Powell wins second straight

It's no longer a secret to all at last Saturday's Demolition Derby at the Phillips County Fair that Chinook's Garrett Powell is the area's top competitor. Powell is nearing the end of a pretty hot streak after his first top finish of 2016 in Billings last May. He went on to an event in Glasgow and won. He won in the Blaine County Fair and took second in the Valley County Fair. Last Saturday he won his second consecutive Phillips County trophy.

"It feels pretty good," Powell said. "There were some good, fast cars out there. It was fun. It's been a pretty good year."

Powell went to the highest bidder A Fine Line Auto Body for $1675. Despite the bid which could've lost the bidder the equivalent of four other bids, Powell came as advertised and won the event with several extra hits to spare.

Powell has been participating in demos around Montana for the past ten years but lately he has hit a stride.

In the final moments of the seven car Calcutta round, Powell finished off Chinook's Trappie Skoyen after dislodging Skoyen's rear tire. Then he beached another opponent in the trenches before a cat and mouse chase happened with his friend Jake Brown also from Chinook.

Powell had Brown stuck just outside of the arena's entrance. And he eventually smashed up Brown's car until his car stalled out as well. After landing the final ten to twenty hits Powell was crowned champion.

"I had to go," Powell said. "He's one of my good buddies and we don't get to drive together much."

As it would turn out Powell's steering box went out and he couldn't steer so he kept hitting Brown until he couldn't anymore or Brown waved hit flag. Brown didn't wave his flag.

Powell was in danger of losing multiple wheels before driving Brown into the trench but somehow his ride held together.

"I just had to take it slow," Powell said. "Sometimes it would catch and go turn the way I wanted. It wasn't too bad."

Powell aims to hit a few more fairs up before derby season is over. He plans to go to Fort Benton's fair in mid-August, then a Derby in Havre in September and possibly a derby in Great Falls.

Powell hopes that his car, a modified 73 Cadillac, will hold up for another derby or two before he has to change out major parts.

His father Mike Powell had won the AMX B Main race earlier in the day. As the son celebrated, the father watched in the trench with pride.

"I'm very proud," Mike said. "He's been working at it really hard and he is finally where he wants to be. We will go home and he will start building all over again for next week."

The father and son duo rebuilt two engines in two days in between derbies.

"We usually build five to six engines in a year but this year we got by with three," Mike said. "We've got to build for next year."