AKRON, Ohio — Despite a rainy championship race day, the 84th All-American Soap Box Derby wrapped up a week of competitions over the weekend, crowning a number of winners.
Each year, boys and girls from 7 to 20 years old come to Akron after winning races in their hometowns to race down the famous 989-foot track at Derby Downs. Rally races are offered for those who accumulate points competing in rallies around the U.S. throughout the year.
The drivers and their families come to town for a week of activities that lead up to the final championship race on Saturday, followed by an awards ceremony.
The kids drive gravity-powered derby cars they build, competing for a share of $36,000 in scholarships from the Bill Speeg Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Speeg was a race director in Southern California who served in many roles for the Derby over the years, mentoring young racers, and providing technical support and financial assistance. He had served as regional director for the Derby for nearly 10 years when he died in 2014 at the age of 46.
Champions in the Local and Rally divisions win $3,000, second-place drivers win $2,000 and third-place winners receive $1,000.
This year, seven Derby car drivers finished first in their divisions:
- Local Masters – Alexandra Uhler, DuBois, Pa. (Car No. 033)
- Local Super Stock – Eleni Fischer, Columbus, Ohio (Car No. 111)
- Local Stock – Ayva David, Ocala, Fla. (Car No. 312)
- National Super Kids Classic – Justin Roda, Sterling, Ohio
- Rally Stock – Brayden Locher, Owensboro, Ky. (Car No. 733)
- Rally Super Stock – Karlye Murphy, Hilton, N.Y. (Car No. 626)
- Rally Masters – Cash Driggers, Tarrytown, Ga. (Car No. 516)
The National Super Kids Classic race features two-person cars in which kids with disabilities compete with assistance from veteran Soap Box Derby racers.
Champions were also crowned in the AUI Rally Challenge, AAA Local Challenge, Legacy, All-Star divisions, and National Super Kids Classic.
Visit the Soap Box Derby website to see a listing of all the Derby winners.
