By C.E. Hanifin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Here's the lowdown on the highlights of this weekend's Country Stampede at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta:

Rowdiest fans: The men who came to see Terri Clark, many of whom screamed until they were hoarse. Some kept hollering long after she left the stage.

Best cover: Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight," performed by Terri Clark.

Most bizarre cover: Neal McCoy's rendition of Fountains of Wayne's tune "Stacy's Mom."

Coolest use of the Jumbotron: Backstage interviews with the performers.

Weirdest use of the Jumbotron: A commercial for Pure Romance at-home sales parties of adults-only products.

Most ingenious impromptu seating: Lindsey Hagedorn, 17, of Warsaw, Ky., stretched out across three inflatable bright-pink cubes given as freebies by a vendor hawking cell phones.

Funniest overheard comment: "I can't believe you got me into this!" 15-year-old Stephanie Mitchell screamed, punching 14-year-old Darrell Hibbard in the arm as the two swooped above the crowd on Air Glory. The attraction swung the two thrillseekers from Cincinnati into the air on a metal cable controlled by a crane.

Goofiest onstage comment: "Does the Jumbotron make me look fat?", posed by Mike Stiles, a DJ for Cincinnati radio station WYGY (96.5-FM).

Most popular nosh: Funnel cakes. The long line for the deep-fried treats often snaked around several of the less-busy food concessions nearby.

"They're definitely worth it, though," said Maianne Purdue, 19, of Walton, as she licked sugar off her fingers.

Smartest suggestion for next year's Stampede: "They should get a second funnel-cake booth," said Purdue's friend Tiffany Wanamaker, 20, of Walton.