By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Tri-County Fair Demolition Derby in Petersburg was a smashing success with a standing room only crowd cheering on the action in front of the main stage with many spectators standing along the fence.
The Demolition Derby featured 22 drivers from West Virginia, plus six from Virginia and one from Maryland.
From smoking cars to one flying above the barrier fence, the action was intense.
Tri-County Fair Queen Olivia Kimble and Teen Queen Olivia Layton were given a ride into the arena on a derby car and stood on it for the national anthem, then directed the competitors into their starting positions and waved the starting flags for each demolition derby session.
“This is my first demolition derby I have ever been to. The stands are packed. It was a lot of fun, but very loud. I tried to cover my ears. It was cool to wave the flag out there, but it was very muddy and I was glad I didn’t fall,” Tri-County Fair Queen Olivia Kimble noted.
The Demolition Stock Full Size feature champion was Brent Niner from Oakland, Maryland.
The Demolition Derby Stock Full Size competitors were: Brent Niner (Oakland, MD – Feature Champion), Brandon Marston (Brandywine, WV – Feature Runner-up), Robert Beers (Williamsville, VA – Feature Third Place), Richard Bussard (Brandywine, WV), Zachary Vint (Seneca Rocks, WV), Bronson Bogan (Franklin, WV), Steven Cook (Brandywine, WV), Brandon Poling (Kingwood, WV) and Tyler Propst (Brandywine, WV).
The Demolition Derby Stock Compact feature champion was Brian Travis from Grafton, West Virginia.
The Demolition Derby Stock Compact competitors were: Brian Travis (Grafton, WV – Feature Champion), Avery Owens (Tunnelton, WV – Feature Runner-up), Cody Travis (Tunnelton, WV – Feature Third Place), Adam Ruddle (Franklin, WV), Andrew Mowery (Upper Tract, WV), Scott Kurkendall (Petersburg, WV), Josh Chaney (Petersburg, WV), Jay Alleshouse (Petersburg, WV), Braxton Layman (Petersburg, WV), Josh Snyder (Petersburg, WV), Elijah Grimm (Grafton, WV), William Grogg (Maysville, WV), Allyson Owens (Tunnelton, WV), Tyler Arbaugh (Bridgewater, VA), Brandon Marston (Brandywine, WV), Dylan Coleman (Monterey, VA), Colton Williams (Monterey, VA), Will Thomas (Monterey, VA) and Ethan Botkin (Monterey, VA).
It was a loud event with lots of people using ear plugs or noise canceling headphones to protect the ear drums from the noise level of the cars in the demolition derby.
The Demolition Derby had been one of the most popular events at the Tri-County Fair for many decades.
