Phillips, Bennett split 30th Lind Combine Derby title

When the dust settled in Lind Lions Club Arena on Saturday night, two drivers emerged victorious and shared the title of the winner of the 30th Annual Lind Combine Demolition Derby.

Returning driver Palmer Phillips added another win to his record, while newcomer Cody Bennett earned his first derby title.

Phillips continued to use his combine, The Honey Badger, while Bennett utilized a former title-winning combine, Hillbilly Deluxe, and competed under the name of Fubar.

When the horns blew, announcing the end of the derby, both drivers stood on top of their combines to celebrate. The two battled head to head in the final heat of the event, and the judges eventually determined to call it a tie.

But the excitement of the final heat did not just revolve around the two winners. This year, the Lind Lions Club held a raffle for one lucky individual to drive a combine in the annual event.

The raffle winner, Todd Peterson, purchased only one raffle ticket but that was all he needed to have the opportunity of a lifetime. Already dressed in overalls and a straw hat, Peterson left the stands to the cheers of the arena to learn how to drive the combine before the final heat.

Advancing straight into the finale, the Boise, Idaho, driver displayed the skills necessary to be competitive in the demolition derby. Although a crippling hit took out the back axle, and then a front tire was popped, Peterson continued to limp around the arena to net a third place finish.

Four drivers also received the best decorated awards for their themed combines. The combines were judged for the competition during the Lind Grand Parade.

Tyran Doyle placed first with The Extinguisher combine, which recognizes Doyle’s service as a firefighter, and also honors longtime Lind Fire Chief Don Klemmer. Klemmer served on the Lind Fire Department for 43 years, and spent 20 of those years as chief.

Placing second in the best decorated contest was Eric Labes in Grain Digger. The brightly painted graphics and agriculturally based name helped Labes finish in second place.

Phillips earned a third place finish for The Honey Badger’s decorations. This year, Phillip’s combine not only displayed sponsors, but also boasted signs for Trump-Leach 2020.

Rounding out the winners of the best decorated combines was Jim Oswald’s combine, Prison Break. As a crowd favorite returning combine, Oswald continued to utilize the light bar and siren on the vehicle.

During intermission at the Derby, pickup races filled the arena and kept the excitement rolling while combine drivers worked diligently to fix their combines.

The combines returned after the pickup and grain truck races for a consolation heat and finale event.

The pickup races did not have a shortage of drivers, with an estimated 30 pickups entered into the races on Saturday. This also included Powder Puff races for the eight women drivers who competed in the afternoon contest.

Along with the pickups, three grain truck drivers took to the track for a few intense races around the arena. The drivers competed in heat races and Australian Pursuit.

With the 30th year event in the books, the Lind Lions Club is already gearing up for next summer’s excitement.

This year’s event drew an estimated 5,000 spectators on Saturday, and with the expansion of the bleachers, the organization is hoping to attract an even larger crowd next year to one of the country’s most unique and exciting events.