Gallery: Twisted metal
Published 7:24 pm Sunday, August 4, 2013

Hard hitting at the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby Sunday in front of a packed house led to a stoppage of action in the compact division. Nick Schreiber (middle) allows officials to put all four wheels of Matt Nicholson’s ride back into the mud. Schreiber took seventh, and despite being knocked on his side in the early going, Nicholson took second. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
Fans at the 2013 Freeborn County demolition derby were treated Sunday to flying mud, crushing hits and fire-spitting headers.
The Grandstand was packed. So was the opposite side of the arena, where spectators set up chairs in pickup beds to catch the action. Sixteen-year-old derby fan Drew Folie of Alden said he wouldn’t miss it.
When asked how many years he’s attended, Folie replied without hesitation. “Sixteen years,” he said.
Folie’s favorite part of the derby is the trucks division. Trucks were one of four divisions in the event presented by the Masters of Disaster.
The demolition derby began with the compact division, followed by full-size, mini and trucks.
Despite using his car in two previous derbies this summer, Josh Eischeus took the win in the compact division.
“We ran it down in Northwood and Osage,” Eischeus said, referring to two Iowa derbies. “I looked at it, and decided it wasn’t junk yet, so we brought it here.”
Against all odds, Matt Nicholson took second place out of eight cars in the compact division. Early in the event, his car was bashed on the passenger’s side, nearly flipping the car. Nicholson’s ride balanced on the driver’s side, and officials waved the red flag to make sure Nicholson was uninjured. After flipping his car right-side up, Nicholson fired up the engine with no problems and continued unfazed to earn a $350 payout.
Jim O’Byrne won the full-size division with his ‘89 Lincoln Town Car. After competing in the derby for 10 years and taking a hiatus, O’Byrne said he felt the urge to come back. It paid off this year with a trophy and $1,500, the biggest purse of the derby.
Next, minivans and small trucks lined up in the arena for the mini division. Kevin Joel took first place, and Brady Flatness — the third-place finisher — was awarded the division’s hardest hitter award.
In the mini division, some drivers didn’t remove their exhaust systems, but it was the calm before the storm as the trucks took the arena for the final event.
Tyler Tews of Northwood took first place in his modified ’65 Dodge D-Series. Instead of the truck’s stock straight six engine, Tews installed a 5.3 liter V8. Shawn Ellingson’s No. 185 truck took second.
Heather and Paul Nielsen have organized the derby for the last seven years, Heather said.
In his first year of competition, Chris Lorten took second in the mini division and won the best of show award presented by Debbie Oakland in honor of Pete Oakland.
“I just like the adrenaline when you’re out there,” Lorten said. “That’s the best part.”
Results by division are below photo gallery.
- Ryan Linde’s Ford F100 spits fire out of its headers Sunday in the trucks division at the Freeborn County Fair. Linde took fourth place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Drew Folie, middle, of Alden watches the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby Sunday from the east side of the arena. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Jim O’Byrne, left, gets in a front-end collision with Tim Neuhalfen Sunday in the full-size division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. O’Byrne won the event, and Neuhalfen took second. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Ryan Schulz drives Sunday in the compact division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Josh Eischeus drives Sunday in the compact division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Eischeus won the event. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Colton Neuhalfen gets out of his car Sunday after the full-size division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby completed. Neuhalfen finished fourth. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Paul Nielsen, head of the Masters of Disaster organization that runs the Freeborn County demolition derby, signs checks to the winners on Sunday. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Fans watch the Freeborn County demolition derby Sunday from the east side of the arena. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Shawn Ellingson drives Sunday in the trucks division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Ellingson took second place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Andrew Eischens drives Sunday in the trucks division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Eischens took eighth place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Chris Lorton drives Sunday in the mini division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Lorton took second place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Jon Kluver drives Sunday in the trucks division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Kluver took fifth place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Brady Flatness drives Sunday in the mini division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Flatness took third place and won the hardest hitter award. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Jim O’Byrne drives Sunday in the full-size division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. O’Byrne won the event. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Ryan Schulz drives Sunday in the compact division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Tanner Kalvig drives Sunday in the trucks division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Kalvig took seventh place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Tanner Kalvig sits in his vehicle while the driveshaft lays in the mud and the front axle is damaged Sunday in the trucks division of the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Kalvig took seventh place. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Nick Schreiber, middle, knocks Matt Nicholson’s ride on its side Sunday at the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby. Schreiber took seventh, and despite the early setback, Nicholson took second. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
- Hard hitting at the Freeborn County Fair demolition derby Sunday in front of a packed house led to a stoppage of action in the compact division. Nick Schreiber (middle) allows officials to put all four wheels of Matt Nicholson’s ride back into the mud. Schreiber took seventh, and despite being kocked on his side in the early going, Nicholson took second. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
Results by division
Compact
1. Josh Eischeus 17-X
2. Matt Nicholson 9-N
3. Mike Chisholm 3-B
4. Mark Krause 13-X
5. Ryan Schulz 69-K
Hardest hitter: Josh Eischeus
Full-size
1. Jim O’Byrne 45
2. Tim Neuhalfen 111-X
3. Dyllan Engebretsen 717
4. Colton Neuhalfen 11-X
5. Brooke Bergeson B-9
Hardest hitter: Jim O’Byrne
Mini
1. Kevin Joel 911
2. Chris Lorton 98-C
3. Brady Flatness 40
4. Jim O’Byrne 45
5. Tony Olson I-35
Hardest hitter: Brady Flatness
Trucks
1. Tyler Tews 10-X
2. Shawn Ellingson 185
3. Jeff Knudtson 88-K
4. Ryan Linde 11-X
5. Jon Kluver 189
Hardest hitter: Tyler Tews