After heart epidose, Anderson's back doing what he does

Standing in his trailer after a 12th-place finish in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 100 on May 15, the walls started spinning on Wayne Anderson and then he passed out.

Anderson felt no symptoms while racing, but the 63-year-old's heartbeat spiked soon after and he was depending on a defibrillator to help revive him. Luckily, Ann Young, wife of driver Chris Young, and Rob Bader, another driver - both are registered nurses - were there to assist Anderson, who had a heart arrhythmia.

"Thank God they were there," Anderson said.

Doctors later found blockage in his arteries and Anderson had two stents placed in them. Just over two months later, Anderson was given a clean bill of health and he was back on the track for the Baldwin, Evans, Jarzombek 77 on July 17.

"The new medicine makes it easy for you to get back on the track and do what you want to do," Anderson said, adding that while the doctors have given him the OK to race, his "wife still hasn't."

Anderson, a five-time Modified champion at Riverhead (1982, 1987-88, 1990-91), was also the first Long Islander to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified tour title in 1994.

His racing career began in 1965 when he was the Modified rookie of the year at Islip Speedway, then he did a stint in the Air Force from 1966-69. The Patchogue native and current Yaphank resident has been racing at Riverhead ever since his return. "I'm part of the old guard," Anderson said. "I just love the sport and the action it gives me and the highs it gives me."

Anderson added that his recent medical episode shouldn't affect his racing but said that next season will most likely be his last.

"It's something I've done my whole life," he said. "I'm not afraid anything's going to happen.

"I've seen the whole ball of wax," he continued. "I'll probably be there every Saturday night until they put me in a wheelchair. It's just what I do."