COALTON — The wind blew and dark clouds rolled in, but a large crowd still gathered to watch the Mud Bog Thursday evening at the Boyd County Fair.

The bleachers were full, and adults and children alike looked on and stood back from the fenced off area as drivers revved their engines to see how far they could drive through the mud pit at the fairgrounds.

“I’m glad this storm is north and east of here right now,” said the announcer over the speaker.

Paul McConnell, 38, of Ashland, said he was enjoying his first time watching the mud bog competition. He came to watch his friend, who had placed second in the competition Saturday, he said, but planned to leave quickly when the rain made its way there.

Ashley Lawhon, 20, of Ashland, another first-time spectator, said she came with a group of friends to watch the mud bog competition.

“I like it. It’s pretty cool so far,” she said after seeing about four drivers take their turns plowing through the mud.

Brayden Lowe, 8, and his cousin, Brandon Boggs, 13, stood by their family as they watched the competition and tried to decide which driver had the best vehicle.

“I like the Ford,” Lowe said as he pointed it out from the other vehicles.

“I like that Dodge over there,” said Boggs. “It went all the way through.”

As Tony Boster made his second run, a full pull in 12.9 seconds, Lisa Smith and her husband looked on and cheered.

Smith said she drove in the mud bog contest for the first time Saturday and placed fourth in the stock division.

“It was a blast!” she said. “I’d like to see more people participate.”

Smith said she and her husband have been coming to the fair for the past few years to see the mud bogs and rock races. There seemed to be a pretty big crowd for the second mud bog competition this year, despite the weather, but the drivers seemed to be having a more difficult time getting their vehicles through the mud pit.

“It’s a lot wetter today than Saturday. They don’t seem to be going as far,” she said.

SHANNON MILLER can be reached at smiller@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2657.