Following their first-place victories in the 18th annual Hopkinsville Soap Box Derby, racers Audrey Rains, Madelyn Warren and Willow Groves prepare for the 86th annual International Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio this July.
On May 4 each competitor faced off against 35 other racers in Ruff Park and took home the trophy for their respective divisions. Groves took first place in the Stock Division, Warren took her second win after a second-round tie breaker in the Super Stock division and Rains, who has previously taken the 2015 Stock and 2019 Super Stock championships, took first place in the Masters division.
More than 300 racers from around the world are expected to be at the competition. The three champions will spend a week in Akron practicing and competing against their fellow racers before the big race on July 20. Bluegrass Youth Racing Foundation President, Annie Catron, says the day of the race will include parades, band marches and a celebration after the race wraps up.
For Rains and Warren, this will not be their first time competing in Akron. Warren has previously competed in the competition, and this will be Rains’ tenth time qualifying for the competition.
This will also be Rains’ last chance to participate in the Soap Box Derby, as after ten years on the track she will be too old to compete in next year’s race. However, retirement might not be the end of her participation with the derby. Rains says she will still have the chance to participate as an organizer for the event, and can see a side of racing she didn’t get to see as a competitor.
The foundation will be providing a stipend for the racers for their week in Akron. More information for how to support the foundation and the racers can be found at hopkinsville.soapboxderby.org.
Story by Reporter, Jordan Spaulding