Krysten Anderson

Krysten Anderson became the first woman to drive the legendary Grave Digger monster truck and the first female to win a Monster Jam series championship, proving she could hold her own in a sport dominated by men—and doing it while carrying one of motorsports’ most iconic legacies on her shoulders.

EARLY YEARS

Born May 16, 1997, in Currituck, North Carolina, Krysten Anderson grew up in Kill Devil Hills surrounded by the roar of monster truck engines and the weight of a family legacy[1][2][3]. Her father, Dennis Anderson, created and drove Grave Digger for over 35 years, becoming a Monster Jam legend before retiring in 2017 due to injury[1][2][3][4]. Her brothers, Adam and Ryan Anderson, both became Monster Jam World Champions, cementing the Anderson family as legends in motorsports entertainment[3][4]. While most kids played with dolls or soccer balls, Krysten’s playground was a workshop full of 10,000-pound trucks with names that sounded like death metal bands.

But here’s the thing: she didn’t immediately jump into the driver’s seat. After graduating high school, Krysten had plans to study graphic design in college—she wanted to design Monster Jam trucks, not drive them[1][4]. It wasn’t until she was 18 in 2015 that she got behind the wheel of a monster truck for the first time[1][2][4]. The pivot from designer to driver came when Monster Jam contacted Dennis about Krysten taking over Grave Digger as he approached retirement, coinciding with the truck’s 35th anniversary in 2017[1][2][4]. She joined Monster Jam in 2016, and by 2017, she became the first full-time female driver of Grave Digger[1][2][4][5]—a responsibility that came with massive expectations and zero room for error.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she’s not crushing cars and launching herself off ramps, Krysten works at Digger’s Diner, keeping ties to the family business beyond the arena[2]. Her musical taste runs toward outlaw country, which feels perfectly on-brand for someone who makes a living defying gravity in a 12-foot-tall truck[7]. Beyond that, details about hobbies and downtime remain scarce—probably because when your day job involves backflips in a monster truck, everything else feels a little tame.

EARLY SUCCESS

Anderson’s rookie year in 2017 was, in her own words, “very rough”[1][4]. She was brand new, she was a rookie, and she was driving Grave Digger—a truck with decades of history and millions of devoted fans. The pressure of being an Anderson and piloting the most iconic truck in Monster Jam was crushing[1][4]. At one point, she was the slowest qualifier and struggled just to make it down the track correctly[3]. But here’s where the grit kicks in: at her second event in the 2017 Triple Threat Series Central, she won her first freestyle competition[1][2]. She finished sixth overall in the series that year, but more importantly, she proved she belonged[2].

That same year, she pulled off her first backflip during an encore at the World Finals, driving a special “Grandma Grave Digger” body in honor of the truck’s 35th anniversary[2]. By 2018, she had improved her times progressively, shaving seconds off each pass[3], and became the first Grave Digger to compete in the Double Down Showdown at the World Finals in Las Vegas[3]. She wasn’t just surviving anymore—she was building a reputation as a driver unafraid to jump big and flip hard[3].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017: First freestyle win at second event in Triple Threat Series Central[1][2].
• 2017: First backflip at World Finals encore driving Grandma Grave Digger body[2].
• 2018: First Grave Digger to compete in Double Down Showdown at World Finals, Las Vegas[3].
• 2020: Guinness World Record for highest ramp jump by a monster truck at 33 feet 9.6 inches, Bradenton, Florida, June 25[1][3][4][6].
• 2022: Arena Championship Series Central champion—first female Monster Jam series champion in history, holding first place for 19 weeks straight[1][2][5].
• 2022: Rising Star Award[1][2].
• 2024: Second place, East Arena Tour, finishing behind Armando Castro; scored 1.000 in Friday night Baltimore donut competition[2].

INSPIRATIONS

Krysten’s inspirations don’t require much detective work—they’re her father and brothers[3][4][5][7]. Dennis Anderson gave her the opportunity and the legacy; Adam and Ryan showed her what championship-level driving looked like[1][4]. Growing up as the only girl in a family of monster truck royalty meant she was always comfortable in male-dominated settings and learned early how to hold her own[5]. Her family’s decades of history at the World Finals became the benchmark she’s been chasing ever since[3].

REPUTATION

Anderson is known for being fearless behind the wheel—she’s never afraid to jump big or flip, even if performance anxiety sometimes creeps in[3]. She’s candid about the pressure: “I never want to disappoint my dad’s fans or Grave Digger’s fans”[3]. But she’s also fiercely competitive, stating plainly, “I don’t come to the shows to lose”[3]. The motorsports world recognizes her not just as the first female Grave Digger driver, but as someone who held her own against male competitors with far more racing backgrounds, earning a series championship through a five-month battle[1][4][5]. Media coverage has been overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing her pioneering role, family legacy, and record-breaking achievements[3][4][6]. Fans know her as “Blonde to the Bone,” and she carries the weight of representing one of Monster Jam’s most beloved brands with a mix of pride and pressure[2][3].

As the only female series champion in Monster Jam history as of 2024, she’s broken barriers in a sport where women were once considered novelties, not contenders[1][2][4][5]. She’s proven that being an Anderson isn’t just about the name—it’s about the drive, the skill, and the willingness to launch yourself 33 feet into the air just to see if you can.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Krysten aspires to become Monster Jam World Champion and dreams of owning her own monster truck one day[3][4]. She continues to drive Grave Digger on the Monster Jam circuit, representing the family legacy while carving out her own path[1][2]. Beyond that, specific plans remain unannounced, but given her trajectory—from rookie struggling to qualify to record-holder and series champion—it’s safe to say she’s far from finished making history.

References:

Wikipedia – Krysten Anderson
Monster Trucks Wiki – Krysten Anderson
Infrared Watches – Krysten Anderson Profile
Engine Builder Magazine – Women in Motorsports
CleveRock – Krysten Anderson Interview
GoFastGirls – Krysten Anderson
ESPN – Krysten Anderson Feature