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COLUMBIA — The first-ever motor sport events at the Boone County Fair concluded Thursday night with a compact figure-8 race. Other races in the First Annual Door Banger Nationals, including pit bikes, quads and hobby cars, were held Wednesday night.
Fourteen cars entered the race, which started at 7 p.m. Thursday. Corey Baysinger of Hartsburg and passenger Brandon Rice took first place in the event and received $500. Prizes were awarded to all who competed.
“I have two concerns tonight,” said Scotty Cook, promoter for the Door Banger Nationals. “The first is safety, and the second is that you all get paid.”
Many of the drivers that participated in the Door Banger Nationals have been racing with each other for multiple seasons, often at venues across the state. Fulton, Moberly and Eldon are notable cities with proper racetracks.
Billy Hendren of Columbia said he and his son Justin Craig race one to two nights a week. Craig competed in Thursday’s figure-8 competition.
“It surprises me that Columbia doesn’t have a race track because we’re bigger than the other towns,” Hendren said.
Even though the drivers were in competition with each other during the races, a clear sense of camaraderie was felt throughout the evening.
“When we pull onto the tracks we’re competitors, but when we’re off we are all family,” said Jerry Milnes, track promoter for 24 Raceway in Moberly. He was also enthusiastic that the Boone County Fair added motor sports for this year’s fair.
“I think it’s great. The more tracks we have, the more cars there are,” he said.
Baysinger also said he was happy with this week’s events.
“I just thought it was right, part of an old-school county pride,” he said.“Anything locally-sponsored is good.”
Milnes was one of a handful of promoters that helped Cook put on the Door Banger Nationals. Cook, who saw his first figure-8 race only two weeks ago, said that others, such as Bruce Longan of California, Mo., volunteered to coordinate Thursday night's race.
Cook was happy with how the First Annual Door Banger Nationals turned out.
“I can say it was a success,” he said. “I would have hoped for a better turnout, but it’s something to build on. All I can say is that we’ve got much room to grow and next year is going to be bigger and better.”
Cook also added that he was looking into adding other events, such as a tough-truck competition, for next year’s competition.
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