Bash for Cash

The Phillips County edition of the Bash for Cash Demolition Derby saw a new champion as two-time winner P.C. Fair event Garrett Powell of Chinook was dethroned by Jestin Brown, who was left standing against Chase Moxley at the end of the race.

"I was just having fun," Brown said after the win. "It feels pretty good because I never have good luck here. I always have back luck here, so it felt pretty good."

He went on to say that he has had steering issues in past P.C. Fair events.

Brown had gone head to head with many of the participants in this year's derby but that night he had bragging rights over Powell and his brother, who are all good friends and hang out occasionally.

"It feels pretty good, it feels awesome," Brown said noting that the event had a pretty good crowd.

Early in the championship, Powell chased Jonny Austin into the dirt barrier but in doing so he was also stuck and ultimately unable to free himself. This came after both Austin and Powell delivered a tag team hit on Brown.

Later in the race Brown drove his front end over Moxley's back end and it seemed that the duo would be stuck.

Brown eventually broke free leaving Moxley stuck with a blown out tire and damaged steering. Brown eventually added to the event hitting and ultimately freeing up Moxley. After a brief chase Brown put Moxley back in the corner.

Between Moxley's transmission and steering issues and being stuck on the barrier, he was unable to make a solid hit on Brown and the event was over.

Brown was the second lowest bid on driver in the Calcutta, going to Taylor Nicholson for $200. Jake Brown was the lowest priced, being bought for $75 by the Kindle Brothers. Last year's champion, Powell went for $1075 to A Fine Line Autobody. This year's runner up Moxley was bought for $700.

Brown, like many of the other derby drivers participate in several events a year.

"Glasgow, Billings, Chinook, Havre, Fort Benton, Utah," he said.

And he has been bashing his 1972 Chevy Wagon all year long.

In the race before the P.C. Fair, in Blaine County, Brown's steering went out again and he lost.

"I had some steering problems," he said.

Saco's Matt Suddeth won the Chain Car event pretty convincingly, though he was challenged by Lyndon Walsh of Landusky who won the 406 raffle car, a 1978 Dodge Aspen.

The event also had a Kids Derby in which several kids brought out their power wheels for their own Demolition Derby. Pieces of plastic fell throughout the event and many wheelies were performed but no one was hurt in the event.

Malta's Ryan Meneely, a twelve year old, stepson of the event's announcer Kevin Elias was happy with how the event went that night.

"It was one of the better derbies that I have seen," he said.