'Racing, it's everything we know and do together'

For the Anderson-Swenson race team of Alexandria, dirt-track racing isn’t just a hobby.

Ask Justin Anderson, father of drivers Avery Anderson and Maddie Swenson.

“Racing is more than a sport to our family- it’s where we make memories, chase dreams, learn hard work, and stand together through every lap,” Anderson said.

Avery Anderson, 22, drives the colorful #51A Wissota Modified at Viking and I-94 EMR Speedways, while his sister, Maddie Swenson, 25, drives the similarly colorful #52 Wissota Midwest Modified.

“Growing up, that’s all I knew,” said Swenson, who said she was at her first race at about one week old.

There is another connection at the track for the race team. Justin’s wife, Sarah, is the cousin of long-time modified drivers Josh and Jason Thoennes. In fact, Josh is Avery Anderson’s Godfather.  So if you are wondering where the racing numbers Anderson and Swenson use came from…

“We all park together, and we have same numbers,” Avery said. “My dad used to be (Josh’s) pitman. That’s how I got into it, coming to the track every weekend.”

Avery Anderson, who builds homes with his father, ran go-karts when he was young, and got his start way back in 2019, running some Wissota Midwest Modified races later in the season in what is one of the most competitive classes in Wissota.  In 2021 and 2022, he recorded six top five finishes before jumping into a Wissota Modified in 2023.

Swenson, a registered nurse who is attending school to be a nurse practitioner, took a little different route behind the wheel. During the Labor Day doubleheader at Viking in 2021, Shawn Beto’s Hornet car was for sale.  Swenson decided to walk over and buy it – to the surprise of her father and brother.

“I bought his hornet and he brought it home,” Swenson said. “They had no idea. They came home and said  ‘what is this?’”

Swenson ran in the class in 2022, finishing with eight top fives, with a best finish of third.

In 2023, things changed. Avery moved into the Wissota Mods, and Maddie jumped into the Wissota Midwest Modified class. For both, it was an adjustment, and Avery turned into a mentor of sorts for Swenson.

“It’s a competitive sport -- especially the Midwest Mods,” Swenson said. “Avery’s been a great help to me,”

“The first couple of years you just have to get a lot of seat time,” Avery Anderson said. “That’s what my sister is doing. There’s a lot of talented drivers out there. It’s learning how to be aggressive and learning the edge of your car. It’s easy to past the edge; you’ve got to keep it on that edge and push it as hard as you can.”

Both drivers entered 2026 with new cars. Maddie’s first three years in the Midwest Modified were in a car that was raced IMCA before being switched to Wissota.  In some ways she is starting over behind the wheel this year with the new chassis.

“This year is a big challenge. I am having to drive the car differently,” Swenson said. “The biggest challenge is learning to throw old driving habits out the window and start fresh. I’m starting on a clean plate.”

Avery Anderson picked up his first career win in 2024 at Viking Speedway, holding off modified stalwarts Brady Gerdes and Travis Saurer on a late restart.  The irony was the car had been damaged from a Friday night crash; Avery said Justin got up early in the morning to put a new rear end in the car to get it ready for Viking.

“There was a caution with two laps to go and Saurer and Gerdes were behind me throwing sliders,” Avery Anderson said. “I lost the lead on the last lap, and I was able to get back underneath. It was a good hard-fought race.”

For Swenson,  this year isn’t about her results. And Avery Anderson, who had some tough luck in 2025 and is looking to bounce back this year.

“I’m trying not to focus on where I finish. It’s just making laps and becoming a better driver,” Swenson said. “I am learning so much in just a couple of weeks.”

“Just to try and get the car and myself consistent, and be in the tech shed,” Avery Anderson said. “That’s the goal is to get to the tech shed every night. If you are in the tech shed, that means you are a consistent threat to win.”

But in the end, the results on the track aren’t what is most valued for the Anderson/Swenson race team.

“It’s a big thing we do together. We don’t do anything outside of racing,” Swenson said. “We’re out in the shop, every single night of the week working on each other’s cars.  It means a lot to our family. Racing, it’s everything we know and do together.”

Driver profiles

Maddie Swenson

Wissota Midwest Modified #52

Age: 25

Residence: Alexandria, Minn.

Sponsors: Shaa Construction, Walter’s Insurance Services, Paz Excavating, Anderson’s Guide Service, Simonson Lumber, Sower Power, Camping World, Pelican Dental, Evolve Orthodontics, CocoBooty, Hazel Hill Cabinetry, Vance Thompson Vision, TRE, Odyssey Steel, Sunnybrook Farms, Tri County Foam, Fat Daddy’s Bar, and Grill Custom Comfort

Avery Anderson

Wissota Modified #51A

Age: 22

Residence: Alexandria, Minn.

Sponsors: Shaa Construction, Simonson Lumber, Fat Daddy’s Bar, Paz Excavating, TRE, Arnquist Floor, Evolve Orthodontics, CoCoBooty, Sower Power Racing Engines, Odyssey Steel, Moe’s Plumbing, Pelican Dental, Farmers Union Oil, Hazel Hill Carpentry, Vance Thompson Vision, Custom Comfort Plumbing and Heating, Executive Sanitation, Walters Insurance Services, Anderson’s Guide Service, Tri-County Foam Insulation, Cain Designs and Wraps, Bryant Heating and Cooling, Angelina’s Restaurant