Jaycees Derby a smashing finale

Eventual winner Chris Vaughn (left) heads towards finalist crushes finalist Chad Drugge with the rear of his car during the championship heat of the 2012 Jaycees Demolition Derby Sunday night at the Great Northern Fair. Vaughn was the winner of the final heat.

Garret Powell and James Albertson collide in Sunday night's Jaycees Demolition Derby in Havre.

The tradition continued, and the 2012 Great Northern Fair got sent off with a bang, a crash and a few flames, as the annual Jaycees Demolition Derby brought in another huge crowed.

Sunday evening at the Great Northern Fairgrounds, 16 drivers battled it out in attempt to be the last man standing, or really, the last car rolling. There were three initial heats, two consolation heats and a finals heat scheduled, but with all of the crashing and smashing, drivers went straight to the finals after the completion of the first three rounds. Only four drivers were able to limp back in to the consolation rounds and were automatically waived into the finals.

In the finals, 10 drivers went head to head. But this year, it was Chris Vaughn in the No. 78 car who finished in first place. Vaughn had lim

Colby Cline and Ryan Erickson smash into each other during the finals of the 2012 Jaycees Demolition Derby Sunday night at the Great Northern Fair.

ited steering near the end, but took full advantage of a straight line shot he had at Chad Drugge and Jestin Brown. Vaughn barreled into one as fast as he could forward, then flew in reverse to hit the other. This desperate technique took place for about five minutes before the arena grew quiet and Vaughn was the only remaining driver.

Drugge in the No. 75 car finished in second place and Brown in the No. 55 car finished in third place. Both Drugge and Brown were winners of Heat 3 and earned the free pass into the finals. Heat 3 also contained Ken Erickson, Brandon Melby and Josh Parrow.

Jimmy Albertson and Chris Vaughn won Heat 1, and had to fight through Kasey Martin, Garrett Powwell and Caleb Sorenson. And Johnny Austin and Ryan Erickson won Heat 2, getting past Colby Kline, Mark Gooch, Deric Tades, and Daniel Kleinjan.

Overall, fans were treated to yet another successful demolition derby. There were plenty of big hits, loud crashes, and crumbled cars hauled from the arena. There were slightly less drivers this year from last, but that didn't lessen the action and made for a very successful finals heat.