The Ritzville Adams County Journal - Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887

When the dust finally settled in the Lind Lions Club Arena on Saturday night, two drivers emerged victorious and shared the title as the winner of the 32nd Annual Lind Combine Demolition Derby.

Caleb Hannas, riding S.M.A.S.H., and Kyle Young, driving Jaws, were the final two combine drivers standing following several rounds of carnage, with the main event taking almost 30 minutes to complete.

Following the elimination of Trevor Jantz-driving Pour Life Choices-in third place, Hannas and Young faced off head-to-head for two head-on impacts to see if a solo champion could be determined. When both S.M.A.S.H. and Jaws withstood a pair of devastating collisions, the derby's judges declared Hannas and Young co-champions. Hannas and Young emerged from their combines with enthusiastic fist pumps and shared a hug and a pat on the back for a hard-fought derby.

It was the seventh time this decade that a pair of drivers split the title. The only times that a solo winner could be declared was last year (Jim Oswald), 2012 (Tyler Startin) and 2010 (Oswald). It appears that both Hannas and Young claimed their first-ever title at the derby.

In all, more than a dozen combines participated in the 32nd edition of the Lind Combine Demolition Derby, with at least eight of the drivers hailing from Lind.

It was also the third year that the Lind Lions Club hosted a raffle drawing, where the winner would have an opportunity to drive a combine in the main event and compete for the cash prizes. The winner of the raffle was Mike Marty out of Duvall, WA, who passed the opportunity to compete in the derby onto his nephew, Arthur. Arthur would go on to finish in fifth place in the main event.

Other participants who advanced into the main event from the two qualifying heats and the consolation heat included Derrick Laird in The Cavy, Tyran Doyle in The Extinguisher and Ryan Pullum in The Bandit. Jantz qualified for the main event after finishing tied for first in the consolation heat. Josh Hernandez-driving The Enticer-also qualified for the main event by finishing in a tie for first in the consolation heat, but was unable to compete because of problems in getting his combine to run.

The other drivers competing in the derby included Eric Labes in Grain Digger, Branden Aby in Jager Bomb, Dane Wahl in Malt Muncher, Cody Bennett in Fubar, and Alexis Guizar in The Red, White and Booze.