KUSA - A new reality series is delving into the world of demolition derby. We talked to a husband/wife derby team from Utah about 'Kings Of Crash' on 9NEWS 5 a.m.
According to show executives, the series is set in the "world of legalized road rage, where the accidents aren't accidents, and the characters are as combustible as the collisions!"
Demolition derby - a sport in which drivers deliberately ram their cars into one another - is popular at fairs and festivals throughout the United States, but Utah is known for its own brand of the pastime according to Bob Scanlon, general manager for Velocity, which carries the show.
"This Utah circuit is pretty aggressive; I think it is the most aggressive I have ever seen," Scanlon explained.
That hard-hitting reputation is what attracted Scanlon and others at Velocity to feature Utah's derby circuit in the series.. Film crews shot casting reels at various demolition derbies, looking at how well the drivers performed and how they came across on-camera.
Eight participants were ultimately chosen for "Kings of Crash," including the the husband and wife team of Ryan and Katy Sweat.
The series not only focuses on actual events the drivers competed in during 2012 - from Heber City to Tooele to Farmington - but also the drivers' preparation for the races, the physical toll the sport takes on their bodies and how the sport affects their family relationships.
Will there be a second season for "Kings of Crash"?
"I am very optimistic," Scanlon explained, adding that after its Velocity debut, the series will play on the Discovery Channel, which may generate further interest.
Another season would likely feature the same core group of Utah derby drivers. He says one idea might be to pit them against drivers from another part of the country in an East vs. West event.
To learn more please visit:
Kings Of Crash Official Site
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