Demolition derby a kind of therapy for one competitor

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | 11:23 p.m. CDT; updated 11:58 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, July 23, 2014

COLUMBIA Seventeen years ago, Wil Lawrence was hooked on cocaine and methamphetamine. To get away from drugs, Lawrence took up fixing up cars to compete in demolition derbies.

"This is my rehab," Lawrence said.

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Lawrence first took part in a demolition derby at the Boone County Fair 17 years ago, and he's competed every year since.

"The first time (I competed) I was scared to death," Lawrence said. "I didn't know what to expect. But I ended up falling in love with it."

Lawrence says he keeps coming back because it gives him a thrill.

"I'm an adrenaline junkie," Lawrence said. "(Demolition derbies) let you go out and take all your agitation out."

And he's good at them. Lawrence said that he's won several derbies in the past, and he almost always places in the top three.

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Demolition derby a kind of therapy for one competitor