getting that trick down. Theres Monster Mutt Dalmatian and Monster Mutt Rottweiler. He called it the moonwalk you balance the truck on its nose and you put it in first or reverse and ride it forward or ride it all the way backwards. on April 23-24 Renita Naraine. Monster Jam truck tires are designed differently to satisfy various track conditions and driver preference. But Anderson still uses the hashtag #mamatried on social media, which her mom thinks is funny. I could care less about anything else. He ended up taking the win from me.". It has competed on every tour of the Triple Threat series ( Central 2017, West 2018, East 2019) and in the Showdown competition at World Finals 18, 19, and 20. Photo from Live Nation. That led to Anderson winning a Future Farmers of America state competition for troubleshooting engines. The shop is very heavily focused on Honda cylinder heads and engine work to the tune of 300+ engines and 1,000 cylinder heads annually! That trick made me pull my hair out.. Facebook gives people the. '", At Anderson's first World Finals in 2017, she was nervous. ", Monster Jam has been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for years. Its a family tradition for us and it is something that consumes our entire lives nothing but Grave Digger, monster trucks and Monster Jam. Even though he retired in 2017, Anderson's legacy has been carried on by sons Adam and Ryan, and daughter Krysten, all of whom drive versions of Grave Digger. Im going to guess yes. That was an incredible phenomenon to happen this past year at our world finals in 2019. Max Anstie: You cant skip steps I couldnt even make it down the track correctly, she told ESPN in 2018. [2][7] As a junior in college, she interned with the finance department of the National Republican Congressional Committee[7] and was appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Commemorative Quarter Committee. She has all the skills and the competitive drive necessary to make it in the world of Monster Jam. Each driver has a custom-fitted, fire-resistant suit to match their truck, complete with helmet, gloves and shoes. Thank you so much for your message for my son Lucas. My brother Ryan is the one who invented the nose wheelie. I was screaming louder than their fans were and they were probably looking at me like, You gotta be kidding me? She had never won a competition in her life and she won that night. When he told friends he had to hit the road to go perform, they said, You act like youre some kind of rock star.. Her siblings, Ryan and Adam, also compete in Monster Jam . She got her drag racing license before she got her regular license, and that tells you everything you need to know about Johnna Dunn. Thats plenty of pressure to perform at a high level. [8] She co-hosts a podcast called The Pollsters. My dad said, Youre spoiling them. I said, Dad, everything I buy them has got a motor on it. It wasnt ideal, but I took it and never looked back. She heads back to her trailer, which hauls Grave Digger around all year, to put on her fire suit, a required part of Monster Jam athletes' outfits since the late '80s. San Diego: Tomac, Jett Lawrence double down She has 3 brothers. To top it all off, despite growing up with monster trucks in . I'm not thinking about what could happen when I get out there because you never know what could go down while out on the track. One of Anderson's pre-show rituals is taking some time to herself in her trailer. I was driving Grave Digger, which is basically the most iconic truck in monster truck history or Monster Jam history. It is a high intensity, fast-paced event that challenges both the drivers and their machines. Most Monster Jam trucks have the driver seated in the center of the vehicle so they can best see the track and for weight distribution. It was a tough morning and I had to take a few belly breaths after the heat but we came back swinging, Anstie told NBC Sports Will Christien. Krysten Anderson is the daughter of Dennis Anderson and the first female driver of Grave Digger. Krysten is the only daughter of monster truck, Monster Jam and Grave Digger legend, Dennis Anderson. That amazing Anderson driving DNA runs through her blood and she knows how to use it. A lap later, Sexton bobbled exiting a turn and the two made contact again. After earning podium finishes in his first two races, Max Anstie struggled in the Triple Crown format in Arlington, but still finished among the top five. I dont really get a lot of backlash from anyone, she told ESPN. "The kids in my class took a field trip to my house because we had a huge monster truck shop and gift [store] attached to it. Those bodies are all 3D and are really cool. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment. "Like in a regular car, the steering wheel controls the front tires, but Monster Truck drivers use the silver toggle on the left to control and turn the rear tires. "When we pull up on the line," Anderson says, "we have no idea what's going to happen. 1st female Point Series Champion. This is Dad and Dad's got to win.