Krysten Anderson has one of the most recognizable last names in Monster Jam history. You can’t know monster trucks and not know Anderson. Dennis Anderson is one of OGs of Monster Jam and he has built an amazing brand a reputation with Grave Digger and is one of the greatest drivers of all time.
Ryan and Adam Anderson are also wildly successful Monster Jam champions as well. So like I said, Krysten Anderson is not a name that can be overlooked. She is basically Monster Jam royalty….or, if you please, a Monster Jam Kardashian.
But even though being part of a Monster Jam family dynasty has opened doors for Krysten she had earned her fans an amazing reputation all on her own. That amazing Anderson driving DNA runs through her blood and she knows how to use it. She has all the skills and the competitive drive necessary to make it in the world of Monster Jam. And if family history tells us anything she’s going to make it big. In fact, she’s already being hailed as the new face of Monster Jam.
As a widely visible and talented female driver, she is showing progress and more gender equality in the world of Monster Jam.
So why don’t we get to know a little more about the amazing Krysten Anderson? Because obviously there’s more to her than the fact that she’s a rad lady Monster Jam driver.
The Facts
1. She’s the only Daughter of Dennis Anderson
Krysten is the only daughter of Dennis Anderson. She has 3 brothers. Her two older brothers, Adam and Ryan, both drive for Monster Jam as well. And her younger brother, Westin, is hoping to pursue a career with Monster Jam once he’s old enough. I guess when the family business is a mega-successful and mega-cool monster truck it’s hard to not follow suit.
But despite being the only daughter, and being raised in the world of monster trucks, Krysten is still decidedly feminine. She can’t go on the road without her makeup bag and you would be hard pressed to catch her without her nails done.
2. She drives in the Triple Threat Series
Krysten drives as part of the Triple Threat Series. This series involves driving a monster truck, a speedster, and an ATV. It is a high intensity, fast-paced event that challenges both the drivers and their machines. 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.
“I was the slowest qualifier last year. I couldn’t even make it down the track correctly,” she told ESPN in 2018. “But this year, I was making fast times and every time I made a pass, I was shaving time off.”
3. She is the first female driver of Grave Digger
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. As she herself pointed out, it’s hard for people to not take her seriously when she’s part of the Anderson Dynasty.
“I don’t really get a lot of backlash from anyone,” she told ESPN. “I’m an Anderson — everyone looks at me the same way they look at Adam, Ryan and my dad.”
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. Krysten has many young girl fans that look up to and admire her.
4. She a Server in her family’s restaurant
When she’s not touring she works as a server in her family’s restaurant, Digger’s Diner. Digger’s Diner is located next to Digger’s Dungeon in Poplar, North Carolina. She often gets recognized by fans when she’s working at the diner…talk about a Monster Jam fans dream. Can you imagine what it would be like to have one of your Monster Jam idols as your waitress??? I’d imagine she gets some pretty dang good tips from her fans.
I wonder if she signs a lot of autographs while she’s serving? I’m going to guess yes.
5. She is VERY family oriented
She loves spending time with her family. Krysten is very family oriented and the whole Anderson clan is super tight-knit. She has talked often about how grateful she is for her parents and how well they raised her. She’s been quoted saying her dad is her role model and she makes frequent Instagram posts about how much she loves and appreciates her mom.
If you’ve ever watched an interview with the Anderson clan their bond is obvious. You can tell that Krysten and her brothers genuinely enjoy one another and have a good time together. And you can also tell that they all look up to and love their parents.
With how important family it to Krysten it’s no surprise that one of the things that drew her to Monster Jam was how family-friendly it was. Family is very important to her and she loves seeing families come together to watch Monster Jam.
6. Krysten calls her dad before each show
Krysten’s pre-show ritual involves calling her dad. She knows she can turn to him with any questions or concerns and that he will offer her great advice. After she has talked to her dad she is able to calm her nerves, clear head and focus on what she needs to do.
“The only time I ever really get nervous in the truck is right before I’m about to go out,” Anderson told ESPN. “I have those butterflies all the way up my throat and down to the tips of my toes. 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. I [worry] about doing badly — that is my biggest fear every time in the truck. I couldn’t care less about anything else.”
She also likes to take some time to herself in her trailer before a show, a moment to escape the hustle and bustle of Monster Jam and prep herself for what she’s about to do.
“I try to keep my mind clear,” she told ESPN. “I don’t try to overthink anything. 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.”
7. Her nickname is Krustacean!
When her oldest nephew was learning how to say her name her somehow ended up calling her Krustacean instead. Everyone in the family thought it was extremely funny and so the name stuck.
8. Her favorite food is Seafood
Living on the East Coast in North Carolina gives her easy access to some of the best and freshest seafood in the country. She has said that she could eat seafood every day…and she makes a mean tuna steak.
9. She once took a field trip to her own house in 4th Grade
It was in 4th grade that really realized her life was different than most peoples’. While in 4th grade her class took a field trip to her house because there was a huge monster truck shop attached to it. They also go to take rides of her brother’s ride truck.
10. Her favorite type of music is “Outlaw Country”
“Outlaw Country” music is a subgenre of country music. It was most popular in the 1970s and 1980s (for reference Willie Nelson’s music would be considered “Outlaw Country”)
11. Krysten’s mom didn’t want her to drive Monster Trucks
Her mom never wanted her to join Monster Jam, she wanted her to become a veterinarian. Growing up Krysten and her mom would often sing the song “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard. One line from the song says, “ No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried” Even though Krysten’s mom has since come around to career choice and is fully supportive Krysten and her mom both think it’s very funny when Krysten uses the tag #mamatried on her social media posts as a reference to this song and her mom’s initial lack of enthusiasm for her career choice
12. She can sing almost every Hank Williams Jr song
In a level of talent that almost matches her driving skill, she can sing almost every Hank Williams Jr. song from memory. Not too surprising because as we learned previously, Krysten certainly loves her country music.
13. Krysten never planned to be a Monster Truck Driver
Krysten didn’t set out to drive for Monster Jam. Her original plan was to go to college and study studio art and graphic design. From there she planned to pursue a career as a graphic designer for the Monster Jam trucks. But, after high school, she got a call from Monster Jam asking her if she was interested in attending Monster Jam University. Krysten realized she couldn’t pass on such an amazing opportunity..and so she officially entered into the family business.
“I didn’t want to look back, I didn’t want it to be a big ‘what if,'” she told ESPN. “College would always be there for me, but I wasn’t sure how long a seat in a monster truck, especially Grave Digger, would be waiting for me.”
“I literally said, ‘Yes,’ out of nowhere,” Krysten told The Daily Orange. “I felt there was no way I could turn down an opportunity like that. …Three years later, I’m still doing it.”
Krysten hasn’t ruled out going to college someday, but for now driving Grave Digger is where she wants to be.
Let’s Just Say it…Krysten Rocks
Ok so we all agree, right? We all agree that Krysten sounds dope. I don’t even like seafood but I wouldn’t totally be willing to hang out with her, listen to some “Outlaw Country” and chow down on some tuna steak. I mean I’m not even sure what tuna steak is but I’m sure she cooks it like a boss.
Krysten is a rad driver with amazing skills and a solid head on her shoulders. Despite her instant fame and name recognition in the Monster Jam world she seems very down to earth and approachable. It’s easy to understand why her fans love her and why her fellow drivers enjoy being around her as well.
Hey Krysten, if you ever want to hang out just let me know, okay?
