Turning pumpkins to squash
125 vehicles participate in 2026 Pumpkin Smash
Moments before the first pumpkin of the 2026 Pumpkin Smash is run over by Denton Strassburg in the Compact division. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Of all the pumpkins crushed during the 2026 Pumpkin Smash, few were as obliterated as the one hit at the opening of the Van division. Credit for hitting this pumpkin went to Dennis Schiller in the number zero van. Photo by Clay Schuldt
The opening heat of the Pumpkin Smash came down to Isaac Holland and Taylor Kisch. Holland would ultimately win, but there was no hard feelings between two. Holland and Kisch have competing against each other several times and are good friends. “We were just two buddies going nose to nose,” Holland said.
Several vehicles sit disabled and smoking during the Truck Gut ‘n Go division. In this division, Chase Kerkhoff finished third, Tucker Fredrickson took second and Dylan Frechette won first place. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Limited Weld Trucks The Limited Weld Truck division was the final round of the 2026 Pumpkin Smash. Several of the participants in the derby chose to decorate their vehicles for Halloween. That includes skeleton passengers. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Moments before the first pumpkin of the 2026 Pumpkin Smash is run over by Denton Strassburg in the Compact division. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Of all the pumpkins crushed during the 2026 Pumpkin Smash, few were as obliterated as the one hit at the opening of the Van division. Credit for hitting this pumpkin went to Dennis Schiller in the number zero van. Photo by Clay Schuldt
The opening heat of the Pumpkin Smash came down to Isaac Holland and Taylor Kisch. Holland would ultimately win, but there was no hard feelings between two. Holland and Kisch have competing against each other several times and are good friends. “We were just two buddies going nose to nose,” Holland said.
Several vehicles sit disabled and smoking during the Truck Gut ‘n Go division. In this division, Chase Kerkhoff finished third, Tucker Fredrickson took second and Dylan Frechette won first place. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Limited Weld Trucks The Limited Weld Truck division was the final round of the 2026 Pumpkin Smash. Several of the participants in the derby chose to decorate their vehicles for Halloween. That includes skeleton passengers. Photo by Clay Schuldt
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NEW ULM - Demolition Derby enthusiasts were out in full force Saturday for the 2026 Pumpkin Smash held at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
The Pumpkin Smash is held the first weekend in October and is typically Minnesota's last demo of the year. As a result, any demo driver in the state who still has a running vehicle is likely to take part in the Pumpkin Smash.
This year, 125 vehicles in eight classes participated in the derby. To add extra fall flavor to the vehicular carnage, before each derby heat, a pumpkin is placed at the center of the arena. The first driver to smash the pumpkin receives an extra $50.
The first heat of the derby was the Compact division. The first pumpkin smashed on the day was by Denton Strassburg. This is the second year in a row Strassburg was the first to smash a pumpkin. Kalicia Strassburg finished third. The last five minutes of the heat were a head to head between Taylor Kisch and Isaac Holland, who pushed each back and forth across the arena several times. Holland ultimately won with Kisch in second. Holland and Kisch shared a hug shortly after the heat.
Holland said he and Kisch have been competing in derbies together for some time and are good friends. He said that because they knew each other, they felt like putting on a fun show for the crowd at the end.
"We were just two buddies going nose to nose," Holland said. "It's the end of the season, why not?"
Holland also received the hardest hitter award for the round.
In the Youth division, the pumpkin was taken out by Phoenix Turnbull. Landon Salmon finished third, Brody Mengekock finished second and Hayden Meuleners finished first.
Sixteen-year-old Meuleners is from Waconia, Minnesota. He said the secret to winning in the Youth division is to "go out there smash things up. Don't be scared to be hit."
The 80s Stock division was one of the longest heats this year, lasting nearly a half-hour.
The final three cars in the round were driven by Jason Wiese, Tim Lange and Jake Lanoue. The three drivers struggled to deliver disabling hits. In the end, Lanoue came in first with Lange in second and Wiese in third.
The pumpkin was crushed by Nicole Filler, with the hardest hitter going to Brennen Sandgren
Lanoue is a veteran of the demo circuit. He has been competing for 22 years. This is his fourth year at the pumpkin smash. He credited his win to a new engine in his vehicle. It was his first time running it and it was the deciding factor.
Lanoue said often the secret to winning a demo comes down to two things: luck and patience.
The Van division had the hardest smashed pumpkin of the derby. Two vans slammed into the pumpkin going into reverse at nearly the same time, squashing the gourde to pulp. Dennis Schiller in the Zero van was credited with hitting the pumpkin.
Third place went to Logan Sanders, second went to Colin Bloemke and first went to Kyle Bathke of Waseca, Minnesota. This is the third year in a row Bathke has won the Van division at the Pumpkin Smash.
"This is always good to end the year on a high," Bathke said after his victory.
He said the secret to winning a van demo is to be patient and always drive in reverse.
In the Gut'n Go Trucks division, Anthony McDermott took out the pumpkin. Hardest hitter went to Marcus Lang. Chase Kerkhoff finished third, Tucker Fredrickson took second and Dylan Frechette won first place.
In the Midsize division, Jason Schultz crushed the pumpkin. Chase Kerkhoff was the hardest hitter. Colin Guetter finished third, Gaige Johnson took second and Jayden Voss finished first.
In the Limited Weld Cars, Eli Johnson smashed the pumpkin with Jake Elliot getting the hardest hitter. Elliot would also finish second in the heat with Jeremy Kisch in third and Marcus Lang winning.
The final round of the derby and the for the season was the Limited Weld Trucks. Jon Brand had the honor of smashing the last pumpkin. Bill Pelzel got the hardest hitter award as well as finish third. Marcus Lang finished second and Tucker Haala finished first.
This is the second year in a row Haala claimed the final victory of the demo derby season.