Shelly Anderson
Shelly Anderson-Payne is a second generation, award winning, enthusiast. Shelly followed in her father’s, Brad Anderson, footsteps as a crew member and ultimately a top ranked driver. As a teenager, she could be found working with her father’s crew doing everything from cleaning parts to working on the car, learning the intricacies of the sport. Brad’s sponsor at that time was Jolly Rancher candies that liked the way the family worked together and offered Shelly a Top Fuel ride. At that time, Shelly was in her last year of college and Brad insisted she graduate before becoming a full time racer.
Shelly earned her NHRA dragster license in 1991 and began her driving career at the wheel of a supercharged Chrysler powered AA/Alcohol Dragster and notched her first national event win that same year at the NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, GA. Shelly made the switch from Alcohol fueled cars to Nitro Fuel in 1992 at the wheel of a supercharged Chrysler powered AA/Fuel Dragster and posted her first national AA/Fuel Dragster win at the NHRA Keystone Nationals in Reading, PA.
In 1998 she experienced a ‘double tire explosion’ that sent her into the guardrail at over 300 mph and left her with third degree burns on both legs and her left arm and hand. Upon her release from the burn hospital, Shelly went to Indianapolis, IN to compete in the NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Shelly finished the 1998 season in the car but the next year she retired from driving and accepted a position at ESPN as a drag racing commentator where she was able to present a unique overview of the sport. After working on the NHRA shows for two and a half years, Shelly took time off to have her daughter, Madison.
She earned her Pro Mod license in 2004 and moved into the seat of a Dodge Stratus Pro Mod car until she briefly retired from driving to deliver son, Toby. While she was extremely competitive in this class, in 2005 she was involved in two terrible crashes. Between the two crashes, she suffered two broken vertebrae and multiple cuts and bruises for which she underwent corrective surgery. Upon her release from the hospital Shelly returned to compete at the AMS Pro Mod Challenge season opener at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fl in 2006. Her first national win in Pro Mod came later that year at the NHRA Pro Mod Challenge in Dallas, TX.
During her AA/Fuel Dragster days, Shelly won four NHRA National events, and the Budweiser Classic.
She is still totally involved in the sport working full time with husband Jay who competes with his AA/Alcohol dragster, and the husband-wife team both help their son Toby and daughter Madison who both compete in the Super Comp class and cheer Madison on when she is at the wheel of Duane Shields A/Fuel dragster.