Cindy Cloutier’s reign as defending demolition derby driving champion is officially over. Cloutier, who won the 2007 Smoky River Agricultural Society’s demolition derby, was knocked off the winner’s pedestal this year’s June 15 event by two new top dogs – Darcy Fortier and Daryl Fortier. It was Darcy Fortier outlasting the competition in the car heat to claim the top spot and a first place cheque in the amount of $1,000. He was joined on the podium by second place winner Norm Brulotte, who earned a cheque for $600. Brulotte was also recognized by fans in attendance as having the best looking vehicle. (Note: A third place prize of $400 went to a driver from Peace River, whose name was unavailable by our publication deadline.) The winner of the truck heat, meanwhile, was Daryl Fortier, who picked up a cool $500 cheque for his efforts. The 2008 demolition derby attracted a smaller than usual field of competitors, including eight drivers in the car heat and two drivers in the popular truck heat. “The response was a little less than what we were expecting, but everyone still had a blast,” says event coordinator Cindy Cloutier, who was anticipating upwards of 15 drivers or more to compete for bragging rights at this year’s derby. She attributed the below average driver turnout to rainy, cool conditions earlier in the day. “I think it (the weather) definitely affected our overall response.” The same, however, couldn’t be said about the paid attendance figures in the stands as hundreds of people from throughout the region filed into the agricultural fairgrounds to watch the action unfold on Father’s Day. Rita Therriault of the Smoky River Agricultural Society says an estimated 1,200 people were present at the fairgrounds during the weekend, including hundreds of ball players who participated in a slow-pitch tournament.