Mangled Metal derby brings drivers, destruction back to fairgrounds

Mangled Metal Productions is bringing demolition derby action back to Carroll County with a 20-year anniversary event featuring big prize money and a full weekend of competition.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, at the Carroll County Fairgrounds, 160 Kensington Road NE.

Organizer Brian Shuman said the show marks 20 years since his first demolition derby in 2006 and comes after a long break from hosting events.

“I think we stopped in like 2014 or 2015 because we got too busy,” Shuman said. “Ever since then, all I hear is, ‘You’ve got to do another one.’ So with it being 20 years, we decided to bring it back.”

The featured attraction will be a full-size, three-man team competition with a $10,000 prize awarded to the winning team.

Teams will compete in qualifying heats Saturday, with winners advancing to the championship feature Sunday. Teams that do not advance Saturday will have another opportunity through a consolation round.

“You run your heats Saturday, then you’ve got all night to fix your cars,” Shuman said. “Then Sunday, you come back and run again for the big money.”

Shuman said he expects around 15 teams to compete in the main event, along with more than 100 vehicles participating across all classes.

The weekend will feature a variety of divisions, including compact cars, trucks, vans and SUVs, along with youth classes and crowd favorites like lawn mower and Power Wheels derbies.

Shuman said he helped introduce some of those classes years ago in an effort to grow the sport.

“We started the lawn mowers and the youth class to try to grow the sport,” he said. “Now those classes are at pretty much every derby.”

Saturday’s schedule begins at 4 p.m. with Power Wheels events, followed by team heats and additional classes. Sunday’s events begin at 12 p.m., noon, and include consolation rounds, youth divisions and the $10,000 championship feature.

A new addition this year will be an Enduro race, an endurance-style event where drivers navigate a course around the track and infield until only one vehicle remains running.

“It’s something different,” Shuman said. “Last car moving wins.”

Shuman, who began competing in demolition derbies in the early 1990s, said he retired from driving about a year and a half ago after decades behind the wheel.

He now focuses on organizing events and said his goal is to put on a strong show for fans.

“My favorite part is having a front-row seat and putting on a good show,” he said. “When drivers come to my show, they know it’s on.”

The event is expected to draw drivers from across the region, including participants from Ohio and neighboring states.

In addition to the derby action, the weekend will include food vendors, camping and family-friendly activities.

Camping will be available beginning May 1 for $50 per night. General admission is $20 per day for adults, $15 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Weekend passes are also available.

Shuman said bringing the event back has been a challenge, particularly in attracting drivers after several years away, but he is hopeful the anniversary show will draw a strong turnout.

“People have been asking for this for years,” he said. “Now they’ve got their chance.”

Rules can be found at the Mangled Metal Facebook page.