Randy Anderson Calls It a Career!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Randy Anderson Calls It a Career!
(Bill W) Randy Anderson has been one of the more popular drivers over the last ten years at the Knoxville Raceway, and he says it's time to move on to other things in life. With time with the family and his expanding Clarion, Iowa farm occupying much of his time these days, it has been tough the last few years to dedicate himself full-time to sprint car racing.
"I survived a long time driving other people's race cars," says Randy. "There's not too many that can say that on the local level. I was pretty lucky in that respect. For no more than we did in our own car there for a couple of years, we were fortunate to be a hired driver for a lot of years."
Garnering 1997 Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year honors in his own equipment, didn't hurt matters, but more than anything, it was Randy's personality that endeared him to car owners. He won the "Sportsman of the Year" two times (1997 and 2000) at Knoxville, a tribute to his nature.
"Mostly, I'd just like to thank everyone that helped me along the way," says Randy. "First and foremost, my Dad, my Mom and my wife, without them I couldn't have done it. My thanks also include the car owners, and guys like Doug Brown of Jocko's and Wayne Simmons of Twister chassis."
When Randy ran his own car at Knoxville, Simmons' Twister chassis was still in development with Randy behind the wheel. The chassis went on to win multiple championships with USAC and other divisions. "When we got into our own 410, Wayne lined up most of that stuff," says Randy.
In 12 years of driving 410's at Knoxville, Randy drove for no less than twelve car owners. After a handful of shows in the family 360, he found his first 410 work in the #1A of Daryl Arend. After getting back in the family car, he was hired over the years by a number of owners including Mike Robuck (#12), who he won his first feature with in Bethany, Missouri, Gil Sonner (#47), Bill Stroud (#1s), Jerry and Jeff Smith (#86), Bob Vielhauer (#12x), Mike VanderEcken (#10), Scott Cowman (#02), Len Carnahan (#R19), Ed Gifford (#17G) and most recently, Marty Johnson (#81).
Arguably his most success came with Sonner in 2000 and 2001 when he won two features and was fourth in Knoxville points both years. He also earned the Lyle Boyd Hard-charger Award in 2001. "There were a couple of times, and the time with the Sonners was one of them, that I thought I was a lot better than I was at the time," remembers Randy. "I could have been more focused on having fun and doing what I was doing during that time, but I thought differently then than I do now. Sometimes, when you're in the same car for a couple of years, you get tired of each other too."
The retirement thoughts entered the last couple of years while driving for Marty Johnson, but the motivation to race was still evident in Randy. "2007 started so well," he says. "We were really good. Then we got into a couple of wrecks where we junked two cars and I got sick. I came back at the end, and we were still good, but we came back early this year, and we weren't good at all. I was as motivated as I ever was this year, but we weren't good. The last night I drove, on the drive home I told Marty I thought that was it. He wanted me to take a week off and think about it. I did that and I was sitting on a sprayer one day, and I told myself, I kind of like this (farming)."
Randy and the Johnson's remain the best of friends, and though a couple of other offers came in for Randy during 2008, he turned them down. "I can honestly say I've never gotten sick of Marty and Gloria," he says. "I offered my help and support to them whenever they need it. Heck, the shop is right in my hometown. I don't see myself going to the racetrack, I'm not a good 'fan' if I'm not driving, but I'll help them here whenever they need it."
Rumors that Randy would return one more time to Knoxville in the #81 on Season Championship night were true, but he backed out after thinking it through. "None of my family was there the last night I raced, so I thought about doing it," he relates. "For the first time, I really thought there were a lot of times I should have been hurt badly over the years. I thought about that. I talked to Randy Smith for awhile outside the pit gate at the Nationals. He's the one who told me to do some soul searching before I got in that last time. He said I didn't have anything to prove to anybody, and if I was done to walk off. That's what I did."
Randy's driving career at Knoxville includes three wins, 18 top fives and 41 top tens.
(Pictured): Randy on the farm with wife Andrea and daughter Randi Rae
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