Cloverdale native, Top Gun racing team compete locally

Friday, July 11, 2014
Mark Anderson on his four-wheeler in a race earlier in the year. (Courtesy Photo)

The Midwest Cross Country Racing series is making a stop in Greencastle. On July 19 and 20 MWXC will be hosting the Big Four Landing and a Cloverdale racer who has been on a bit of winning streak is looking to continue winning through the final rounds of races.

Mark Anderson has been racing since he was old enough to drive a go-cart and now races four-wheelers.

"I started racing when I was eight-years-old," Anderson said. "I started racing go-carts. I won a couple of state championships, as well as track championships. Me and my dad have raced go-karts from New York all the way to Florida. I competed in go-karts for about 10 years and then took a couple of years off to graduate high school. Then I started competing in four-wheeler racing."

Mark Anderson takes a picture with his dad, Mike, who is the Crew Chief for Top Gun Racing. (Courtesy Photo)

Anderson races for Top Gun racing with his father, Crew Chief Mike Anderson, and his brother Michael Danger.

Last year Danger and Mark Anderson ended the season with a win at a team race that was held in Putnam County at Deer Valley. This year Mark started the season off with a win at round one Briar Ridge race in Greencastle on March 30 and haas won some other races in the county.

"We came back and won another race in Putnam County at Baker's Camp few weeks ago and got top amateur award of the day. We just have been on a pretty good roll this year. We're trying to wrap up a championship by the end of the year," Anderson said.

The Big Four Landing race will be held at 2092 S. County Rd. 500 West and is the sixth round out of 10 in the race schedule. But the Top Gun Racing team will be doing much more than just racing in the final four races.

"August 14 through the 17 we will be going to Carlisle Iowa to compete in the Heartland Challenge. It's a 10-hour race and we are hoping for a win out there as well."

Anderson is a race fan as well as an athlete and as someone who has raced multiple vehicles in organized competition he appreciates the physical demand that riding a four-wheeler provides.

"A lot of people think racing is racing but there is a lot to it," Anderson said. "With go-karts, tires and set up is the biggest thing. You are battling tire compounds every race. Four-wheelers it's more making your quad last. You have to finish the race strong, and you are racing for two hours in the woods so your quad takes a beating. So four wheelers are more physical but not as technical."

Anderson and his Top Gun crew will be looking perform well for the home-town crowd in Greencastle and a win at Big Four Landing will put the team in good shape when it comes to racking up points for their championship bid.

For more information on racers or the schedule visit www.midwestxc.com.

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  • Nice!!!!

    -- Posted by General04 on Sun, Jul 13, 2014, at 9:36 AM
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