Demolition derby (and free popcorn) cap off Tusc County Fair

The ever-popular demolition derby kept the momentum going as the 163rd annual Tuscarawas County Fair wrapped up its eight-day run Sunday night.

A Friday night rain that lasted through 3 p.m. Saturday forced cancellation of the Saturday harness racing schedule, but the cool weather that followed Sunday was perfect for the huge throng of spectators who filled the grandstand to capacity.

Derby fans who couldnt find seats for the spectacular metal-to-metal smashing extravaganza in front of the grandstand were relegated to the standing-room-only spaces alongside both sides of the grandstand. They also occupied infield seating and standing room near the derby arena.

The derby featured 80 drivers in nine heats, plus a championship feature.

Fair Board member Bud Lahmers, a co-chairman of the demolition derby who also serves as speed (harness racing) superintendent, said cancellation of Saturdays harness racing program was only the second time in 30 years that has happened.

However, all of Saturdays races were run Sunday, giving fairgoers a four-hour speed program that included pari mutual wagering.

J.D. Byrider of Dover, a major sponsor of Sunday nights demolition derby and of the Neal McCoy show on Wednesday, kept fairgoers happy and contented throughout the fair with free bags of freshly popped popcorn.

Tony Marcantonio, J.D. Byrider owner, said the company gave away an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 bags through Sunday. He said the company over the years has been popping about 1,000 pounds of popcorn per fair, but this year they ran out and had to get more.

As of Sunday, he said about 1,500 pounds had been popped. Thats a lot of popcorn, and it made a lot of kids smiling faces this week, said Marcantonio, as he re-entered the J.D. Byrider booth to continue passing out free popcorn.

Weve been doing this since 1999, and I think its a great thing, he added.

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Demolition derby (and free popcorn) cap off Tusc County Fair