Bluegrass Bash Demolition Derby Tickets

About the Bluegrass Bash Demolition Derby

Each year, Louisville, Kentucky, hosts one of the crown jewels of demolition derby. The Bluegrass Bash is held annually at the Kentucky Exposition Center's historic Freedom Hall, which first opened in 1956, and has a capacity of 19,200 for shows. The Bluegrass Bash features no fewer than seven different events, including two heats of street stock (or bonestock) derbies for cars with their original class engines, swap style for souped-up engines, GM class for General Motors engines built between 1978 and 1996, plus minicars and minivans. Classic cars become wrecking balls, sedans become hatchbacks, and garishly painted vehicles become distinguishable only by the flags on their roofs in this showcase of driving excellence.

History of the Bluegrass Bash Demolition Derby

While its official origins are not fully known, demolition derby has been wowing race fans since at least the late 1950s, rising in popularity in the ensuing decades through exposure on ABC's Wide World of Sports and in film and television. Demolition derby gives fans the excitement of drivers bumping and crashing into each other, until one reigns above all others. Older, mostly American-built vehicles that would normally be sent to the wrecking yard are given one more shot at glory, with windows removed, doors welded, and holes cut into the hoods to allow for easier fire extinguishing. The sport allows for a mix of safety and excitement for both the driver and the audience.

Since 2016, the National Demolition Derby Association has held the Bluegrass Bash, bringing the best in demolition derby action to the Kentucky Exhibition Center. Each class has a cash prize for first, second and third place finishers in the derby, as well as a bonus for the "maddog," who has the best overall performance but is not necessarily the winner. If a driver wins the Maddog award while placing first in a Big Car race, they receive a cash bonus.