right|thumb|Competition at the West End Fair Demolition Derby, Gilbert, Pennsylvania. This annual event is held on three successive nights each August, with approximately 100 automobiles entered each night. Attendance at the event ranges from 2,000-4,000 spectators.

Demolition derby is a type of motorsport usually presented at county fairs and national events. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another. Drivers are typically required to sign a waiver to release the promoter of an event from liability. The driver's door is often required to be painted white with black numbers or blaze orange, or with contrasting colors, . Another source states stock car racer Larry Mendelsohn created the concept for demolition derbies at New York State's Islip Speedway in 1958, after realizing many people favored wrecks to racing. Demolition derbies in Australia generally take place at speedways (usually on the opening or closing night of the season), with most cars being older model Australian-made sedans and wagons.

ABC's Wide World of Sports televised the World Championship Demolition Derby from the mid-1960s until 1992. Motor Madness derbies were primarily for broadcast and needed to fit into a time frame. Live demolition derbies could last indefinitely. Motor Madness changed the rules from last car running to largest number of offensive hits in a time frame. However, as part of MTV Networks' takeover of CBS Cable operations in 2000, demolition derbies, as well as the rest of the CBS motor-sports operations, were removed from programming as part of MTV's move to shut down the CBS Charlotte operation based at Lowe's Motor Speedway and generalize the network into a more broadly viewed channel. Pay per view was demolition derby's only national television outlet in the 2000s (decade). Two $50,000-to-win derbies were held in Widewater, Canada, from 2000-2001.

Later in the 2000s (decade), a proliferation of cable television shows about vehicle customizing occasionally showcased junked vehicles in bizarre competitions. Spike TV's Carpocalypse was a reality documentary series on variations of demolition derby filmed in Orlando, FLA. The Speed Channel also aired team demolition derbies in 2005. Cable TV's exposure has led to renewed interest in the demolition derby.

In 2006, the partners of Mike Weatherford Promotions (Mike Weatherford and Dustin Swayne) started DerbyMadness.com while promoting the NAPA Auto Parts Crash for Cash Series. The first annual final show paid out $5,000.00 to the winner of the series. Before competing in the final show, derby drivers across several states had to qualify at any one of the participating NAPA Crash for Cash qualifying derbies. There were over 100 cars in the final show. The series was a success and continues to grow every year. The 2007 series money was doubled, so competition was expected to increase for the 2008 series. The NAPA Auto Parts Crash for Cash Demolition Derby held in Paris, TN on September 19, 2009 was the final event in this series. In 2025 a derby was put on at Bristol Motor Speedway as it sits currently the whole payout purse of $392,000.00 has yet to be paid by Dustin Woods... cc:* WGN NEWS,9 ... WKRP, CINCINNATI: ESQ. ATTY LAW DIGEST.

Vehicles

right|thumb|Pit crews have to work together efficiently in order to repair heat-winning cars so they can return to compete in the feature event. Most derbies require that the same car qualifying in the heat must be used in the feature. Occasionally, some derbies allow heat winners to use a fresh car in the feature.

Competitors have traditionally used full-size, American-made sedans and station wagons, especially those from the 1960s and 1970s, Scrap vehicles are purchased from junkyards and private owners,

The vehicles are stripped of interior fixtures, trim, plastic, lights, and glass.

Popularity

In 2001, the Los Angeles Times 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 that year.