Hailey Armstrong was introduced to demolition derbies right after she was born. She has watched her dad, grandfather, uncles and cousins compete in many derbies over the years. What got her interested in the sport was watching her family members work on building their cars for weeks, and then drive out on the track and just have a lot of fun together.
Her love for derbies has led her to want to continue the long, family tradition and get out on the track, bust up some cars and walk away the winner.
The recent North Platte High School graduate has been driving for two years and has competed in two demolition derbies.
“In 2019 I ran my first demolition derby at Platte County in the stock class and took first place,” Armstrong said. “On May 1, 2021, I ran the two-man extreme with my cousin Austin Shanks in Richmond, Mo. and we took fourth place.”
Armstrong said nobody really taught her how to drive, they just gave her advice that helped her throughout the years. Their best advice was telling her where to hit that would do the most damage.
She plans to attend Maple Woods Community College and she has worked at Rapidos Mexican Restaurant in Platte City, for the last 10 months. “The one thing I like the most is the new people I have met and the friendships I have made,” Armstrong said. “Rapidos is a great environment to work in, the people are nice, the owners are great, and we all work together as a team.”
The key to a successful derby includes avoiding mechanical failures, which Armstrong says is one of the biggest challenges to winning.
“The most important things to have in the competition are good equipment, smart driving, and a cool head,” Armstrong said. “Advice I would give someone who is participating in a derby is to make sure to drive smart and make sure they know where their surroundings are.”
Although she won’t be participating in the derby at the fair this year, she will be helping her stepdad, Justin Comer, who is promoting the derby this year. “Even though I won’t be participating, I am looking forward to watching my family go out on the track and have fun. I am also looking forward to helping my stepdad make sure that his first year promoting goes smoothly,” Armstrong said. “My family is very excited about the derby this year even though I won’t be competing. This year my cousins, Austin Shanks, Anthony Hernandez and Andrew Hernandez will be competing in the derby, along with my uncle, Johnny Shanks. This year will be my cousin Andrew’s very first demolition derby.”
Although professional derby driver doesn’t yet exist, Armstrong said if there were professional derbies she would definitely consider it.
For those who are surprised that a woman would want to participate in a demolition derby Armstrong says that derbies are not just for guys. Girls want to have fun too.
She is grateful that the Platte County Fair got the green light this year to have a full fair, since last year’s fair was limited due to COVID-19.
“The Platte County Fair has always been part of my life growing up,” Armstrong said. “I am looking forward to having fun and enjoying time with my family and friends. I am looking forward to celebrating with my family both nights of the demolition derby. I think the Platte County Fair is a great way for the community to get together and have fun.”