Dennis Anderson
Encyclopedia
Dennis Anderson is a professional monster truck
driver. He is the creator and driver of "Grave Digger
" on the USHRA
Monster Jam
circuit. Originally from Norfolk
, Virginia
, he now resides in Poplar Branch
, North Carolina
. In Poplar Branch, he has his own shop where he signs autographs and shoots videos for MTV
, SPEED, TNT, and other TV channels. He also has a wide display of monster trucks including many Grave Digger
s, one Taz, and one Fanta monster truck. He is always favored among a Monster Jam
crowd.
In 1986 Grave Digger underwent a transformation to complete monster truck and first received its distinctive black graveyard paint scheme. In 1987 and 1988 Anderson drove the truck primarily at TNT Motor sports races. In 1988 Anderson beat Bigfoot
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, on a show taped for ESPN
.
Anderson moved to Grave Digger 2 in 1989, with a new 1950 Chevrolet
panel van body. TNT began promoting Grave Digger heavily, especially for races on the Tuff Trax syndicated television series and ESPN
's Powertrax. This was helped by Bigfoot running a limited schedule in the 1989 championship. He was currently sixth in the standings in the 1990 TNT series when he decided to build Grave Digger 3 due to a wreck.
When TNT became a part of the USHRA in 1991, Anderson began running on the USHRA tour and debuted his first four-link truck, Grave Digger 3.
In late 1998, Anderson sold the Grave Digger team to Clear Channel Communications
, leading to controversy and accusations of rigged races due to Anderson driving for the same company that runs the events. In 1999 he won his first championship in the USHRA series. In 2001, he drove Mr. Destruction into a wall of cars as a special stunt for the Louisiana Superdome show. Anderson won the inaugural Monster Jam World Finals
freestyle championship in 2000, and scored a racing championship win at the 2004 World Finals.
Anderson currently drives Grave Digger 20, which debuted in Minneapolis in December 2005, and in which he won another racing championship at the 2006 World Finals. Anderson has also won the 2010 World Finals Racing Championship driving Grave Digger 20.
Anderson is currently a co-host on History Channel's Around the World in 80 Ways.
, forcing him to sit out the 1992 winter season. He recovered and beat Jack Willman Jr. in Taurus at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh
, North Carolina
. Later in 1992, a hard side hit on the wall of Louisville Motor Speedway in Louisville, Kentucky
broke several ribs near his backbone and caused recurring problems throughout his career. A nose-dive, AKA the lawn dart, at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans in 1999 aggravated the injury and caused Anderson to miss several shows over the next couple of years. He reinjured himself at a Special Events show in Bloomsburg
, Pennsylvania
. A broken hand from a non-driving accident in Philadelphia in 2003 sat him out for half of that year. Another was an injury that was less known about was an injury to his right wrist during the summer of 2006 in a non monster truck accident. Anderson's most recent injury is an arm injury at the Metrodome
in late 2006, meaning his son Adam Anderson
drove Grave Digger at shows in early 2007.
Back in his early mud bogging days, he was known for running full throttle, flinging mud everywhere. He would either make a mess going through, or break the truck from heavy strain during most events.
Monster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
driver. He is the creator and driver of "Grave Digger
Grave Digger (truck)
Grave Digger is the name of a team of monster trucks currently racing in the USHRA Monster Jam series. There are several Grave Diggers being driven by different drivers to allow them to make appearances at more events, but their flagship driver is creator Dennis Anderson...
" on the USHRA
United States Hot Rod Association
The United States Hot Rod Association is an organization owned by Feld Entertainment that markets various motorsports. These include monster trucks as well as motocross, quad racing and others...
Monster Jam
Monster Jam
Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association and takes place primarily in the United States and around the world...
circuit. Originally from Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, he now resides in Poplar Branch
Poplar Branch, North Carolina
Poplar Branch is an unincorporated community in Currituck County, North Carolina. It lies at an elevation of ....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In Poplar Branch, he has his own shop where he signs autographs and shoots videos for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, SPEED, TNT, and other TV channels. He also has a wide display of monster trucks including many Grave Digger
Grave Digger (truck)
Grave Digger is the name of a team of monster trucks currently racing in the USHRA Monster Jam series. There are several Grave Diggers being driven by different drivers to allow them to make appearances at more events, but their flagship driver is creator Dennis Anderson...
s, one Taz, and one Fanta monster truck. He is always favored among a Monster Jam
Monster Jam
Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association and takes place primarily in the United States and around the world...
crowd.
Career
Dennis started out as a mud bogger with his original Grave Digger in 1981. This truck was a 1952 Ford pickup truck, later converted to a silver and blue 1951 Ford Panel Truck. At one local show, a scheduled monster truck failed to show up and Anderson, who already had large tractor tires on the truck, offered to crush cars in the absence of the full-size monster. The success of the vehicle led Anderson to pursue monster trucks as a career.In 1986 Grave Digger underwent a transformation to complete monster truck and first received its distinctive black graveyard paint scheme. In 1987 and 1988 Anderson drove the truck primarily at TNT Motor sports races. In 1988 Anderson beat Bigfoot
Bigfoot (truck)
Bigfoot, introduced in 1979, is regarded as the original monster truck. Other trucks with the name "Bigfoot" have been introduced in the years since, and it remains the most well-known monster truck moniker in the United States. Bigfoot 4x4, Inc. is owned and operated by its creator, Bob Chandler.-...
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, on a show taped for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Anderson moved to Grave Digger 2 in 1989, with a new 1950 Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
panel van body. TNT began promoting Grave Digger heavily, especially for races on the Tuff Trax syndicated television series and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Powertrax. This was helped by Bigfoot running a limited schedule in the 1989 championship. He was currently sixth in the standings in the 1990 TNT series when he decided to build Grave Digger 3 due to a wreck.
When TNT became a part of the USHRA in 1991, Anderson began running on the USHRA tour and debuted his first four-link truck, Grave Digger 3.
In late 1998, Anderson sold the Grave Digger team to Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, leading to controversy and accusations of rigged races due to Anderson driving for the same company that runs the events. In 1999 he won his first championship in the USHRA series. In 2001, he drove Mr. Destruction into a wall of cars as a special stunt for the Louisiana Superdome show. Anderson won the inaugural Monster Jam World Finals
Monster Jam World Finals
The Monster Jam World Finals is an annual monster truck event held in late March at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. It is the championship event of the USHRA Monster Jam series. It consists of racing and freestyle segments, and the winner of each is considered the series champion in that...
freestyle championship in 2000, and scored a racing championship win at the 2004 World Finals.
Anderson currently drives Grave Digger 20, which debuted in Minneapolis in December 2005, and in which he won another racing championship at the 2006 World Finals. Anderson has also won the 2010 World Finals Racing Championship driving Grave Digger 20.
Anderson is currently a co-host on History Channel's Around the World in 80 Ways.
Injuries
Anderson has had several injuries over his career. In late 1991 he broke his kneecap when he hit a wall at the Rosemont Horizon in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, forcing him to sit out the 1992 winter season. He recovered and beat Jack Willman Jr. in Taurus at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Later in 1992, a hard side hit on the wall of Louisville Motor Speedway in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
broke several ribs near his backbone and caused recurring problems throughout his career. A nose-dive, AKA the lawn dart, at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans in 1999 aggravated the injury and caused Anderson to miss several shows over the next couple of years. He reinjured himself at a Special Events show in Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg is a town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, 40 miles southwest of Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna River. In 1900, the population of Bloomsburg stood at 6,170; in 1910, 7,413; in 1940, 9,799, and in 1990, 12,439. The population was 14,855 at the 2010 census...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. A broken hand from a non-driving accident in Philadelphia in 2003 sat him out for half of that year. Another was an injury that was less known about was an injury to his right wrist during the summer of 2006 in a non monster truck accident. Anderson's most recent injury is an arm injury at the Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
in late 2006, meaning his son Adam Anderson
Adam Anderson (monster truck driver)
Adam Anderson is an American professional monster truck driver. He currently drives the monster truck Taz on the USHRA Monster Jam circuit.-Career:Adam Anderson is the son of monster truck pioneer Dennis Anderson...
drove Grave Digger at shows in early 2007.
Hallmarks
Anderson has often crashed or damaged his truck early in racing rounds due to his driving style. For this reason, he had a nickname of "One Run Anderson".Back in his early mud bogging days, he was known for running full throttle, flinging mud everywhere. He would either make a mess going through, or break the truck from heavy strain during most events.
Awards
- USHRA Racing Champion - 1999
- USHRA World Finals Freestyle Champion - 2000
- USHRA World Finals Racing Champion - 2004, 2006, 2010
Places Where He is Featured
- Monster Jam Video GameMonster Jam (video game)Monster Jam is a video game of the off-road racing genre to released in on November 13, 2007 by Activision. It is licensed by the USHRA Monster Jam series and features 20 real-life monster trucks, in contrast to Monster 4x4: World Circuit, including Grave Digger and Maximum Destruction...
- Monster Jam: Urban AssaultMonster Jam: Urban AssaultMonster Jam: Urban Assault is a video game based on the popular monster truck series Monster Jam that was released on October 28, 2008 for PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Wii. It is the sequel to Monster Jam video game. It is based on the USHRA Monster Jam Monster Trucks series...
Video Game - Monster Jam website
- Grave Digger Website
- Digger's DungeonDigger's DungeonDigger’s Dungeon, located in Poplar Branch, North Carolina, is the official home of Grave Digger. Besides the usual gift shop, there is a Grave Digger located outside for photographs, as well as a truck that one can sit in within the shop. There are also various pieces of other Grave Diggers...
Shop - SPEED
- TNT
- Monster Jam