“I’ve been doing this here for 21 years, but only won a couple times,” said Rewitzer after parking his Dodge Powerwagon with a Chevrolet 350 engine following a first place finish.

“The last few years, it seems something dumb happens like a broken transmission or something,” Rewitzer said.

“It’s a blast. I don’t do it for the money. I do it for the crowd and adrenaline rush,” said Rewitzer, who works as a body man at Bode Collision and Glass in New Ulm.

Nine pickup trucks began the heat but Rewitzer and Brian Kopel of Bird Island were left with their engines running after about 20 minutes of smashing and crashing.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brown County Fair pickup truck division demolition derby winner Kyle Rewitzer of New Ulm poses with his Dodge Powerwagon and trophy after the derby Thursday.

Kopel wasn’t able to steer his 2004 Ford F250 Super Duty with a Chevy LS 53 pickup truck motor anymore, so he was awarded second place.

Kopel didn’t sound very disappointed after the derby.

“I had a blast. It was a great time,” Kopel said. “I plan on coming to the pumpkin smash at the fairgrounds and to the demolition derby here next year.”

He plans to compete in a demolition derby in Bird Island Saturday night.

Rewitzer said he will drive a 1974 Chrysler New Yorker in Saturday night’s demolition derby at the Brown County Fair.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch The 80s and newer demolition derby heat featured smoke and a smashing time for Chad Ludewig (8), winner Dustin Reinhart (156) and Jason Wiese (81).

Parker Neid finished third and Marcus Lang fourth in the pickup class. Jon Mickelson got the Mad Dog award with extra cash for hard hitting.

Travis Schneider won the mid-size division. Following were Chance Pieper, Robert Lang and Ryan Wiltscheck.

Justin Reinhart won the 80s and newer class. Following were Chad Ludewig, Dustin Reinhart and Justin Dauer.

Michael McDermott won the stock mighty minivan class. Following were Kyle Brunner, Logan Anderson and Anthony McDermott.

Chas. Wittenberg won the youth class. Following were Savannah Green, Jesse Scharbach and Madison Price.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.