Gen X Late Models proving to be right fit for Mike Anderson

tombergie01
Aug 12
3 min read

After racing in several divisions in more than three decades of racing, Mike Anderson has found a class he believes he will eventually retire in.

In 2024, the 58-year-old from Walcott, N.D., jumped into the Gen X Late Model class at I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls. He had a solid year, with one win and two top fives in the class.

“The class seems like it’s growing,” Anderson said. "It’s cleaned up a lot compared to what it used to be when it first started. You’re getting some talented drivers in this class.”

This year, Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon added the class, giving him two nights a week to run his 18A machine.

“Everybody at Fergus Falls, and Lisbon picked them up this year, everyone seems to be pretty open and friendly in this class,” Anderson said. “it’s just a fun atmosphere.”

While there are some teenagers in the Gen X Late Model class – Parker Gilbertson, Cade Skytland, Tai Engels, Lexie Fleming are among those – but Anderson is one of the established racing veterans in the class.

He started out in the Mini Stock class years ago at Buffalo River Speedway. He’s raced in the B Modified, IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car and Wissota Street Stock classes in his long career.

“I’ve drove everything,” Anderson said.

His interest in racing started when his dad raced in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“I hung out with him,” Anderson said. “It’s just the memories of that…late nights in the shop, helping with tires.”

His neighbor, Len Kneip, also was also into racing, and that furthered an interest that spanned nearly 35 years.

“It’s tough to get out of your system,” Anderson said.

Even though he’s raced in many divisions, a highlight for Anderson came in the Wissota Street Stocks in 2014, when he won the track championship at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks.

“We had a great year that year,” Anderson said. “That’s the year I should have probably retired.”

The IMCA Stock Cars came to the Fargo-Moorhead region in 2017, and it’s been a popular class, not only for drivers, but among race fans. Anderson raced in the class from 2017-2023, mainly at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo. He won three stock-car features at RRVS during that span and one at Norman County Raceway in Ada.

After 2023, however, he decided to jump into the Gen X Late Model class.

“The cost is reasonable on it,” Anderson said. “You are on a spec shock, and either a B mod motor or a 604 crate. You are limited to that. You have to run used tires. It really cuts down on the cost.”

Anderson finished in the top 10 in six of his 12 starts at I-94 and finished ninth in the points in 2025 despite missing four nights of competition.

He got a new car – a Rocket Chassis – and his 2024 Rocket has been taken over by young Cade Skytland, some of long-time driver Cody Skytland. The Skytlands are Anderson’s neighbors, and they work on their cars together.

“It’s fun to hang out those guys,” Anderson said. “It’s a good time all the way around.”

This year, while adjusting to a new car.Anderson has two top fives, including a pair of second place finishes at Sheyenne Speedway.

What keeps him racing at his age?

“The adrenaline rush is the main thing,” Anderson said. “And winning, being competitive. Nobody wants to come out here and run last all the time. At my age, the adrenaline rush is the biggest thing.”