JACKSON, Wyo. — The annual Figure 8 Races went down Sunday evening at the Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena and concluded the events for the 67th annual Teton County Fair.
The Figure 8 Races took the place of the Demolition Derby in 2005 after derby entries dwindled due to a lack of available cars. Since then, the races have been popular with both record participants and spectators swelling to get in.
Alan Nava won first place this year and took home the $2,345 purse. Second place and $1,407 went to Antonio Martinez and third place was Austin Foote, who took home $938. Best Paint Job and a $200 prize went to Giovanni Nava.
“The Figure 8 Races are a great success for the fair each year,” Teton County Fair & Fairgrounds manager Rachel Grimes said. “Tickets sold out in a week and a half after sales opened on July 1st. We increased the cap on entries from 30 to 36 a few years ago and this was the first year that we filled it!”
The always rowdy event combines highspeed racing with rough and tumble paint trading between cars at the intersection as drivers race to complete the most figure 8s each heat.
Race rules mandate that drivers must either work or reside full-time in Teton County. Any small, front-wheel drive, four-cylinder car with a maximum wheelbase of 107 inches is accepted.
