For Fresno couple, love starts with racing quads at Caruthers Fair

For one young couple, the Caruthers District Fair goes well beyond mere tradition; it’s where their love story began.

But they didn’t meet atop the Ferris wheel or while knocking down milk bottles along the midway. Instead, it was on the dirt oval race track where Mitch Cornelious first found himself in awe of Kristi Bolin, the rival driver who one day would become his wife.

It was 2008. He was 18 and she was 16. Both were quad racers and had just competed during the annual Dennis Watson Memorial races.

Kristi beat Mitch in that race. Mitch’s mother, Nikki, remembers pointing that out to her son. He was adamant in his reply: “I’m going to have to go meet her.”

“She was up here,” says Mitch, now 25, as he raises his hand to eye level. “Out-of-my-league-type thing.”

What came next was an awkward double date of sorts with each others’ younger siblings along – Mitch brought his sister Kaylee, and Kristi brought brother Bobby. They went to see “Madagascar 2,” then ate at a Denny’s.

But their comfort level grew at the racetrack, where they continued to compete.

“We started racing together … and about the time we started dating I moved up to the expert class and went to a place called the Chowchilla Barnburner,” Mitch said. “We raced together every two weeks. That’s when things became official, I guess you could say.”

Kristi, 23, had been racing since she was 9 and Mitch since age 16. They finally found in each other someone with an equal level of passion for the sport.

“I knew when they started dating it was going to be a good relationship,” Nikki Cornelious said. “Kristi is like Mitch. Racing is her life.”

The two married Aug. 3, 2013. Their save-the-date notice included a photo of them atop their quads.

While their romance was sparked on the racetrack, the couple remain competitive there, dueling in quads, go-karts and outlaw karts.

“I’m focused,” Kristi motioned with her hands.

“You’re a little more cautious,” Mitch added. “But I’m never going to let her win.”

Near the start of their relationship, they found themselves tied for the points lead heading into the final race of the 2009 winter series at Chowchilla Speedway.

Mitch wound up first and Kristi second. Afterward, they shared a big hug in the middle of the track – a memory that’s cherished.

This weekend, it’s back to the Caruthers Fair, riding go-karts and quads in the expert division at the 33rd annual Watson Memorial.

“It’s a tradition,” Kristi said.

“Whatever one races, the other one will race and we always race together,” Mitch said. “We’re on the track together. It’s a lot of fun.”

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 7:26 PM with the headline "For Fresno couple, love starts with racing quads at Caruthers Fair."