By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Fair knows a good thing when they see it and this year they’re doubling down on the success in recent years with Monster Trucks shows.

Tonight is the first of two consecutive monster truck shows in the grandstand. The next one is Wednesday night.

Darrell Hicks, a longtime employee of Montieth Tire, organized the first monster truck show nine years ago to celebrate Monthieth’s 50th year in business and the monster truck tradition caught on quickly.

This year, he’s lined up 20 sponsors to support the Extreme Monster Truck Madness.

“It’s grown each year. We’re up to eight trucks this year, and we don’t just get weekend warrior trucks. We get a lot of nationally known trucks, a lot of high end trucks that run in the big circuit,” Hicks said.

The annual show has become the biggest draw every year for the fair and has seen an overflow crowd in the grandstand in reent years.

Hicks was asked what drives the popularity of the show.

“I think it’s a local community coming together, just like all this equipment sitting out here right now — that’s all sponsorships,” he said.

Each year, as always, they’ve changed things up and participants bring a high level of competition, he said.

The talent and price of admission, he said, make the event a superior option compared to anything you’ll find at other county fairs.

“This cost is only $8 to get in the gate, and the grandstand is free,” Hicks said. “You’re not going to see a show like that anywhere,” he said.

Hicks said he’ll begin working on next year’s program next week.

“I just enjoy it. It’s something for me to give back to the community, help the fair out. Here again, we couldn’t do it without our sponsors,” he said.

The pit party, a popular chance for fans to see the trucks and drivers up close on the track, starts at 6 p.m.

Both shows this week begin at 7 p.m.