By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Combining elements of demolition derby mixed with racing, the Figure 8 Truck Races took over the grandstands Tuesday night at the fair.
The Figure 8 races were divided into two classes featuring small and large two-wheel drive trucks with the top two places from each heat advancing to the finals for each class.
As the drivers were sure to swap paint during the race, prior to starting the races an amendment was made to the rules dropping the amount of laps per heat from 15 to 10 laps, and the championship races from 20 laps down to 15 laps.
Ashley Knecht who watched the races from the pit explained her favorite part of the races.
“Seeing the competition in between the cars, watching the people go around and seeing how they work with each other, and the little rivalries that come around with it; it makes it that much more fun.”
In the second heat of the small truck series Dylan Morgan drove the only car in the Figure 8 races. Racing his 2001 Mitsubishi Galant Morgan drove gallantly, holding the lead for much of the heat, while flipping a competitor, but with two laps left Morgan’s transmission died ending his day.
“I ran in derbies my whole life, and running against cars wasn’t a real big deal,” Morgan said in reference to going up against trucks.
Adam Miller took first place in the small truck series. Taking first place in the large truck class was Art Bauersmith.