One of the great Northeast Ohio traditions made its return for the first time since 2019.
Akrons’ Soapbox Derby.
The 83rd running of the First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby took place at the world famous Derby Downs Track in Akron on Saturday.
Champions were crowned in two divisions, Local and Rally. $36,000 were given out in total to the top three finishers in each race from the Bill Speeg Memorial Fund.
Speeg was a race director in Southern California who had a deep love and passion for the Soap Box Derby and its young racers.
Champions were crowned in the Rally Challenge, AAA Local Challenge, and the Legacy and All-Star divisions.
The champions of races received $3,000, 2nd place received $2,000, and 3rd place received $1,000.
Here are the top 3 finishers in each race.
Local Stock
1st Place: Johnny Buehler from Kansas City, Missouri
2nd Place: Abbie Gibson from South Charleston, West Virginia
3rd Place: Kelsey Sanford from Bowling Green, Kentucky
Local Super Stock
1st Place: Nathen Christian from Bowling Green, Kentucky
2nd Place: Adam Getts from Indianapolis, Indiana
3rd Place: Libby Shoemaker from Akron, Ohio
Local Masters
1st Place: Emma Roseland from Omaha, Nebraska
2nd Place: Cameron Martin from Bowling Green, Kentucky
3rd Place: Zachary Hiller from Cleveland, Ohio
Rally Stock
1st Place: Bella Siddle from Camano Island, Washington
2nd Place: Sadie Meyer from Owensboro, Kentucky
3rd Place: Shelton Taylor from Indianapolis, Indiana
Rally Super Stock
1st Place: Karlye Murphy from Hilton, New York
2nd Place: Aidyn Driggers from Tarrytown, Georgia
3rd Place: Peyton Brake from Morisvale, West Virginia
Rally Masters
1st Place: Landen Watson from Evansville, Illinois
2nd Place: Sydni Behan from Dover, New Hampshire
3rd Pace: Ryan Locher from Owensboro, Kentucky
Rally Challenge; Stock Division
1st Place: Gerald Hudson from Clearfield, Pennsylvania
2nd Place: Logan Webb from Merritt Island, Florida
3rd Place: Alyssa Case from Akron, Ohio
Rally Challenge; Super Stock Division
1st Place: Karley Murphy from Hilton, New York
2nd Place: Joshua Ostrander from Rantoul, Illinois
3rd Place: Dakota Thomas from Hurricane, West Virginia
Rally Challenge; Masters Division
1st Place: Ronan Johnson from Camano Island, West Virginia
2nd Place: Jenna Wolfe from Conneaut, Ohio
3rd Place: Olivia Shirley from Cambridge, Massachutsetts
AAA Local Challenge; Stock Division
1st Place: Kelsey Van Waart from Omaha, Nebraska
2nd Place: Garrett Minch from Spotsylvania, Virginia
3rd Place: Eleni Fishcer from Columbus, Ohio
AAA Local Challenge; Super Stock Division
1st Place: Noah Thomas from South Charleston, West Virginia
2nd Place: Libby Shoemaker from Akron, Ohio
3rd Place: Kayla Crawford from Culpeper, Virginia
AAA Local Challenge; Masters Division
1st Place: Hannah Oleson from Des Moines, Iowa
2nd Place: Kyle Behan from New Hampshire
3rd Place: Kayla Crawford from Culpeper, Virginia
All-Star Race; Stock Division
1st Place: Conor Bledsoe from Hopkinsville, New York
2nd Place: Gerald Hudson from Clearfield, Pennsylvania
3rd Place: Davis Hinkle from Indianapolis, Indiana
All-Star Race; Super Stock Division
1st Place: Joshua Ostrander from Rantoul, Illinois
2nd Place: Karlye Murphy from Hilton, New York
3rd Place: Riley Gresko from Las Vegas, Nevada
All-Star Race; Masters Division
1st Place: Stephanie Hicks from Akron, Ohio
2nd Place: Conor Magnuson from Loves Park, Illinois
3rd Place: Charles Nigon from Altoona, Iowa
Legacy Division
1st Place: Ronan Johnson from Camano Island, Washington
2nd Place: Charles Nigon from Des Moines, Iowa
3rd Place: Henry Paul from Indianapolis, Indiana