Powell emergency crews praised for response

Sharon Hunter stood at the end of the Park County Fairgrounds race track, video camera in hand, ready to record her husband Adrian’s turn at Powell’s leg of the Western Grand National Pulling Series.

Unbeknownst to her, she was instead documenting one of the scariest moments of her life.

Adrian was set to begin his pull, but the start was delayed.

“We realized it was stopped ... and at first I thought maybe fire. When it’s fire with those you can’t see the flames,” Sharon Hunter said.

But when she realized the problem wasn’t with a vehicle, but with her husband, “I started running.”

Adrian Hunter had suffered a heart attack and was unresponsive.

Powell EMTs were at the scene immediately, and removed Adrian from his truck, “The Hunter,” with the help of other pullers.

“They had him on the stretcher and heading into the ambulance by the time I got to the end of the track,” Sharon said. “I want them to know that we were so thankful that they were there. Their response time was wonderful.”

Hunter was in a Billings hospital, where he was life flighted, as of Wednesday morning. Sharon said he was “doing very well.” He was released from the intensive care unit and had his chest tube removed, she said.

Sharon is hopeful Adrian will be released from the hospital before the end of the week.

“They’re saying maybe within the next two days,” Sharon said.

The timetable for Adrian’s release is based upon his recovery.

“He has to be able to manage stairs, kind of like a stress test,” Sharon said.

Whenever Adrian is able to leave the hospital, the Hunters will return to their home in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, with their Yorkie, Ringo.

Adrian competed in Friday’s competition, and was the runner up in the blown two-wheel drive event.

Sharon knows Adrian won’t want Powell to be his farewell competition, but is nervous about the prospect of him returning to the track.

“I know he’ll want to,” Sharon said. “I know the first time will be the tense thing. I’d rather he didn’t, but I know he’s going to want to. I think it depends on his recovery and doctor’s OK. They say he can go back and be pretty much back to normal in two months.”

Sharon Hunter also wanted to thank Colleen Johnson and Shelley Campbell, who stayed with her Saturday night.

“That was real wonderful support,” she said.

Friday’s results:

Gas stock: 1. Fred Isaacs, Raptor-326.3’; 2. Nick Isaacs, Arizona Mac-324.5’; 3. Terry Fairchild-323.1’; 4. Kim Isaacs Fjell, Tweeked-299’; 5. Ryan Smith-298.3’; 6. William Bruckner-296’; 7. Bob Langdon, Big Green-287.7’; 8. Tyler Hansen, Old Blue-286.11’

Woodstock diesel: 1. Ryan Smith-288.1’

2.5 diesel: 1. Tim McKenzie-351.7’; 2. Skyler Sheetz-335.3’; 3. Dusty Smith, My Diesel-331.2’.

Pro stock 4x4: 1. Andy Kolber, Never Enough-358.8’; 2. Corey Bowman, Old Farm Truck-358.6’; 3. Jason Stene, Betty Lou-350.1’; 4. Tracy Fairchild-335.6’; 5. Wes Espinoza, Mr. Ed II-334.7’; 6. Dave Veenendall, Intimidator-333.2’; 7. Mark Connor, Anxiety Attack-331.6’; 8. Travis Martinez, Sexi Mexi-331.3’; 9. Fred Isaacs, Boss 400-325.4’; 10. Dave Burley, Dragon Dust-301.1’; 11. Dave Veenendall, A Nightmare-296’

Mod 2WD: 1. Billy Lacina, Whistlin Dixie-342.8’

3.0 diesel: 1. Kaleab Hales, Gone Broke-84.8’

Micro mini: 1. Angelica Rasmussen, Morning Micro-327.2’

Mod mini: 1. Karley Pitsulka, Unknown-253.3‘; 2. Mike Cornett, Midnight Oil-252.6’;

Blown mini: 1. Jerry Cornett, Working Nights-338.9’; 2. Mike Cornett, Happy Days-320.9’

Pro mod 4x4: 1. Rick Johnson, Ol Rig-334.6’; 2. Lee England, Black Thunder-311.01’; 3. Rick Johnson, Bad Bowtie-310.4’; 4. Larry Carroll, Lethal Injection-309.6’; 5. Larry Lopes, Young Guns-305.7’; 6. Ken Wiebe, Untangled-303.2’; 7. Kory Johnson, Smokin Bowtie-298.4’; 8. Sami Smith, Moonlighter-292.3’; 9. Richard Martinez, Freeze Frame-291.1’; 10. Josh Granger, Thunder Truck-281.8’; 11. Steve Henjum, Limited Edition-259.8’

Blown 4x4: 1. Cory Burtchett, Wicked Wagon-302.11’; 2. Chris Burtchett, Sudden Impact-289.7’

Pro mod diesel: 1. Dan Madden, Madd Man Catamax-241.9’; 2. Josh Lanphear-64.6’; 3. Jason Stott,

Addicted-47.9’; 4. Ed Boyles, Git U Sum-14.3’

Blown 2WD: 1. Terry Tommerup, T&J Hooker-248.4’; 2. Adrian Hunter, The Hunter-35’

Hot Farm: 1. Jim Darnell, Crazy Horse-341.1’

Super farm: 1. Jeff Darnell, Red Rider-350.3’

Modified tractor: 1. Clarence Correia, Get R Done-210.02’; 2. Jack Miller, Black Bart-209.6’; 3. Steve Campbell, Dirt Challenger-83’

Exhibition: 1. Brian Bragg, The Grinch-222.1’

Saturday’s results:

4500 gas stock: 1. Freddie Zier, Turd-181.5’; 2. Tait Murdock-93.11’

Gas stock: 1. Nick Isaacs, Arizona Mac-310.4’; 2. Terry Fairchild-308.1’; 3. Fred Isaacs, Raptor-302.11’; 4. Bob Langdon, Big Green-278.6’; 5. Sean Moore, Old Blue-227.01’; 6. Kim Isaacs Fjell, Tweeked-136.11’

Workstock diesel: 1. Brock Ninker, Hansel and Gretels-284’

2.5 diesel: 1. Tim McKenzie-295.6’; 2. Skyler Sheets, Old McDonalds-284.1’

Pro stock 4x4: 1. Andy Kolber, Never Enough-342’; 2. Cory Bowman, Old Farm Truck-331.3’; 3. Mark Connor, Anxiety Attack-326.4’; 4. Jason Stene, Betty Lou-311.3’; 5. Wes Espinoza, Mr. Ed II-310.7’; 6. Dave Veenendall, Intimidator-309.5’; 7. Tracy Fairchild-309.11’; 8. Fred Isaacs, Boss 400-305.9’; 9. Travis Martinez, Sexi Mexi-302.2’; 10. Dave Burley, Dragon Dust-288.3’; 11. Dave Veenendall, A Nightmare-277.4’; 12. Daran Shafer, Farm Wagon-205.3’

Mod 2WD: 1. Billy Lacina, Whistlin Dixie-312.4’

Micro Mini: 1. Kyle Hoyt, Morning Micro-318.4’; 2. Angelica Rasmussen, Morning Micro-287.8’

Mod mini: 1. Mike Cornett, Midnight Oil-255.6’; 2. Karley Pitsulka, Unknown-248.3’

Blown mini: 1. Jerry Cornett, Working Nights-328.4’; 2. Mike Cornett - Happy Days - 214.2’

Pro Mod 4x4: 1. Rick Johnson, Bad Bowtie-312.2’; 2. Rick Johnson, Ol’ Rig-306.6’; 3. Lee England, Black Thunder-304.4’; 4. Kory Johnson, Smokin’ Bowtie-297.2’; 5. Gilbert Martinez, Freeze Frame-295.11’; 6. Larry Lopes, Young Guns-293.7’; 7. Ken Wiebe, Untangled-292.5’; 8. Larry Carroll, Lethal Injection-286.4’; 9. Steve Henjum, Limited Edition-284.11’; 10. Mike Schiffer, Thunder Truck-279.6’; 11. Sami Smith, Moonlighter-276.5’

Blown 4x4: 1. Cory Burtchett, Wicked Wagon-305.6’; 2. Chris Burtchett, Sudden Impact-299.1’

Pro mod diesel: 1. Ed Boyles, Git U Sum-272.9’; 2. Dan Madden, Catamax-251’

Blown 2WD: 1. Terry Tommerup, T&J Hooker-322.11’

Hor farm: 1. Jim Darnell, Crazy Horse-312.01’

Super farm: 1. Jeff Darnell, Red Rider-331.7’

Modified tractor: 1. Clarence Correia, Get R Done-271.1’; 2. Jack Miller, Black Bart-258.2’; 3.Steve Campbell, Dirt Challenger-233.5

Exhibition: 1. Jason Wright, Over Compensation-249.2’