"I was the slowest qualifier last year. Shes the sibling of Adam and Ryan Anderson, both of whom are Monster Jam World Champions, along with their dad. But this year, I was making fast times and every time I made a pass, I was shaving time off.. With Dennis's legendary career, and Adam Anderson being a five-time World Finals champion, the female Grave Digger driver surely has a high bar set for her. Grave Digger: Monster Jam's Most Monstrous Truck Monster Jam a family tradition for Grave Digger driver Krysten Anderson So, then I felt like I had to make up for lost time when I was there. Now he oversees their efforts, unabashedly admitting to living through their performances. ", Growing up, Anderson had her dad and brothers to look up to as successful entrepreneurs and monster truck drivers. Her height is 5 feet 9 inches or 175 cm (1.75 m), and her weight is only 57 kg or 126 pounds. I was trying my balls off up front. [Times Files]. Krysten Anderson Breaking The World Record for the Highest Jump 61,541 views Aug 8, 2020 933 Dislike Share Monster Jam 814K subscribers Watch how Krysten Anderson gets the World Record for. Not that I dont love Grave Digger. I could care less about anything else. "I think that really helped me get past my rookie nerves and build my confidence. 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. I just drive the black and green original Grave Digger that my dad had started up in the 80s. LeDuc goes through the motions of drifting around the crushed cars in the left lane. Pride, fear, joy, anger and disappointment all mix in an uncommon way, creating unnerving emotions you may not have known existed inside your heart. She ultimately followed in both her father and two brothers' footsteps to become the first female driver of the truck. Im going to guess yes. Our other world champion is Linsey Read in Scooby Doo and shes our freestyle champion. They kept no shortage of tractors and trucks and hot rods on the property, and each required some minor maintenance to get it started. In addition, 30 gallons of paint are used to paint obstacles and the Monster Jam track. We have no choice but to learn on the fly and learn these tricks, because if youre not honing these skills in and learning these tricks and doing this or that, then you dont have a dog in the fight, she says. 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. 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. I realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people. Its a family tradition for us and it is something that consumes our entire lives nothing but Grave Digger, monster trucks and Monster Jam. One of them is actually considered an arena. 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. Krysten Anderson blonde to the bone and runnin on methanol 1st female to drive Grave Digger. I think its a little different for guys and girls. How tall and how much weigh Kristen Soltis Anderson? Her siblings, Ryan and Adam, also compete in Monster Jam . [7] In 2014, she made the National Journal's annual Women of Washington list of the 25 most influential Washington women under 35. Ultimately, the drivers want the competition to be just as enjoyable for them as it is for the spectators. Lawrence scored his eighth 250 victory after pulling away from the field. Youre not a competitor. "I didn't want to look back, I didn't want it to be a big 'what if,'" she says. San Diego: Tomac, Jett Lawrence double down Dennis stated that the first time he saw Krysten in a mud truck, he knew she had what it took. Hes Dennis Anderson, the guy who created Grave Digger back in 1982 and he drove Grave Digger for 35 years. My brothers have gotten all their world championships there. [1] Marie Claire declared Anderson one of the "New Guard" of fifty rising female leaders. Krysten Anderson (born May 16) is a driver out of Currituck, North Carolina who drives Grave Digger since 2017. Thats something that my youngest brother Weston actually does right now. "When we pull up on the line," Anderson says, "we have no idea what's going to happen. 1st female Point Series Champion. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Krysten is a rad driver with amazing skills and a solid head on her shoulders. 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. Hosts: Sarah Jessica and John Cameron. Three of Dennis' children have followed . Kristen Soltis Anderson - Wikipedia I feel like women in motorsports have a lot to prove or we feel like we have a lot to prove to show that we belong here or that we have a place in motorsports. Krystens pre-show ritual involves calling her dad. Anderson grew up in Kill Devil Hills the son of Gail and Jesse Anderson, who worked as a part-time farmer and part-time shipyard worker. She drives Monster Mutt Dalmatian. Anderson spun yarns about his early days at a Tampa sports bar last month, but the conversation just as easily could have taken place around a campfire or on a front porch adorned with rocking chairs. Power Rankings after Arlington Their love for them seems to have rubbed off on me. Im still trying to perfect it. I love good country music, but the arena itself has really nice dirt in it and its a very large venue. I was like, man, I dont even know if I have it in me. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'monstertruckguide_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-monstertruckguide_com-medrectangle-4-0');With how important family it to Krysten its no surprise that one of the things that drew her to Monster Jam was how family-friendly it was. I'm nervous as hell, you know, Dennis Anderson said. World Finals can be intimidating for younger drivers such as Anderson, who might have been driving in smaller courses. I love the city of Nashville. One of the main goals that Id like to accomplish is to retire with at least one world championship under my belt. She received one million dollars from a Republican super PAC to research the youth vote and served as its communications director. Thrasher with a HUGE get off! I was hoping I didnt bump him and mess something up on the bike. James Stewarts 50 wins is next on the horizon and no one doubts that will happen in the next few rounds. Back in 2017, Dennis was injured while attempting to backflip the truck at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. After speaking with Kaylynn Simmons a couple years ago, we found out there are only a few women who work on the pit crews of the NHRA teams. Event after event, weekend after weekend, so many failed attempts to get these complicated two-wheel tricks down. It is a high intensity, fast-paced event that challenges both the drivers and their machines. ", The male-dominated environment doesn't bother Anderson. in government from Johns Hopkins University in 2009. Compounding his disappointment, Thrasher was coming off a heat win. As. Krysten didnt set out to drive for Monster Jam. Theres Monster Mutt Dalmatian and Monster Mutt Rottweiler. After finishing last in the opening night with a score of 6.071 to Todd LeDuc and Monster Energys 9.437, Anderson improved massively in Night 2 and scored a 8.919. It's just so cool that I get to meet these second-generation fans.". We didnt get around the first turn too bad, but I just saw an opportunity in the sand section, Lawrence said. In four seasons shes advanced to the sports biggest stage where she gets to face off against the most qualified drivers and prove why shes the right Anderson to inherit the Grave Digger seat. Meet Krysten Anderson, Grave Digger's driver - YouTube Hes gotten all of his world championships there. One of Anderson's pre-show rituals is taking some time to herself in her trailer. Diggers Diner is located next to Diggers Dungeon in Poplar, North Carolina. Kristen and Chris Anderson were married on April 28, 2012. For the third consecutive week and the fourth time overall, the top three in points stood on the podium together. So busy. Krysten Anderson, behind the wheel of Grave Digger, will compete against her brothers when the event returns to the Dome at America's Center. View the profiles of people named Krysten Anderson. Contact Ernest Hooper at ehooper@tampabay.com. That trick made me pull my hair out.. Adam drives another one of the Grave Diggers and Ryan drives Son-uva Digger. 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. She multi-talented and draws from a unique background to push herself in motorsports and in Monster Jam in particular. I was out making everybody else's kids happy. The roaring-truck spectacle owes much of its popularity to the elder Anderson, who helped build the sport after coming out of his native Kill Devil Hills, N.C., a perfect name for the rural town that gave birth to Grave Digger. 5 ft 5 in / 165 cm. The fans there are crazy. "Now these people are bringing their kids. She cant go on the road without her makeup bag and you would be hard pressed to catch her without her nails done. I think a lot of people underestimate that. Its hard talking someone into to giving you a race when youve never been on a 450 before especially here at Daytona, Hampshire told NBC Sports Will Christien. Where the heck is this ramp? Finally, the rubber touched the dirt and I was like, Oh man, finally I made it. I knew it was pretty big when I felt like I was in the air for three minutes.. I wanted to go and learn how to do it digitally, but I still wanted to be involved with my dads family business and what weve always done. "The most successful people at World Finals just run their own race and pay attention to what's in front of them," she says. They also go to take rides of her brothers ride truck. Second to Grave Digger, its probably one of the more aggressive, meaner-looking trucks. The Players' Tribune, which publishes first-person stories from top athletes, is featuring Monster Jam driver Krysten Anderson. Its just something that me, my dad and my brothers all had common ground on, she says. "My mom and I used to sing it together all the time when I was younger," she recalls. It makes me so mad because theres some people who pick it up right away. Brothers Adam Anderson and Ryan Anderson spent the 2000s and 2010s raking up Freestyle and Racing World Championships. Grave Digger and Monster Jam have the most passionate and loyal fans amongst motorsports, but they can be pretty painfully honest sometimes. NAACP wants reparations for Tampas Black cemeteries that governments stole, Tampa Bay harbor pilots pay raise request stirs storm at Tampas port, Hooters celebrates 40 years with specials and deals at all Tampa Bay locations, Bucs raise ticket prices by 7.5 percent on new season-pass members, State OKs Tampa Bay harbor pilots fee hikes, despite ports objections, Indoors? They needed a Grave Digger driver. And her younger brother, Westin, is hoping to pursue a career with Monster Jam once hes old enough. [1] Marie Claire declared Anderson one of the "New Guard" of fifty rising female leaders. Those tricks werent even a thing five years ago. Starting out as a Triple Threat Series athlete, Anderson had to attend 100 hours of Monster Jam University before competing in any events. Update: Dylan Ferrandis return to racing delayed after Daytona Media Day RJ Hampshire to debut in Supercross 450 class at Daytona. Adam Anderson, Krysten Anderson and Ryan Anderson carry on the Monster Jam legacy created by their father, the original Grave Digger Dennis Anderson. I couldn't even make it down the track correctly," she says. 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. Original Grave Digger passes the Monster Jam torch to his kids Im a pretty talented artist, she admits. This is a sick moment for me right now. Krysten Anderson: Grave Digger's Daughter and First Lady I was like, Oh, this is big, this is big, this is big. It just kept climbing. Grave Digger 34 | Monster Trucks Wiki | Fandom Im also out here representing all of the girls.. Theres pressure from your own team, the fans and typically, the athletes themselves are their own biggest critics. To top it all off, despite growing up with monster trucks in her blood, she had never been behind the wheel of a monster truck until she was 18. Krysten Anderson made history as the first woman to drive the Grave Digger full time. Alright fine, I have another race tomorrow and Im going to do even better, and I usually do.. To top it all off, despite growing up with monster trucks in . With annual shows throughout Florida, including two at Tampas Raymond James Stadium, officials believe the states adoration for the motorsport will draw well and create even more fans. The need for new parts trumped the need for a new roof. Im through the roof, Deegan said. She's obviously been surrounded by the Grave Digger brand since she was a child, but now aims at defining her own name. Her pedigree, skills, and relationship with the fan base set her up to complete a large feat and shes only a few seasons away from being in the rumor mill of World Champion talk. #SupercrossLIVE #SuperMotocross pic.twitter.com/Jj4Iza7pvx, Arlington: Cooper Webb wins for second time, closes to two of Tomac Facebook gives people the. 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?. Ill be one to look out for.. My dad said, Youre spoiling them. I said, Dad, everything I buy them has got a motor on it. He apparently missed the limelight of standing on the podium because he outlasted most of the field to finish second and keep his top-five streak alive. All I can say is I love you Daytona.. Monster Jam Triple Threat Series comes to . If I sit and think too long, I get nervous and lose my composure, so I just casually put my gear on and let my instincts take over. When you put the helmet on, were competitors and it doesnt matter if its a girl or a guy in the other lane against you, you dont want them to win you want to win. Anderson started training in 2016 and had her first live show a year later in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from Currituck, North Carolina, Krysten became an official driver back in 2017, which is around the same time as Dennis's accident. Digger! Now four years into her driving career, Krysten has come leaps and bounds from where she was as a rookie driver. I guess when the family business is a mega-successful and mega-cool monster truck its hard to not follow suit. Jason Anderson rounded out the top five for the third straight time and has not finished worse than seventh. (@SupercrossLIVE) March 5, 2023. Click to reveal But, maybe hands down the coolest venue that Ive ever got to compete in, and Im really proud that I got to compete in it before Monster Jam stopped going there, is the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. ", Monster Jam tech officials act as the drivers' eyes in the back of their head. After the pit party, Anderson has to get suited up for the race. 334 talking about this. Your granddad was one, your dad was one, youre going to be one.. Im only 23, so if you think about my dads career being 35 years, hes been Grave Digger my entire life. Thats what I decided to do.. Krysten is the only daughter of monster truck, Monster Jam and Grave Digger legend, Dennis Anderson. If you want to come off the road and start a family and I know there are some women out there who are moms and are still competing and thats great, but Im not sure how long they can do that. Krysten Anderson Breaking The World Record for the Highest Jump The original Grave Digger remains driven, but he misses driving the truck. Despite her instant fame and name recognition in the Monster Jam world she seems very down to earth and approachable. It was most popular in the 1970s and 1980s (for reference Willie Nelsons music would be considered Outlaw Country), Her mom never wanted her to join Monster Jam, she wanted her to become a veterinarian. Krysten's diet is quite intense as she has cut out several things from her diet, including gluten, fish, and dairy products. Krysten Anderson Spotlight | Monster Jam You want me to go do some kind of insane jump or something like that. Her story is one of legacy: Anderson's father, Dennis . She was a little nervous about how she would be received and there were a few mixed reactions but overall she has been accepted and adored by the fans. When complete, the truck weighs 12,000 pounds. Height and Weight 2023. To get the third-place result, Sexton had to overcome a fierce battle with Justin Barcia. She's the sibling of Adam and Ryan Anderson, both of whom are Monster Jam World Champions, along with their dad. ", The first official women's cycling team in Afghanistan. Andersons dont settle for a second when they can achieve first. I designed both of those pro mega trucks. They see this Monster Jam driver giving her all in that arena, and witness the extraordinary things women are capable of, firsthand. Adam has five; Ryan has two. Don't miss a story! 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 . It can be a lot of pressure sometimes, but it fuels me when I have a rough show and Im getting the feedback of it, Anderson said. I cant , his voice trails off, he pauses and chokes back that uncommon emotion. I have had opportunities to create artwork for trucks in other motorsports. ", "Seeing all those people decked out in head-to-toe Grave Digger gear, chanting, 'Digger! I was screaming louder than their fans were and they were probably looking at me like, You gotta be kidding me? 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. However, Krysten Anderson is in a league all her own. I was really involved with my art and I was taking AP-level art classes and putting together an art portfolio because I was actually interested after high school in going to college and pursuing a career and degree in graphic design. I hit neutral kind of randomly and he was able to get by. From just a few months old until I was about five years old, I would travel on the road with my dad in the tractor trailer. Authored by Larry Jewett on July 31, 2018. More info/Tickets: www.monsterjam.com I dont try to overthink anything. The front clip is an old Jeep Willys and its black and blue. 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! One lap earlier, an aborted block pass almost sent both riders to the ground. I got around Tom [Vialle] in the whoops and if got a little sketchy at the midpoint with a light sprinkle. I love good food. That ones pretty cool when it rolls into the arena, Im not going to lie. Hey Krysten, if you ever want to hang out just let me know, okay? 134 lb / 61 kg. Is it even in my blood?, I went out there and took to it pretty naturally. For the seventh time overall and fifth consecutively, Tomac won the race most riders in the field equates to NASCARs Daytona 500. The Monster Jam truck is considered one of the most iconic and recognizable monster trucks in the world. Shes a drag racer and clutch specialist for her grandfathers NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car team, Jim Dunn Racing. [8] She co-hosts a podcast called The Pollsters. [6], Kristen Lynne Soltis grew up in Orlando, Florida. Those are my two main goals; to retire with a world championship and maybe retire in my own truck.. I could make the first hit and I could roll over and it could all be over right there. We all agree that Krysten sounds dope. As eluded to earlier, Krysten had immediate pressure to perform. Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied. If youve ever watched an interview with the Anderson clan their bond is obvious. Grave Digger driver Krysten Anderson discusses her sense of daring when driving and previews the Monster Jam World Finals XXI. Best Bets: Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, Boyz II . It's easy to understand why her fans love her and why her fellow drivers enjoy being around her as well. The monster truck driver has competed in the last three Feld Entertainment Monster Jam World Finals, as well as the All-Star Challenge in 2019. Krysten Anderson - Facebook My dads 35th anniversary of driving Grave Digger was going to be coming up in the next year and they had a seat that was opening up in Grave Digger, she says. Performance & security by Cloudflare. I told the guys we were going to get a holeshot no matter what. You can tell that Krysten and her brothers genuinely enjoy one another and have a good time together. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 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.