Photo By Scott Schaller

By Josh Thompson

Chino – Heavy rain stayed away long enough for Eastvale’s Will Wright to win the 25th annual Chino Challenge Demolition Derby on Sat., July 18 at the Chino Fairgrounds.  Wright won the night’s top prize of $3,500.

Rain throughout the day in Chino drenched the dirt field, but let up about an hour before opening ceremonies, giving workers enough time to flatten the dirt and prepare it for three preliminary derbies, a last chance derby and the 24-car main event.

Wright – nicknamed “the Beast” – halted second-place driver, Dickie Vander Meulen, with several big hits to his vehicle’s front end to win his first derby title. The 24-car main event lasted 45 minutes.

Vander Meulen, of Ontario, won $1,200 for placing second. Ryan Doty, of Eastvale, placed third and won $700. Chino Hills resident, Andrew James, placed fourth, winning $400; and Corona’s Matthew Kingma took fifth and won $200.

Winning the derby title was Wright’s second victory of the night. His Star Wars themed car with Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker won the event’s Best Appearing Car contest and its $250 prize.

Wright, playing the role of Darth Vader, got into a “light saber” fight with Skywalker, played by Doty. The fight scene got a big reaction from the standing-room-only crowd of more than 3,500 people.

This year’s auction car brought in a record bid from J&A Manufacturing in Pixley.  The $16,000 bid for a 1975 Monte Carlo decorated in candles to mark the derby’s 25th anniversary will benefit the Let It Be Foundation, which assists children with life threatening illnesses.

The auction car, driven by John Vermeer of Chino, placed 10th.