Former WHS wrestler Guerra prepares for derby

Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Josiah Guerra, a Warden High School graduate and former state runner-up wrestler, sits on the hood of his “Great White” derby car.

by CONNOR VANDERWEYST
Staff Writer | August 15, 2018 1:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Josiah Guerra is a man of many talents.

He was a two-time state wrestling runner-up and won two team state championships with Warden High School. He also can play multiple musical instruments. Tonight, he will compete in another passion — derby racing.

Guerra, who began racing in 2015, transformed his chassis into an intimidating “Great White” with spray-painted teeth on the doors, a “seek and destroy” stencil on the front end and a foreboding gray and red finish.

How appropriate.

“I had so much time on my hands,” Guerra said. “I said, ‘You know what? Let’s do something cool with this car.’ I looked through Google to see what would be a cool design as well and I found this one. Me and my sister actually just painted it over the course of a week or two and it turned out pretty cool.

“I like it. I get a lot of compliments on it and it just makes it stand out. That’s what I like about it.”

Guerra was inspired by family to race, specifically his older brother, but Mom did have the final say.

“It was kind of like, ‘Mom, I promise I’ll be safe. They have insurance,’” he said. “It eventually worked out pretty well.”

Pretty well indeed.

Guerra used a teacher’s car for his first race in Lind.

“The adrenaline rush was there,” he said. “It was kind of scary because all these guys had been doing it for so long. The adrenaline was pumping for sure and I actually took first, my very first race, and I think that’s what got me hooked. From there on out, I was just hooked.”

Three years later, Guerra methodically worked on his car in his driveway one day before the 75th annual Moses Lake Roundup. There was still some welding that needed to be done, but the car looked dirt ready.

“It’s cool to come together and help each other out,” Guerra said. “If somebody needs some tools you just throw them around, help each other, get their cars ready. In the end, it’s all just about fun, I think.

“Yeah, it’s fun winning and getting money, but in the end I think it’s just about going out there and having fun and hanging out with friends.”

Guerra is set to compete in the heat races and Australian pursuit.

The demolition derby itself?

Guerra has the most important step taken care of — Mom’s go-ahead.

“I’ve just got to convince myself now,” he said. “Those are the big dogs and to put all that work into a car and then just wreck and that’s it. It’s a hard decision to make.”

Maybe next year.