While the Friday night auto demolition derby remains the main draw at the annual Monroe County Fair, last Wednesday’s Figure 8 race consistently places a close second. 

One of the largest crowds ever for this event packed the expanded grandstands of the main arena for this year’s Figure 8 action. 

Counting heats, consolations and features for both compact and large cars, attendees were treated to 13 races in the mud last Wednesday night. 

The heats and consolation races in both small and large cars were 15 laps of Figure 8 racing, with the feature races being set at 20 laps.

When it all wrapped up, Tony Brellinger of Hillsboro, Mo., won first place in the compact division with his orange No. 55b car. Brellinger said it was the first time he has won the event in 14 years of competing. 

The 14-car compact feature had a scare when one of the racers flipped their car, resulting in a brief delay but fortunately no injuries.

In the large car division, Austin Kern of Waterloo took the top trophy with his silver No. 25 entry. There were 10 cars in that feature.

Another scary moment earlier in the night was when the pink No. 53 car driven by Roger Reitz of Renault burst into flames during a compact heat, springing nearby firefighters into action. 

Fortunately, Reitz escaped unscathed from the sudden blaze. 

Unlike previous years, there was no small truck demolition derby to conclude the Figure 8 event this year at the fair.

See more photos from the Figure 8 race by clicking here.