Running with outlaws

Some of America's top drivers are presently in Australia for the Outlaw Down Under Series, where they are competing against local drivers at Parramatta City Raceway in Australia's biggest sprint-car event.

As the only female on the tour, Anderson says although she isn't treated differently by her peers, she understands it takes time and experience to reach the top. "You have to come out here and earn their respect," she says. "Some help you more than others. A couple of other girls run some of the Outlaw races, but I'm the only female full-time driver."

The girl from Houston, Delaware, attended her first race at just six-weeks-old. With a father involved in racing, it wasn't long before Anderson herself got behind a wheel, racing micro sprints at 11-years-old.

And now, on the Outlaw tour, Anderson travels from town to town showing she really does have what it takes. In her rookie season last year, she had five top 10 finishes and seems to have earned the respect of fellow American driver, Joey Saldana, who says women are bringing greater diversity to the sport.

"Bec ran Outlaws this year, she did a great job. She's definitely improved quite a bit," Saldana says. "It brings more interest to the sport, at home women are probably 75 per cent of the fans, they're definitely interested."

And Australian driver Trevor Green, who competes in the US and Australia, says "you would be a fool to take Anderson lightly".

But it's not easy competing with America's best. Anderson says it also involves remaining in good physical shape.

"You compete 15 times in 39 days sometimes, which is pretty gruelling," she says. "It's one of those things where you're constantly on the go, you live in a truck out of a suitcase."

But Anderson isn't complaining. Her passion for her chosen sport far outweighs the sacrifices. "The excitement, it's a big adrenalin rush, when you race that fast, that close to one another," she says. "It's the biggest rush I've ever come across." And Anderson's not the only one who seems to enjoy the racing life.

Saldana says "making money doing what you love to do, being a professional race car driver, not working 9 to 5" are all positives.

But the 34-year-old says spending 10 months of the year on the road, and then one month in Australia, is tough on family life.

"I enjoy it, the only bad thing is the time away from home. You have to sacrifice some things. And if you're successful, it's worth doing." And the "Brownsburg Bullet", as Saldana is known, isn't short on success.

Last year he won the Kings Royal leg in Ohio, the second biggest race of the year and came second at the biggest race in Knoxville.

He races for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, which he feels very fortunate to do, as it provides a great financial basis and brings extra fans to the sport.

This is Saldana's seventh trip to Australia, having competed in previous Outlaw Down Under tours and world series events.

He says as it is America's off season, coming to Australia allows drivers to keep in shape in a very competitive environment.

For Australian driver Green, the series helped him get his break. An American owner saw him race in the Outlaws Down Under, and when his driver was later injured he turned to the Aussie who impressed him.

"I absolutely love it. I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't racing. And you don't seem to get worse with age," he says, noting 20-time world champion Steve Kinser is in his 50s. "The more knowledge you get the better you seem to be. It's all about knowledge and experience. I'm 37 now, I've got 15 years left in me," he says.

And while the drivers seem friendly and accepting off the track, it's a whole different ball game on the dirt. "When you're on the track, you don't have any friends, it's everyone for themselves," Anderson says.