Miburn claims top prize in lawnmower race event

Westley Milburn, moments after winning the Monster Energy Drink Winter Indoor Nationals at Springfield, Mo. (photo provided) [Click to enlarge]

Local lawnmower racer Westley Milburn claimed the top prize in a recent event. Milburn, 18, of Boydsville won first place in the Monster Energy Drink Winter Indoor Nationals held Feb. 5 and 6 in Springfield, Mo. Wilburn finished first in the Super Sportsman class, which featured the top performers on the most powerful machines.

A total of 10 racers competed in the event, including other local competitors Tony Loveless, Cody Loveless, Marty Gallentine and Cody Gallentine. The five were invited by the event's organizers to take part in the races at Springfield. Milburn was not alone in his success, as Tony Loveless came away with first place in the Sportsman class race.

On the indoor track at Springfield, Milburn said his mower reached speeds of about 45 miles per hour.

"It was a rush," Milburn said. "I was ready to go and just do the best I could."

Milburn is in his second full year of competing with the United States Lawnmower Racing Association (USLMRA). He's been racing with different groups since 2007.

"It's just always been fun to me," he said. "I like racing. I enjoy the speed and the rush of it."

Another point of pride for the young man is the effort he puts into his machine prior to competing.

"When you work hard, it's nice to see it pay off," he added.

Milburn says he constantly is maintaining and improving his mower.

"I've had this mower since the fall of 2008. I just put a new motor in it at the first of the year. It can take days or weeks (to prepare for a race). To just straight-up build one, it can take a few weeks. Then, you're always doing something to it."

For now, Milburn sees no immediate races on the horizon. He said races at Boydsville likely will start again in April.

"That's what we're looking at next. We're hoping to have those back up again in the spring," he said.