P.C. Fair hosts first Derby in years

Chinook's Powell wins P.C. Fair Demo Derby; Havre's Kultgen shows grit, determination

For the first time in five years, the Phillips County Fair hosted a demolition derby and the event holding nearly 900 was a success.

The event featured plenty of "rock'em sock'em" action and was highlighted by a win by Chinook's Garrett Powell. Powell won the Calcutta round, which was also the Championship Round of the derby.

Among the highlights of the evening was Havre's Ashlee Kultgen, who had the crowd's heart as she won her first derby.

Kultgen, only 15 years old just got her license last December.

"My brother Austin Moore has been doing it for a few years and I've always wanted to ride in one," Kultgen told the PCN.

She was the only woman competitor against the men in the Chain Derby. The car, a 1988 Delta, had previously done well in derbies in Havre and Chinook, taking first and second respectively.

"My brother was like ask if you can run," Kultgen said noting that she had learned that she could participate only one day prior to the event. "I was excited but a little scared because I was running against guys."

Minutes into the first race of her young career, Kultgen gave the crowd a scare as the flaggers called for a stoppage in the derby.

"I had a concussion a few years ago and it messed my neck up," Kultgen said. "I'm not supposed to be doing this, but it was my last shot, so I thought 'might as well.'"

Kultgen went on to say that every time she got a whiplash it stings. So they called a stoppage in the derby to make sure she was okay.

Her brother and mother's boyfriend sprinted to the car to check on Ashley and upon seeing all was well they went back to the sidelines and the race continued.

"I wanted to win and I wanted to make my brother proud," Kultgen said, explaining the reason she wanted to continue.

Kultgen, a sophomore at Havre High School definitely plans on participating in derby events again.

She had never been to the Phillips County Fair before, but that day she left a winner.

The big money winner was Chinook's Powell, who the PCN caught up to before and after the race.

Prior to his big win that day, Powell was only able to finish in fourth place at the Havre fair and another fair in Chinook, in the same 1974 Cadillac. He was pretty excited to grab his first win of the year.

He did so without his pinion brake, no steering and a roughed up transmission during the race.

"I just knew I had to hit when I could," Powell said. "Because I couldn't pick my hits."

Powell went back and forth for minutes, while his last opponent, also struggling tried to square him up.

The final opponent's car shut down and Powell was victorious.

Powell, a construction worker, has participated in derby events for nine years.

"It's a rush," Powell said. "Just knowing you've got people coming in to hit you and you don't know how hard or when, you gotta keep your head on a swivel."

Demolition derby presents Powell with more than just a rush, it also gives him a release many drivers probably wish they had. It helps him deal with road rage.

"When it gets close to derby time, I get excited and start driving like an idiot on the road," Powell said.

Powell's win was incredible, especially knowing that he had issues with his rear end.

"I've been having read-end problems so I bought some rear end parts last week," Powell said. "I gotta win some money to pay them off."

Powell had a good feeling about the night from a crowd standpoint.

"There's a lot of tough cars and with everybody here, there's people from Chinook and Havre. We've ran together and we all have our bad blood towards each other. It'll get pretty wild in the main."

Powell had admitted there were a few targets he had wanted to take out personally, but he wouldn't name names.