Hughes ready for Night of Destruction season finale

In his debut as a racecar driver June 6, Weston Hughes finished eighth in the Trailer Figure 8 main event and 11th in the Demo Cross feature during the Night of Destruction festivities at Perris Auto Speedway.

The 2006 Fallbrook High School graduate was actually leading the 20-lap Demo Cross main event for the middle portion of the race.

"I got clipped on a tire and it spun me out and shut down my car," Hughes said.

Hughes fixed the problem and competed in the Demo Cross and regular Figure 8 race July 25 Night of Destruction races, although he wasn't as competitive.

"Hopefully I'll come back with a vengeance for the next one. Just get my car running a little bit better and come back at it," Hughes said.

Perris Auto Speedway began its Night of Destruction races two years ago. Demo Cross is a demolition derby run on the quarter-mile oval track; drivers face obstacles on the track as well as each other. Two races are run on the Figure 8 course: a regular Figure 8 race and a Trailer Figure 8 competition whose rules require the trailer to remain connected to the driver's car. The Night of Destruction event with the least contact is Spectator Racing, where two spectators driving their own registered cars start on opposite side of the quarter-mile track to determine the faster vehicle over two laps.

Last year, Hughes and Oceanside driver Nathan Chavarria watched a Night of Destruction at Perris.

"It just looked like a blast," Hughes said. "We decided we were going to get some cars together and do it."

Chavarria and Hughes became auto racers this year. "I've done some motocross racing before, but never cars," Hughes said.

Hughes began his motorcycle racing in 2014. He competes in events suitable for his Honda CRF 450. "I've never done any major races. It's all been little stuff. But the more I do it, the more I get into it," he said.

Hughes uses a 1984 Ford Taurus for Night of Destruction races. "I'm probably the smallest car," he said.

Hughes' crew consists of his girlfriend, Renee George, and himself.

Hughes was raised in Fallbrook and moved to Wildomar two years ago.