Before the demolition derby Sunday, an online poll at www.mustangdays.com showed only one person who tallied that they were going to the event. That only shows that demolition derby fans didn’t vote in the poll, because the stands were packed, the parking area was filled with wandering people and tailgaters lined the arena, despite the 100-degree plus temperatures Sunday.


The North Squad of Big Horn County Search and Rescue held their 14th annual demolition derby on Sunday, June 29, at the Lovell rodeo grounds. To a crowd of more than 700 people, 13 drivers competed for over $3,800 in prize money and trophies.


Drivers strategically crashed their custom-built cars into each other in a contest to see whose derby car survived the longest without breaking down. There were two initial heats followed by a grudge match and then a final heat to determine the grand-prize winner and the other top four drivers. Drivers were given 30 minutes between heats to make repairs to their mangled machines before heading to the arena for round two.

Results are as follows:
1st Place winner of $1,500 - Derek Hutzenbieler of Powell; 2nd Place winner of $800 - Tyler Stahl of Lovell; 3rd Place winner of $500 - Brian Stulc of Greybull; 4th Place winner of $100 - Tom Kovach of Powell.


Best of Show went to Tyler Stahl of Lovell. He won a prize of $25 donated by Queen Bee Gardens and a trophy.


Winner of the 50/50 raffle was Dylan Rasmussen of Cowley, his prize was $149. Pizza on the Run donated four large pizzas as consolation prizes for the next four tickets that were drawn.


Flag money winners: Dylan Hutzenbieler of Powell, $200; Aaron Stewart of Greybull, $100; Tyler Stahl of Lovell, $250; Brett Atkinson of Powell, $100; Tom Kovach of Powell, $50. There was no powder puff heat this year due to a lack of participation.


“This Derby couldn’t have happened with out the wonderful support of the businesses in our area,” North Search and Rescue Captain Scott Allred said and thanked everyone who attended the event, either as a spectator, volunteer or a derby driver.


Allred also thanked everyone who sponsored flag prizes, Al and Tina Bernard, CK Hardware, the Lovell Chronicle, Mane Line Hair and Nail Design, Marathon Oil, Millers Fabrication, Red Apple Supermarket, S & L Industrial, Walker Service, Wilson Brothers Construction and Wyoming Lime Producers.