Video of Saturday’s demolition derby

A man who has been mudslinging since he was 11 has grown into a 27-year-old demolition derby expert with full intentions to win first place.

Headland resident Ronnie Davis is among dozens of people expected to compete Saturday in the National Peanut Festival’s “Peanut Pulverizer” Demolition Derby.

Davis, who says he has entered the derby for four years, worked with his 7-year-old daughter, Keisha, to prepare his “Redneck Taxi” for competition this year.

Davis said the derby has become a sort of family tradition. As in other years, he said he is aiming for first place.

“Me and my dad competed in it the first year. He got second place and I got third. We competed another year, but he had back surgery and hasn’t been able to lately. But I’m keeping it going,” Davis said.

Derby promoter Stoney Roberts said the demolition derbies are becoming more and more popular in southern states.

The objective of the derby is to be the last vehicle operating after crashing into others.

Roberts said both derby veterans and newcomers are expected to compete this year.

“They’ve always been popular up North, but the South is slowly catching on. It’s fun to get out there and rock and roll,” Roberts said.

Davis said an added benefit of the derby is the stress release.

“You just get old cars and knock the windows out of it and take the interior out and that’s it. I’m missing a few windshield wipers and headlights, but it’s alright,” he said.

“The derby is mainly the whole reason I go to the peanut festival.”