A History Channel television series filmed in Owensville in 2018, featuring the “Belle Boys” and the “Outsiders,” aired at 9 a.m. on Sept. 13 as American Wreckers.

The show features a showdown between demolition derby enthusiasts in Belle and Owensville challenging each other on the derby field. While the show was filmed under the working title “Heavy Hitters,” Shawn Suydam who ran his “Belle Boy” derby car Relentless (No. 915) said his group has known about the change for a while.

“However, we had no idea they was airing the show Sunday,” Suydam said. “I believe it took us all by surprise, really.”

Short clip videos of the show began popping up on local Facebook pages, as the community caught on to the airing of the first three of six scheduled episodes. Suydam said he did get to watch the first three episodes that were aired.

“Three additional episodes will be aired at 9 a.m. this coming Sunday, Sept. 19,” Suydam said.  “They did a phenomenal job putting it all together, I thought. Much better than initially anticipated.”

According to the History Channel’s description of the show, “Missouri is now home to a new rivalry: the one between the Belle Boys and the Outsiders, fought each week in the demolition derby arena. The scrappy Outsiders team challenges local derby legend and reigning champions, the Belle Boys, to a series of six derbies. Every week, the two teams battle it out in a deeply personal fight for automotive supremacy in their grizzled, souped-up derby cars.”

“Don’t forget to tune in or click record to show your much appreciated support for our small town of Belle,” Suydam said.