Demolition derby is an action packed sport that is currently sweeping Middle America and has captured the attention of fans all over the country.  It is estimated that between 150,000 and 225,000 drivers participated in at least one of the 2,000 demolition derbies held in the United States. And this isn’t just a county fair sport, as event purses have risen from a pittance of a few hundred dollars to over $50,000 in recent competitions. Demolition derby teams showcase unparalleled skill and imaginative tactics as they build and demolish their cars and rebuild them again for the next heat. The drivers are not just competing against each other but also their own vehicles, pushing their ability to adapt and innovate to the limit while trying to outlast the other cars in the derby.  But this sport isn’t just about driving cars; the derby world is a family unto itself, and while often a close knit group, the competitiveness within this “dysfunctional family” can create some of the most heated moments ever seen in a sport, both on the racetrack and off the field.

Crashes to Riches will take a first of it’s kind look inside the very tight knit world of Demolition Derby.   The series will follow the return of the “Godfather of Derby” – Sam Williams- a man who was on top of the derby world before a catastrophic call at a race sent him straight to the bottom and ostracized him from the sport.  Now it’s time for Sam to climb back to the top, but he’ll have to do so one event and one driver at a time.  It won’t be easy, but with the help of his son and daughter, along with all of the drama of any family business, Sam and his family are determined to be America’s next big comeback story.  Each episode will lead up to a specific race, with the season leading up to the ultimate derby event- Gold Rush Nationals- the largest derby competition in the US.  The series will also spotlight an eccentric and engaging cast of drivers, all of whom’s blood, sweat, tears, and cash is being exhausted on the sport. 

Real Media is a turnkey – full service media production company in Kansas City and will be providing production services for this series.  They’ve produced feature films, documentary projects and much more.  Additionally they’ve developed Crashes to Riches in conjunction with producers Bryan A. Bray and Matt Sims alongside “Derby King” Sam Williams.  They have garnered unbridled access to a season’s worth of the top derby events, as well as the best drivers in the country, and finally the season’s pinnacle derby event- Gold Rush Nationals.

Sam Williams (founder of Ultimate Derby) was once considered to be the Godfather of Demolition Derby.  Growing up around the sport with his father (a pastor) gave him the foundation he needed to build the biggest derby promotion company in the US.  That all came to an abrupt end after a bad call at an event in 2016 which ostracized Sam from the sport and the other drivers.  Now Sam and his family are determined to climb back to the top but they’re going to have to put on a series of successful derby events as well as win back some of the toughest people in the sport- the drivers. 

Chris and Nicole Williams (Sam’s son and daughter) have also grown up around derby, much like their dad. They’ve put on events, repaired cars, and even competed in events themselves.   They witnessed the fall of their father’s empire in 2016 first hand and now will do whatever it takes to help their dad build it back even better.  It’s a family affair but it remains to be seen if this family of alpha-types can work together and play together.

Chad Markley is another prolific winner in Demolition Derby and also Sam’s archrival.  It was Chad on whom Sam made the disastrous call that ended Sam’s derby rein in 2016.  Chad’s a true professional driver that is strategic and tough to beat, and even calls derby “a disease” that won’t let him quit the sport, similar to most of the drivers. Chad hasn’t forgotten what Sam did in 2016, and while Sam may be successful in winning over the other drivers, Chad’s not so sure he’s ready to make a mends, or ready for Sam to be back on top.

Austin Johnson loves crowds and crowds love him, so he will likely be a fan favorite because of his magnetic personality as well as the fact that he knows its all about the fans. He’s not in Demolition Derby to win, he’s in it to entertain.  Some people are addicted to love.  Austin is addicted to hearing that crowd cheer when he goes after anyone in his path.  Kids love him too.  But sometimes fame and his ego can keep Austin from being on the winning side of the track, and the other drivers as well as Sam will be the first ones to put him in check.

Butch Santel and Jody Braden are the original improbably matched couple that derby has brought together over their mutual love of the sport.  Butch is a prolific winner with over 250 wins.  Both have a long history in the sport and work together as a team week in and week out to compete on a national level. But it’s not always honeymoon time for this fiercely competitive couple, as the stresses of competitions and getting ready for them definitely create some spontaneous combustion between these two.

John Green has been involved in Demolition Derby since he was a teenager.  His driving style has evolved over the years.  Today he is a seasoned driver that knows how to win as well as one of the few black drivers in the sport.  He recently lost his home and garage in a fire that started from a welding spark while he was working on his derby car.  As a result he’s had to sit out a season while he strives to rebuild his life.  Now John is determined to finish his rebuild and dive back into the sport full force this coming season, and if he can win the help of the Derby community, he’s coming back stronger than ever.

Brittany Whiting got her first taste of the Derby world when her then boyfriend decided to give it a try.  She caught the bug, kicked that boyfriend to the curb, and today is building her own cars and derby reputation.  She’s already become one of the top woman drivers in the country and wants to bring an all female team to the Gold Rush Nationals in November.

Dillon Kunkel is known around the Derby circuit as the “rich guy”, for unlike most other derby drivers who put everything they have into the sport, Dillon has a large trucking operation in Northwest Iowa as well as a large hog farming operation and has ample funds to invest into his derby career.  Don’t confuse derby as a hobby for him though; he’s as focused on winning each event as any of the other drivers.  When he was younger he got trapped in a derby car that caught on fire and received 3rd degree burns, then spent 3 months in a burn unit recovering.  Despite derby rules, to this day he won’t wear a seatbelt as he believes it almost cost him his life.  On the weekends Dillon takes his entourage with him to compete in derby events all over the Midwest.