Even though they’re both queens, you can bet Queen Elizabeth would never do what Queen Kiersten did on Wednesday.

Obviously they are of two opposite social statures. Queen Kiersten - Kiersten Gursky - is the 2022 Carbon County Fair Queen.

She took off her tiara and sash, put on jeans and a T-shirt and climbed into a beat-up Ford Focus that had bumpers missing, the rear pushed in and graffiti painted all over it. Then she raced the car on a muddy track against competitors with similar junkers.

She took part in the fair’s “Junk Car Race,” held in front of the grandstand. Also competing was her younger sister, Jayden Gursky.

In the first heat of 10 cars, the two sisters raced against each other. Neither finished in the top three spot.

In heat three, Kiersten led for much of the race but then got pressured by more aggressive drivers and finished third - enough to qualify for the grand finale.

Jayden ran in heat four but wasn’t able to place.

In the big finish, Kiersten raced against all male drivers and found out that in racing, they just don’t treat you like a lady. She was pushed into an exterior wall early and fell behind. Then, on the ninth lap, she was hit hard and forced into the center wall, eliminating her from the event.

Kiersten was one of four females competing in the Junk Car Race and did the best of all the females.

The fair queen, age 19, is a graduate of Palmerton Area High School, where she played basketball and was a cheerleader. The tall, ponytailed brunette is presently attending East Stroudsburg University.

She said she would like to be a race car driver some day. Her father, T.J. Gursky, competes in races at Mahoning Speedway. Her brother, T.K. Gursky, is a driver of quarter midget race cars at Blue Mountain.

She was disappointed after the first heat, noting the track was muddy and slippery, “and I was trying to be careful.”

“I feel that I could have done better,” she said after the heat.

She realized she was ahead for much of the third heat but found herself passed by Carl Altemose of Palmerton and Cody Kohler of Schnecksville. The passing opportunities for them came when Kiersten rounded the curve and came upon a stalled car.

The grand finale was brutal for Kiersten. In the second lap she spun out into an exterior wall. Still, she bounced back despite sparks flying from under her bent front hood. But in the ninth lap, she was hit in the rear quarter panel and spun into the center restraints where her car came to a rest.

Jayden, 17, drove a Toyota Corolla. Both have competed in such races in the past. This was apparently the best finish for Kiersten.

Results

The winners of the race were:

Championship race: 1. Carl Altemose of Palmerton. 2. Mark Schoch of Lehighton. 3. Larry Eck of Lehighton.

Heat 1: 1. Mark Schoch of Lehighton. 2. Kevin Behler of Lehighton. 3. Dave Schaller of Schnecksville.

Heat 2: 1. Carl Altemose of Palmerton. 2. Cody Kohler of Schnecksville. 3. Brad May of Lehighton.

Heat 3: 1. Hunter Altemose of Palmerton. 2 Cody George of Palmerton. 3. Kiersten Gursky of Palmerton.

Heat 4: 1. Justin Carneavale of Norristown. 2. Kyle Troch of Lehighton. 3. Brian Kunkel of Germansville.

Heat 5: 1. Larry Eck of Lehighton. 2. Mason Stahler of Palmerton. 3. Lonnie Behler of Palmerton.

Today’s schedule

On the midway of the fair, old time country music was played by the Nashville Music Company. The group featured classic country cover hits by stars like Faron Young, Buck Owens, George Strait and Merle Haggard.

Serving as fill-ins for the band were two local performers, Ray Cramer and Randy Cramer, both of the Cramer Brothers Band of Kresgeville. Ray Cramer was invited to sing several songs during the performance.

Tonight at the fair, there is more motor mayhem as a youth and adult demolition derby is featured.

Also tonight, country singer Ronnie McDowell will perform on the main stage with Leigh Pollari. McDowell had country hits with such songs as “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation,” “Older Women,” “Watchin’ Girls Go By” and “It’s Only Make Believe.”