Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
The little “Power Wheel tikes” were warmed up and “on ready” after they anxiously climbed into their individual driver seats at Saturday Nights Derby at the Craig County Fairgrounds.
Angie Guthrie-Ponton, the owner of Guthrie Insurance, sponsors the Power Wheels event at each major derby event held now.
Parents and family members recorded their kids while trying to hold back laughter from watching the fun-filled event. Grins were wide and abundant amongst both the parents and the little drivers.
“I think it’s great for the kids who have set in the stands or been to a derby thinking ‘I would love to drive a derby car,’” Bub Ponton shared. “It gives them a chance to have fun and get into the ring like their favorite derby driver and there is always smiling excited and happy out there hitting each other pulling out to get their trophy all I can see is big grins.”
The Derby drivers were:
Age 11: Amberlynn #6 and Raelyn Heath #7
Age 9: Peyton Howell
Age 8: Lily Richardson #16, Charlie Owen #09 and Maddy Hutchison #44
Age 7: Levi #5, Trever Fisher #21 Trouble Maker and Clabe Hix Jr
Age 6: Liam Howell, McKenzie Meadows Gravedigger, and Addison James Yellow flower
Age 5: Charley Brown #16
Age 4: Layla Brown in a Dodge
Age 3: Willow Brown #51
After an intense heat of ramming each other’s vehicles, the horn blew and they all drove their little power wheels out of the ring and were met by Angie Guthrie with trophies which brought smiles as wide as the Grand Canyon to each child.
“It is such gratification seeing the smiles on the children’s faces while they get to cause destruction in the derby ring and don’t get in trouble,” Angie exclaimed. “Then when it’s all over, they exit the ring to get their trophy. You can tell they are so proud. It’s every child’s dream.”
“I wish this was around when I was a child,” she added. “It is great to have the opportunity to give back to my community as much as it has done for me and my business.”
