Jennifer Anderson bumps and runs to win in Better Half Dash

Left to right: Tammy Rice, Jennifer Anderson, Kate Tomanio
Credit: Debbie Ross / Skirts and Scuffs

Jennifer Anderson took home the trophy and the check from the 7th Annual Better Half Dash on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She took the lead with a late-race bump and run after starting second behind Paige Keselowski.

Anderson’s "other half" is NCWTS driver Austin Wayne Self, who spotted for her in the charity race sponsored by Motor Racing Outreach. Her brother, Jordan, also competes in the Truck Series, but it was Self who spotted for Jennifer for the 25-lap Bandolero race.

In Victory Lane, she joked, “The first thing I said over the radio was, 'I got a win before you and Jordan this year.'”

Anderson bested Tammy Rice, wife of No. 11 Blake Koch crew chief Chris Rice, and Kate Tomanio, wife of NASCAR mechanic Trey Tomanio. Keselowski, who won the pole and led the most laps, wound up fifth.

Jennifer Anderson gets a congratulatory kiss from boyfriend Austin Wayne Self.
Credit: Debbie Ross/Skirts and Scuffs 

A native of Columbia, S.C., Anderson works in PR in NASCAR asince moving to Charlotte a year ago. She’s spent plenty of time at the track over the years with her brother and met Self through the Truck series.

Anderson carried reminders of both her brother and boyfriend. Her firesuit carried the famous "Don't Mess With Texas" slogan from the anti-litter campaign that sponsored Self for several races this season, and his sponsor AM Technical Solutions rode on the rear quarter panel. Brother Jordan's sponsor Bommarito Auto Group out of St. Louis graced the rear bumper.

The $10,000 prize and donations made on Anderson's behalf go to MRO and the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation, which benefits autism awareness and research.

The Sadler brothers were quick to extend congratulations via Twitter:

Congrats. And thanks for taking mine and @Elliott_Sadler Foundation along for the ride !! https://t.co/KjQL8IVjNd

— Hermie Sadler (@HermieSadler) October 6, 2017

Congrats @JeniAnderson18 on the big win!! https://t.co/ZEBwEnZfzJ

— Elliott Sadler (@Elliott_Sadler) October 6, 2017