Figure 8 organizer Terren Plenert estimated roughly 1,200 people showed up to watch the figure 8 race Friday at the Park County Fair, the third of four such races at the venue as part of the summer season. 

Instead of Plenert, basking in the glow of his first successful fair showing after taking over from previous organizer Dustin Short, he’s already thinking about ways to make the next races of the season, and next year’s fair event, even more exciting. 

“This next show will be just as good,” he said. “And then I’ve got a few new things for next year.”

He’s got a solid foundation to build on after a packed crowd saw a series of races going late into the night resulted in a win for Devin Miller of Riverton, who just beat out Powell local Baltazar Rodriguez for the win in the final race. 

They were two of 43 racers — including a spectator who won a car and the chance to race — who competed in the event, part of a summer series. Only 8’s Motorsports has two races coming up in Riverton, while an Aug. 30 race at the fairgrounds will actually begin the next season, which will then be on hiatus until next year. 

“The 16th is going to determine who the points champion is for this year, this season, and then our race is going to be the start over,” Plenert said. “So we have a list for next season going into the top six for next so that’s what our points are going to count towards next year’s points championship.”

Not every race was a race for the series title, however. Near the end of the night, four-wheelers took over the course with balloons attached in a large scale game of Mario Kart. 

Plenert hopes spectators enjoyed that event, and he’s already planning on other ways to add to the fun next fair.