After Roy Binkerd had a massive heart attack in early September, his doctor told him to avoid any stressful activities.

Binkerd’s response: “I guess that includes driving in a demolition derby?”

The doctor laughed, but Binkerd was serious.

Binkerd owns Advance Pawn Shop, which for the past four years has entered a car in the Chilton County Fair’s demolition derby.

This time, Binkerd served as mechanic while his stepbrother, Chad Bridenbaugh of Alabaster, drove the car. The arrangement worked well enough to win the derby’s top overall prize.

“It got down to four cars, and I was like, my goodness, we might actually win this,” Binkerd said.

Binkerd ran an ad for a cheap used car and ended up buying the 1994 Buick Century for $500. He said he had no idea the car was a winner.

“I didn’t know if it would drive forward or backward,” Binkerd said.

Binkerd said he enjoys driving in the derby (“It is a total adrenaline rush, knowing you’re going to crash into people and people are going to crash into you.”), but the most important reason for participating is to advertise the pawn shop and support the fair and its sponsor, the Clanton Kiwanis Club.

The No. 7 car, sponsored by Advance Pawn Shop and Mark Moore of Calera Glass, won its heat but then temporarily stopped running. Binkerd and crew got the car running in time for the final round.

“The car was a 6-cylinder, and I didn’t think we had a chance against the bigger 8-cylinders,” he said. “It got knocked around. It’s amazing how much of a beating those cars can take and still drive.”

Jay Knight of Verbena drove the winning car in Heat 1 (4-cylinders), Charles Brasher of Calera won Heat 2, Bo Sheldon of Decatur won Heat 3 and Eric Beard of Dora won the Consolation Heat.

James Ray of Verbena won the Mechanic’s Award, given to the mechanic best able to repair a car between a heat and the final round. The car was driven by Gary Woods of Verbena.

Ty Boggs of Clanton drove the car given the Best Appearance Award, and the car driven by Jeremy Morris of Maplesville won the Official’s Choice.