Gin Blossoms play their classic "Hey Jealousy" for fairgoers. MALONE, N.Y. — The Franklin County Fair turned back the clock on Thursday night as legendary ’90s rock bands Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors brought an energetic night of nostalgia to the grandstand stage at the 2026 Franklin County Fair. Hundreds of concertgoers gathered at the Malone fairgrounds to hear the songs that helped define a generation of alternative and pop-rock music. The evening featured a double bill of radio favorites, with Spin Doctors opening the show before Gin Blossoms took the stage as headliners. The pairing of the two bands was announced by fair organizers as one of the marquee entertainment events of the 2026 fair. Spin Doctors energized the crowd with many of the songs that made them household names during the early 1990s. Fans sang along to classics including “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” creating a festive atmosphere with audience members dancing and cheering throughout the set. The group's blues-infused rock sound proved to be a perfect fit for a summer fair concert. As darkness settled over the fairgrounds, Gin Blossoms took the stage and immediately transported fans back to the height of alternative rock. The Arizona-based band delivered a set featuring some of their biggest hit songs, including“Hey Jealousy” and“Follow You Down.” Their signature jangly guitar sound and memorable melodies drew enthusiastic reactions from concertgoers of all ages. The concert highlighted the Franklin County Fair's continued commitment to bringing nationally known artists to Malone. Organizers promoted the event as a major attraction during the fair's run, which is part of the 176th Franklin County Fair and includes agricultural exhibits, midway rides, food vendors, and family entertainment. For many attendees, the Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors show was more than just a concert—it was a celebration of the music that dominated radio stations, road trips, and summer memories throughout the 1990s. As fans left the grandstand following the final encore, the night stood as one of the most memorable entertainment events of the 2026 Franklin County Fair.Gallery

Thomas Cook (24) captures his first career Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds win. The calendar may have flipped to August, but the action at Airborne Park Speedway remained as hot as ever as the track hosted Round 10 of the season along with its annual Backpack Giveaway Night. With 88 cars filling the pit area across six divisions, fans were treated to a full night of racing as Airborne helped send local kids back to school in style. The feature action began with the return of the Crown Vic division, where 12 drivers took the green for a 15-lap showdown. After an impressive drive from eighth on the starting grid, Richie Turner worked his way to the front and took control of the race. Turner was forced to withstand late pressure from Andrew Lopes and Beau Reeves, but the veteran driver stayed smooth and consistent to capture his fourth victory of the season. Lopes and Reeves completed the podium while Scott Richner's fifth-place effort allowed him to cut the championship gap to just six points. The spotlight then shifted to the Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds for their 30-lap main event. Fifteen cars rolled onto the speedway with Thomas Cook quickly asserting himself at the front of the field. Racing on a tacky track surface, Cook built a comfortable advantage and appeared poised for a breakthrough win. Late in the race, however, the pressure mounted as Felix Roy and Tim Fuller closed in. Despite the challenge, Cook never faltered, holding off the hard-charging veterans to score his first career 358 Modified victory. Roy crossed the line second while Mike Mahaney came home fourth, allowing Roy to trim the championship deficit to just 10 points. The Renegades delivered another chapter in what has become one of the best championship battles of the season. Eleven cars took the green flag for their 20-lap feature, with points rivals Billy Thwaits and Duquette once again battling for supremacy. This time it was Thwaits who got the upper hand, driving to his fifth victory of the season. Duquette settled for second while Brad Bushey completed the top three. With the victory, Thwaits tightened the points race to just two markers with only a handful of races remaining. A strong 16-car field answered the call for the JS Steel Sportsman Modified feature. Vince Quenneville led the opening laps while Keith Pelkey and Nick Heywood remained within striking distance. The story of the race, however, belonged to Evan Roberts. Starting at the tail of the field, Roberts methodically worked his way through traffic before mounting a late charge to the front. Roberts grabbed the lead in the closing laps and drove away for his second win of the season. Pelkey and Heywood rounded out the top three. The championship battle saw another shakeup as Heywood's third-place finish was enough to reclaim the points lead by three points, while Roberts moved into third in the standings. The Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds featured eight entries for their 15-lap contest. The race up front came down to reigning champion and current points leader Kobe Hernandez and Gary English. On this night, English proved to be the class of the field, racing to victory while extending his championship lead to 15 points over Brogan Roberts. David Johnson completed the podium with a third-place finish. Closing out the evening were the always entertaining Mini Stocks, which brought a stout field of 25 cars to the speedway. The battle for the win centered on Josh Laporte and Glenn Engstrom, who spent much of the race trading the top spot. When the checkered flag finally waved, it was Engstrom standing in Victory Lane. Jake Fountain finished third, and with points contender JP Corrow ending the night in sixth, Fountain gained valuable ground in the championship battle by cutting the deficit by 15 points. Airborne Park Speedway roars back to life next Thursday night for another edition of Thursday Night Thunder, highlighted by the Mini Stock Special. The division will compete in an extended-distance feature with a hefty $1,000 payday awaiting the winner in what promises to be another exciting night of action at the North Country oval. Gallery

Chris Morena ends the night with a perfect hit on the junk car on the 40-foot jump. After seven long years away, the Blackcat Helldrivers didn’t just return to the Franklin County Fair — they erupted back onto the scene, delivering a fire‑charged spectacle that shook the grandstands and thrilled a packed crowd from the opening stunt to the explosive finale. The night kicked off with their razor‑sharp two‑car precision routine, engines snarling in perfect harmony as the drivers carved tight, high‑speed patterns across the infield. Ramps rose next, and the Helldrivers launched into a series of ramp‑to‑ramp jumps that sent cars flying under the lights, each landing punctuated by cheers rolling across the fairgrounds. The first burst of flames came with the motorbike act, the rider tearing down the track and blasting straight through a wall of fire, erupting from the blaze to a thunderous ovation. The team followed with the human ski stunt — a performer balanced atop a moving car as it whipped around the arena, tilting, weaving, and flirting with disaster at every turn. Then came the junk cars. The human battering ram stunt smashed through another wall of fire with a stuntman clinging to the roof, sending sparks skyward and debris scattering across the track. But the crowd knew what was coming — the rollover contest. The first car hit the ramp and twisted into a one‑and‑a‑half‑roll crash landing that ended its run. The second car, battered but determined, delivered a full rollover not once but three times, each attempt drawing louder applause than the last. For the finale, the Helldrivers staged a 40‑foot jump aimed directly at the two wrecked rollover cars. The junker thundered down the runway, hit the ramp, and launched into the air in a perfect arc. It came down nose‑first into the front of the first rollover car, metal exploding on impact as the crowd erupted in a final, deafening roar. The Helldrivers left the arena the same way they arrived — at full throttle — and the Franklin County Fair crowd went home buzzing, already counting the days until the team’s next return. Gallery

Turner Morris would be the only one to tame the bulls in the afternoon, as he would last eight seconds. The Franklin County Fair Pro Rodeo thundered back into town for its first appearance since 2018, delivering a hard‑hitting afternoon of competition as the Painted Pony Championship Rodeo returned for its third edition. Sanctioned by the IPRA, every cowboy and cowgirl in the arena was chasing critical points toward a coveted trip to the World Finals in Oklahoma later this fall, raising the stakes for every ride, run, and throw. Bareback riding opened the show with three competitors battling the broncs. Two made the full eight seconds, but Tim Murphy’s powerful 77‑point ride stood above the rest to claim the event win. Team roping followed at the far end of the arena, with ten duos taking their shot at the clock. The drama came down to the final team out as Doug Casey and Michael Soule stopped the timers at 9.4 seconds to steal the victory. Saddle Bronc riding brought six competitors back to the chutes, each chasing points and payout. Jack Smithon delivered the winning ride with a score in the mid‑70s, edging out a tough field. Breakaway roping — one of rodeo’s fastest‑growing events — saw eleven ladies take aim at the win. Rebekah Legan set the tone early with a blistering 2.1‑second run, a number no one else could touch. Calf roping kept the momentum rolling with eleven cowboys in the draw. Once again, the final run of the afternoon proved decisive as Justin Thigpen laid down the best time to secure the event. Steer wrestling brought eight bulldoggers into the arena, but the steers had the upper hand. Only one cowboy managed to get his steer to the dirt — Corey Webb — earning the win through sheer determination. The ladies’ barrel racing was scheduled to close the afternoon, but unfavorable arena conditions forced its cancellation. That left bull riding as the final showdown. Four cowboys climbed down onto the bulls, each hoping to conquer eight seconds of chaos. Only Turner Morris made the horn sound, claiming the win as the crowd erupted. Fans left the grandstands buzzing, hopeful that the Franklin County Fair won’t wait another eight years before bringing the Pro Rodeo back for its fourth edition. Gallery

Devin Fournier (4x) and Kobe Blaise (Red 1) go head-to-head to decide the Modified Compact Cars championship. MALONE, N.Y. — The annual Demolition Derby once again served as the opening act of the 176th Franklin County Fair, drawing a packed and enthusiastic crowd to the grandstand. Presented by DNA Motorsports, the event featured nearly 100 vehicles across multiple divisions and delivered an afternoon and evening of non-stop smashing, crashing, and hard-fought competition. The show was delayed slightly by the large number of entries and a small fire at one of the food stands that had to be addressed before the festivities could begin. Once the action started, however, fans were treated to one of the most exciting derby programs in recent memory. The evening opened with the Ladies Division, where the competitors showed they could compete with anyone on the track. When the dust settled, Kaylee Thompson emerged victorious after surviving a hard-hitting feature event. The spotlight then shifted to the Youth Division, featuring drivers under 16. With an invitation to the National Championships in Ohio on the line, the young competitors put on an impressive display of driving skill and determination. At the end of the contest, Wyatt Stowell earned the victory and the coveted trip to nationals. The Modified Stock Compact Division drew one of the largest fields of the day, with nearly 40 cars arriving for competition. Three heat races and a consolation event were required to narrow the field before the feature. Eighteen cars qualified, and twelve ultimately took the green flag for the main event. The battle for the win eventually came down to Devin Fournier, Kobe Blaise, and Logan Secore. After Blaise and Fournier teamed up to trap Secore in the corner, the fight for first came down to the final moments, with Devin Fournier claiming the victory over Kobe Blaise. Next up were the Stock Compacts, where approximately ten cars answered the call. The division produced plenty of action before Austin Martin drove his way to victory. Luke Prairie finished second, while Bucky Lapage completed the podium. The popular Van Division once again entertained fans with a field of nearly 20 entries. In the end, it became a family affair involving members of the Destruction Team. Tanner King captured the win ahead of Josh Adams and Chad King after a memorable final battle. One of the crowd's growing favorites, the Truck Division, featured nearly 20 powerful V-8 trucks pounding away at one another. The heavy iron provided some of the biggest hits of the day, and when the final horn sounded, Cofy Boyea stood atop the division with Brady Magoon and Adam King finishing behind him. The Stock Full-Size Division may have featured only a handful of entries, but the competitors delivered everything they had. The remaining drivers put on a spirited battle before Nathan Burgess secured the victory. The night concluded with the marquee event, the Modified V-8 Feature, which sent around 15 cars into the arena for one final showdown. Cars slammed into one another while mud and dirt flew through the air, creating a thunderous atmosphere that kept fans on the edge of their seats. When the last of the action came to an end, Cory Warner stood victorious. Eric Stowell finished second, Alex Willett took third, and Michael Leaf rounded out the top four. From the first crash to the final hit, the Demolition Derby once again proved why it remains one of the most anticipated traditions of the Franklin County Fair, providing fans with an unforgettable start to fair week in Malone. Gallery

Bad News Travels Fast and Crushstation crossed the line together in the finals, which would see Crushstation get the win by a claw on the straight-line drag race. RANSOMVILLE, N.Y. — The Versus Monster Trucks Tour launched its 2026 campaign Saturday night at Ransomville Speedway, marking the tour’s fifth consecutive visit to the Western New York facility. A near-capacity crowd filled the grandstands as seven trucks from across the United States and Canada stormed into town: Bad News Travels Fast (Brandon Derrow), Crushstation (Zach Winchenbach), Hurricane Force (Steven Thompson Jr.), Joe Fly (Jordan Healey), Loud and Dirty (Perry Como), Lumberjack (Greg Winchenbach), and Rat Nasty (Ryan Como). The program opened with side-by-side racing, eventually narrowing to a final between Bad News Travels Fast and Crushstation. In a tight finish, the Monster Lobster claimed the victory “by a claw,” giving Winchenbach the first win of the season. The Best Trick contest followed, with each truck receiving two attempts and the crowd determining the winner. Brandon Derrow earned the loudest response after carrying a slap wheelie down the frontstretch, securing the victory for Bad News Travels Fast. Intermission featured kids’ Power Wheels races and a three-race quad showdown between Team New York and Team New Jersey. New York won the first two races, New Jersey claimed the third, and a captain’s challenge was ordered to settle the dispute. In the two-lap runoff, New York prevailed after the New Jersey quad broke down. Freestyle closed the night with three-minute runs for each truck. Jordan Healey opened the segment with a backflip attempt that came up short, leaving Joe Fly turtled and ending the run early. Hurricane Force followed with Steven Thompson Jr. delivering a strong wheelie attack across the frontstretch. Loud and Dirty battled motor issues throughout the evening, and Perry Como’s truck finally gave out after only a few hits. The finale belonged to Crushstation, as Zach Winchenbach delivered the strongest combination of high air, momentum, and speed. His run earned the loudest crowd reaction and secured the freestyle championship. The Versus Monster Trucks Tour returns September 19 for two shows at Stateline Speedway in Jamestown, N.Y., before concluding the season October 10 at Fonda Speedway with a two-show championship finale. Gallery