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For $30 and a Junk Car, You Can Race While Crashing Into Your Rivals
Photo Trash Car Racing Facebook Page
If you wish you could have been a NASCAR driver, have $30 and an old car, you could become a racer in a different kind of competition in northern Utah.
Trash Car Racing sends stripped-down four- or six-cylinder vehicles around muddy tracks built inside county fairgrounds. The goal is to cross the finish line first, but drivers are allowed to hit each other while fighting for position.
The racing league has been holding events in Cache and Box Elder counties for 10 years. Its next race is scheduled for August 15 at the Cache County Fairgrounds in Logan.
This season has taken on additional meaning following the death of founder Wayne West in March. His friend and longtime operations manager, Curtis Morrison, is now continuing the unusual motorsport West created.
One Driver's Car Caught Fire Twice
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One of the wildest moments of the season happened during a July 18 race in Logan. According to The Salt Lake Tribune , first-time driver Caleb Leff did not initially realize that his car had caught fire while he was sliding around the muddy track. Race officials stopped the action and warned Leff to get out. He climbed through the window while members of the safety crew ran toward the car with fire extinguishers.
The whole ordeal didn't deter him at all. Once the flames were out, Leff climbed back inside and continued racing. The car caught fire again later that evening, bringing Leff's first race to an early end. He had already won an earlier heat and told the publication that he plans to return.
Trash Car Racing Began 10 Years Ago
West created Trash Car Racing in 2016 by combining elements of traditional track racing with the contact found in demolition derbies. Unlike a traditional derby, the winner is determined by who finishes first rather than who has the last functioning car.
Before launching the Utah racing league, West promoted demolition derbies in Oregon and entertained crowds by jumping cars and motorcycles. His obituary described him as someone who believed cars and bikes were meant to fly and said he began promoting events through Smash and Crash Entertainment in 1995.
West died on March 16, 2026, two days before his 59th birthday. Morrison told The Salt Lake Tribune that taking control of the league has required him to consider how his friend would have handled each decision.
Drivers Can Join for $30
Trash Car Racing was designed as an affordable alternative to other forms of motorsports. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that competitors pay a one-time $30 driver fee and generally begin with an inexpensive four- or six-cylinder car.
Before a vehicle can enter a race, drivers must remove its glass, airbags, interior plastics and other parts that could become dangerous during a collision. They must also install a roll cage and four-point safety harness, secure the hood and weld the trunk and driver's door closed as safety is the top priority.
The cars may be cheap, but many racers spend years repairing and modifying them. Some also give their vehicles elaborate paint jobs, with everything from patriotic designs to cars inspired by Lightning McQueen and Mario Kart appearing on the track.
A previous FOX 13 report described the activity as "racing with contact" rather than a demolition derby. West said drivers must outmaneuver and outlast the competition to reach the finish line first.
Three Races Remain in the 2026 Season
The remaining 2026 schedule includes races in Logan on August 15 and September 12. A final race is scheduled for September 26 in Tremonton, according to the event's official ticketing page .
The August 15 event will bring Trash Car Racing back to the Cache County Fairgrounds, where Leff's car caught fire during his memorable first race.
NASCARUtahTrash Car RacingCacheBox ElderItsCache County FairgroundsLoganWayne WestCurtis MorrisonWestEmbedded
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