Demo derby offers smashing entertainment

FOS Promotions' Carnage on the Clark Fork Demolition Derby had another sold out year as 44 drivers over seven heats brought entertainment to Sanders County. The demo derby got kicked off by a few mini drivers in battery powered cars.

The first heat had the crowd cheering for 10 cars with the promise of only four making it to the main event of the evening. After the countdown car 44 driven by Brett Andreason of Williston, North Dakota, came out wheels turning going head to head with 7e who had Jeremiah Tee from Kevin, Montana, as the driver, causing both cars to end up smoking. Both cars then went for others with Tee setting his sights on 913 Jake Brown of Harve, Montana. Yet Andreason was determined to take out Tee, pushing him to the cement guard causing the car to flame up resulting in Tee pulling his "flag."

Tee was not the first to pull his flag, as car 43 driven by AJ Sanders of Plains pulled his fast in the first heat. Yet Sanders knew he would have the grudge match along with car 913 Jake Brown, from Havre, Montana, to make it into the main event.

The second heat was just as exciting with 10 more cars coming head to head. Levi Turner of Deer Lodge found himself stuck to the bright orange bumper of Michael Hyndman of Pinehurst, Idaho, for most of the match. Turner was able to find a way out but ended up pulling his flag. In a blink of an eye only the final four cars remained.

The youth class had three drivers, and the quick match ended with 888 Jacob Hall of Thompson Falls coming in first and winning a grand prize of $1,000. Rhiley Sanders of Thompson Falls got second, while Cayden Steinebach got third.

The wire class event had the most cars with 23. The roar of engines could be heard for miles. Levi Salisburry of Liberty Lake, Washington got the crowd cheering for his Barbie pink car as it tipped over 547 Vernon Turner's car. Turner was able to get upright and running again, but quickly found himself tipped again by car 4 driven by Colby Peterson of Three Forks. This caused Turner to pull his flag. With only five cars left, Peterson proved he was a force to be reckoned with pushing demo derby veteran Rick Sanders of Thompson Falls against the cement guards along with car 28 driven by Caitlin Keller. Both Keller and Sanders pulled their flags earning Peterson the first place prize of $3,000.

It was time to hold a grudge as five cars battled to be the top four to make it to the main event. The match lasted only a few minutes of head to head damage caused 777 Hyndman to pull his flag.

With the main event 12 drivers plus the "Heat Mad Dog," Brett Andreason faced off for one last chance at the $10,000 grand prize. After a few stops to remove discarded bumpers the drivers pushed their battered cars to the limit, down to the last few cars. Travis Erickson of Harve, Montana found himself putting his foot to the pedal earning him the grand prize. Car 18 Ryan Erickson came in second earning a prize of $7,500, while Tim Opperman behind the wheel of 128 got himself a fancy check of $2,500. Andreason earned $3,000 for being the "Heat Mad Dog."