Napa’s Krider Racing is switching gears from road racing and is going to try a whole new concept — crashing on purpose.

The team is currently putting the finishing touches on a 1976 Chrysler Cordoba to compete in the Napa Town and Country Fair’s Demolition Derby.

Rob Krider says trying to run one car into another intentionally may take some getting used to.

“From the moment I got my driving permit at 15 years old, all the way to earning my competition license at racing school, the training has always been the same: Don’t crash,” Krider said. “On the race track I work very hard not to run into other cars. Now I have to convince my brain and my right foot to hit other cars on purpose.”

Krider Racing has had great success on the track this year, winning the 24 Hours of Lemons race at Altamont Motorsports Park and winning multiple road races in the National Auto Sport Association Performance Touring Series at Infineon Raceway.

Krider said he doesn’t think any of their racing victories are going to help much at the derby.

“I’m pretty sure the guy piloting the enormous Chrysler Imperial who is trying to hit me as hard as he can doesn’t really care about how big my trophy case is at home. He just wants to knock the front of my car clean off.”

Krider said this is something he has always wanted to try. “Growing up in Napa, the fair was always the best part of the summer and the demolition derby was my favorite thing to watch. It’s a Napa tradition and I’ve wanted to do it ever since I saw my first derby at the fair when I was five years old.”

The catalyst to finally move from a spectator in the grandstands to the driver’s seat in the derby was Rob’s dad, Napa City Councilman Jim Krider.

“My dad is the one who gave my brother, Randy, and me, a love for automobiles and taught us at a young age how to work on cars,” said Rob Krider. “Since he is up for re-election this year, we figured it would be a great way to show support for our dad by running in the derby with his name on the car.”

Third Street Auto Repair, with years of experience in the demolition derby, is helping Krider Racing build its car safe and strong.

Rob Krider said being on the right team means everything.

“The one thing I think we can bring from our racing experience is car preparation and good teamwork. And that is what we have found with Third Street Auto Repair, these guys are ace mechanics and great people to be around.”

Krider Racing’s demolition derby team is also being supported by Andrews Thornley Construction, B&G Tires, Bay Ex, Bottlers Unlimited, C.J. Fix Co., Figstone Graphics, Miracle Auto Body, Napa Valley Muffler and T.E.M. Machine Shop.

The demolition derby will be held two days during the fair: Saturday, Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 10 at 3:30 p.m. at the Napa Town and Country Fairgrounds.

Krider Racing will be competing in its blue and yellow No. 38 Chrysler Cordoba on Sunday.