Sylvie Willis
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, honed her skills in top fuel dragster races, where she set the record for the quickest top-fuel run ever at 4.718 seconds. Anderson, who grew up in a racing family, faced numerous challenges in her career, including mechanical problems and learning to navigate new tracks. She is the daughter of former racer Brad Anderson, a three-time Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion, and her own accomplishments include four wins in Top Fuel and one victory in Top Alcohol Dragster at the 1992 Atlanta race.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Shelly Anderson |
| Occupation | Top Fuel Dragster Driver |
| Achievements | World's fastest woman race driver, NHRA top-alcohol champion, set top-fuel elapsed-time record |
| Family | Brad Anderson (father, former NHRA top-alcohol champion), Madison (daughter), Toby (son) |
| Education | Cal State Fullerton graduate |
| Racing Team | Family-owned team |
| Notable Races | Budweiser Classic, Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Keystone Nationals, Chief Auto Parts Winternationals |
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What You'll Learn
Shelly Anderson's racing career
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, has spent most of her career learning to keep her top fuel dragster headed in a straight line at 300 mph. She grew up in a racing family a few miles from Pomona in Covina, and recorded the quickest top-fuel run ever, 4.718 seconds, and later ran another 4.71 in the Budweiser Classic finals against Cory McClenathan, which earned her family-owned team a $50,000 bonus. She also became the first female winner of the Budweiser Classic, accomplishing in her first outing what Shirley Muldowney and Lori Johns had failed to do. Anderson’s first-round victory over Don Prudhomme gave her special satisfaction, as Prudhomme had beaten her three times that year in first-round matches.
Anderson is a Cal State Fullerton graduate, and her first victory came in last year’s Keystone Nationals at Reading, Pa. In two earlier rounds, Anderson had mechanical problems, but managed to keep her foot down and her dragster moving. “It wasn’t any big deal,” she said of her dramatic rides, including one in which her long dragster almost got sideways. “That’s part of driving.”
On Saturday, in the pro-celebrity portion of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend, she tried something new—turning left and turning right at speeds closer to 65 m.p.h. She said it was like learning to drive all over again.
Anderson and a dozen others, mostly TV personalities, drove Toyota Celica GT Liftbacks in a 10-lap race over the same 1.59-mile circuit that the Indy cars would compete on Sunday. She missed the Winston Select Invitational, a non-points race, to race at Long Beach. She is not the first drag racer to drive in the Toyota pro-celebrity event.
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Shelly Anderson's top-fuel dragster
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, has spent most of her career learning to keep her top-fuel dragster headed in a straight line at 300 mph. In the pro-celebrity portion of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend, she tried something new—turning left and right at speeds closer to 65 mph. Anderson, a 29-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate, set a National Hot Rod Assn. elapsed-time record of 4.718 seconds in winning $50,000 in the Budweiser Classic during the Winston Select Finals at Pomona. After four events, she was eighth in the top fuel standings.
Anderson grew up in a racing family, just a few miles from Pomona in Covina. She recorded the quickest top-fuel run ever, 4.718 seconds, and later ran a 4.741 to claim the official NHRA elapsed time record. She became the first female winner of the Budweiser Classic, accomplishing in her first outing what Shirley Muldowney and Lori Johns had failed to do. Anderson's first-round victory over Don Prudhomme gave her special satisfaction, as Prudhomme had beaten her three times that year in first-round matches.
In the Budweiser Classic finals, Anderson's margin of victory was five-thousandths of a second. At the 1,000-foot mark, her opponent, Hill, was ahead by .028 when two cylinders misfired on his Pennzoil dragster. The final was anticlimactic as her opponent, McClenathan's, car had a supercharger malfunction at the start. Anderson said she did not know that McClenathan did not start, as she was busy watching the lights and hoping he wouldn't drive around her.
Anderson's victory at the Budweiser Classic was not without its challenges. In two earlier rounds, she had mechanical problems but managed to keep her foot down and her dragster moving. "It wasn’t any big deal," she said of her dramatic rides, including one in which her long dragster almost got sideways. "That’s part of driving." Anderson's victory in the Budweiser Classic earned her family-owned team a $50,000 bonus. If no one bettered her elapsed-time record in the following day's eliminations, she would collect another $50,000 from the Slick 50 World Record Club.
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Shelly Anderson's racing family
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, grew up in a racing family in Covina, a few miles from Pomona. Her father, Brad Anderson, is a former racer and three-time Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion. Shelly's first victory was in the Keystone Nationals at Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1993, making her the fourth female Top Fuel winner.
Shelly's first experience of racing was in her father's top-fuel dragster. She won the Chief Auto Parts Winternationals, the opening event of the National Hot Rod Assn. season, in 1994. Shelly's left rear tire exploded, but she still managed to finish the race, despite the car being damaged. Her second victory was in the Keystone Nationals in 1993, where she beat Mike Dunn. She also won the 1994 Budweiser Classic, setting a new top-fuel elapsed-time record of 4.718 seconds and winning $50,000. Shelly's family-owned team earned an additional $50,000 when she backed up her record with a time of 4.741 later in the day.
Shelly has also raced in the Pro Mod class alongside her husband, Jay Payne. Their daughter, Madison, has won three national events in Top Alcohol Dragster and Super Comp, while their son, Toby, has claimed a runner-up spot in Super Comp.
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Shelly Anderson's racing achievements
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, has had a successful career in top fuel dragster racing. She has spent most of her career racing at speeds of 300 mph, keeping her top fuel dragster headed in a straight line. In 1994, Anderson set the top-fuel elapsed-time record of 4.718 seconds, claiming the official National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) elapsed time record. She achieved this feat during the Budweiser Classic finals, where she faced Cory McClenathan and earned a $50,000 bonus for her family-owned team.
Anderson's achievements continued in the following year, 1995, when she participated in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. This event marked a departure from her usual straight-line racing, as she had to navigate left and right turns at speeds of around 65 mph. Her performance in the pro-celebrity portion of this event added another layer to her racing experience.
Prior to this, in 1994, Anderson had also won the Keystone Nationals at Reading, Pennsylvania. This was her first victory, and she followed it up with a win at the Chief Auto Parts Winternationals, the opening event of the National Hot Rod Assn. season. During this race, she faced challenges with her car but still managed to cross the finish line first, showcasing her determination and skill.
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Shelly Anderson's racing challenges
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, has faced numerous racing challenges throughout her career. One of her primary challenges has been mastering the art of keeping her top fuel dragster straight at incredible speeds of 300 mph. Anderson has spent a significant portion of her racing journey learning to maintain control and keep her dragster headed in a straight line at such high speeds.
Another challenge Anderson encountered was adapting to new racing conditions and vehicle types. During the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend, she stepped out of her comfort zone, competing in a race that required her to turn left and right at speeds of around 65 mph. This was a significant shift from her usual straight-line drag racing, and she likened it to "learning to drive all over again."
In addition, Anderson has faced mechanical issues and unexpected events during races. On one occasion, she won the top-fuel title despite losing a tire during the race, showcasing her resilience and determination. She has also experienced mechanical problems during earlier rounds of races but managed to keep her composure and continue racing.
The racing world presents various challenges, and Shelly Anderson has had to navigate through them to achieve success. One such challenge was the ever-present competition from fellow racers. Anderson has gone up against notable names in the racing industry, including John Force, Cruz Pedregon, Don Prudhomme, and Tom McEwen. She has also faced off against Cory McClenathan, Eddie Hill, and Rance McDaniel, showcasing her ability to rise to the occasion and compete with the best.
Furthermore, Shelly Anderson has had to overcome the pressure and expectations that come with being a record-setter and a trailblazer for women in racing. As a female racer, she has broken barriers and set new standards, such as becoming the first female winner of the Budweiser Classic. Anderson's achievements have not only brought her recognition but have also added the challenge of maintaining and surpassing her own records.
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Frequently asked questions
Shelly Anderson, the world's fastest woman race driver, was trained by her father, Brad Anderson, a former NHRA top-alcohol champion.
Shelly Anderson is a top fuel dragster driver.
Shelly Anderson set the quickest top-fuel run ever, 4.718 seconds, and backed it up with a 4.741 later in the day to claim the official NHRA elapsed time record.
Shelly Anderson drove her father’s top-fuel dragster to achieve this record.
Yes, during the Winternationals, Shelly Anderson's left rear tire exploded, but she still managed to win the race.
