Usually, the sound of metal crushing into metal is the beginning of a bad situation, but Saturday night in Kremmling, it will be accompanied by whoops and cheers, thanks to the 13th annual Get Smashed Demolition Derby. 

At 7 p.m. Saturday at the Middle Park Fair Grounds, battle-ready cars will fill the arena and enthusiasts and fans will pack the stands. The event draws a large crowd every year, attracting Summit County residents and even out-of-state competitors, to compete for the $25,000 purse.

“It’s a big revenue generator for us,” said Thomas Clark, assistant at the Kremmling Chamber of Commerce. “It helps make August a good month for us.”

The event is hosted annually by Get Smashed, LLC, a Kremmling based company dedicated to all things demolition derby.

This year, drivers will have a new class to compete in with the chain-up van class, which has a separate purse. Competitors can also enter the derby in fully-welded compact, full-size cars and trucks classes, as well as the partially welded full-size cars class. 

Drivers can also compete in the themed car contest and vie for the Most Aggressive Driver (MAD) Dog Award.

As the event continues to be a popular one for Kremmling, it’s growing in size to keep up with demand. Clark added that more vendors will be on-site at this year’s derby to provide food and drink options.

The derby also offers live entertainment performances from the Country Music Project and the Candela Collective Performance Troupe and the evening concludes with a fireworks display.