New winners, weddings and Owen family take center stage at derby

• Rear-ended

The No. 13 car of Marcus Peterson had its rear hit by the No. 50 car of Chace Kinneman in the full-sized division.
• Smack down

The K car of Nick Kernstock puts a smack into the side of the J car of Jason Bates in the compact car division.

Talk about it

More...

• 43rd Annual Ellsworth Funsters' Pierce County Fair Demoltion Derby

The 43rd annual Ellsworth Funster Demolition Derby at the Pierce County Fair featured a little bit of everything Saturday evening.

Following the National Anthem by Ellsworth High School student Marissa Nelson, Brady Keepers rode in front of the Grandstand in the car of his friend holding a sign up that asked "Renee, will you marry me?" With the help of the Funsters and Jack Hines announcing, his girlfriend was called in front of the crowd as part of the stunt, tricking her into thinking she won something only to be proposed to in front of a capacity crowd at the Fairgrounds' grandstand. She accepted.

The derby also featured a tribute to the late Bernard Owen, one of the first Pierce County Fair Demo Derby drivers who passed away earlier this year. Bernard's involvement and encouragement over the years helped the derby grow to the event it is today and the involvement of his family as derby competitors and champions did the same. The Owen family was honored with a a pair of trophies during a ceremony midway through the event with Bernard's son, grandson and nephews participating as well.

It was also a night for new champions as Tyler Matthews won the full-sized car division for models from 1980 and older in his No. 18 car. Following him were Victor Peterson (No. 24) in second place and Darrel Peterson (No. 11) in third place. Twenty-seven cars were entered into the competition, the first time in a few years there were more full-sized cars than compacts.

Fifteen cars were entered into the compact division and it was won by Nick Frion's D car. Finishing second was Tracy Miller in the A car and in third was Corey Flynn in the I car.

Winning the consolation round was Travis Jennings No. 53 car.

The total purse was over $4,600.

Tags: pierce county fair, sports, entertainment