HOULTON, Maine — A picture perfect day greeted the 38 racers who competed Saturday in the 20th annual Northern Maine Soap Box Derby competition.
Anna Hogan collected the stock division championship, while Jennah Rand was victorious in the Super Stock division. Both girls earned the right to compete in the 78th annual All-American Soap Box Derby Race set for July 25 in Akron, Ohio.
The stock division is for racers age 7-13 and can accommodate a driver up to about 5-feet, 3-inches tall and 125 pounds. The super stock division is for those ages 9-18 and can accommodate a driver up to 6-feet tall and 150 pounds.
For Rand, Saturday’s title victory marks the second time she has earned a spot at the national event in Akron. Two years ago, in just her first year of competition, Rand punched her ticket to the national event with a surprise showing in Houlton.
“I started racing on accident,” Rand admitted. “They needed an extra person to race a masters car, so they shot me down the hill one day. And I ended up having enough points to go to Ohio.”
Her victory on Saturday marks her first win in the Super Stock division and her final opportunity for competition as, at 18 years of age, she is no longer eligible to participate after this year. She went undefeated on the day, winning every heat she competed in.
“I came in to today’s race thinking this was the last chance I had to get Ohio,” Rand said. “I just had to try my hardest to win.”
Her pre-race strategy was the same as so many other drivers competing that day — get your butt back and your head down to eliminate wind resistance. Rand, like many other serious racers, also wears duct tape over a pair of socks instead of wearing shoes because it gives her a better feel inside the car.
But her biggest secret weapon, she admitted, was her father, Eddie.
“I listen to my dad’s advice,” she admitted. “He tells me when I am good, and gives me tips on where I should be in each lane.”
On her route to victory, Rand bested Elizabeth Dahlk, Emily Shaw, Cole Winslow and Yvonne Henderson (last year’s stock champion) to set up a match-up against Mallory Bruen in the finals.
The other top 10 finishers, in order, were: Henderson, Sara Heath, Seth Rand, Winslow, Adam Casillas and Leif Dahlk.
Winning the stock division was a complete surprise for Hogan, who celebrated the moment by immediately phoning her grandmother Pamela Thompson in Littleton to tell her the news.
Hogan has been participating in the Soap Box Derby for the past four years. She finished seventh in both her first and second years, and did not place last year, making her surprise first-place finish all the more exciting.
“I am about to explode,” Hogan said.
Unlike Rand who preferred Lane 1, Hogan said she preferred to race in Lane 2.
“I like to go to my left over by the cones,” she explained. “I really don’t know why, I just do.”
She also admitted she gets a bit of the jitters before each race.
“I get nervous every time,” she said.
On the road to the title, Hogan beat Trafton Russell, Emma Folsom, Meysha Dahlk and Caden Foster to face Josh McGillicuddy in the championship.
Rounding out the top 10 were, in order of finish: Meghan Petyers, Mariah Peterson, Ava Wells, Foster, Dahlk and Russell.
Other racers participating in the stock division were: Camden Porter,, Stephen Bruen, Dillon McCarthy, Skyler Larson, Colton Folsom, Addison LaPoint, Braden White, Konnor Lynds, Tia Burlock, Damian Sullivan, Luke Howland, Holden Stoutamyer,.
Other racers in the super stock division were: Jason Collett, Parker Grant, Braden Scott, Lexi Emerson and Nicholas Craig.
