Our Champions
72nd All-American Soap Box Derby Championship
The Omaha area’s Local winners were: Stock Division – Austin Gann; Super Stock Division – JC Adair; and Masters Division – Samantha Kunkle.
Aside from participating in Local Soap Box Derby races, competitors can also earn an opportunity to compete in Akron by participating in AASBD-sanctioned rally races held in various locations during the Derby season. The United States is divided into 12 geographic regions. There is also an International region with racers from Canada, Germany, and Japan. Racers earn points by competing in these regional events.
The competitors who accumulate the most points at the end of the season in each region earn the right to compete in the All-American Rally Championship. There are close to 300 sanctioned rally races held throughout the country each season, with no limit to the number of races each participant can compete in or where they race.
Region IV consists of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Region IV rally points winners from the Omaha area were: Super Stock Division – Taylor Overton; and Masters Division – Bryanna Plog and Alicia Kratke.
The All-American Soap Box Derby is the premier youth and family oriented racing program in the United States involving boys and girls (ages 8 years to 17 years) around the world. The Derby season runs year-round and is comprised of more than 450 races with the goal of advancing to the AASBD finals held annually at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. More than 500 racers represent 43 states and three foreign countries at the finals.
Participants compete in one of three gravity-powered racing divisions: Stock, Super Stock and Masters. Within the Stock division, boys and girls ages 8 years to 17 years compete in simplified cars built from kits purchased from the AASBD. Super Stock division competitors build larger model cars made from larger body shells. The Masters division consists of boys and girls ages 10 years to 17 years building a more sophisticated designed-style car from a kit. In competition, a Derby car can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour depending on the grade of the ramp or hill. Participants are required to compete in the Soap Box Derby race geographically closest to where they reside. All local race winners in each division automatically earn the right to compete in the Finals. Samantha Kunkle took 6th place in Masters division finals.
During “Derby Week” (July 20-25, 2009), champions from each of the divisions come to Derby Downs where they get their first look at the 990-foot racing track designed especially for AASBD competition. Weeklong festivities include special entertainment, workshops, celebrity appearances, parades, and the traditional Oil Can Trophy Race where celebrities compete in oversized derby cars.
The Soap Box Derby grew out of a photographic assignment of Dayton, Ohio newsman Myron Scott. After covering an unorganized race of boy-built cars for his local paper in 1933, Scott acquired a copyright for the idea and began developing the program on a national scale. The first AASBD race was held in the summer of 1934, and Omaha was one of the original race cities represented in that race. Robert Turner of Muncie, Indiana won the race, and Jack Furstenburg of Omaha took third. The AASBD Championships have run annually ever since (with the exception of during World War II).
By nurturing children to become solid community citizens through the teaching of basic construction skills, teamwork, the spirit of competition, perseverance and family values, the AASBD is highly respected by community leaders, educators, racing enthusiasts and beginners.
Participants can assemble a kit in as little as five hours with a parent or other adult. The kit, purchased from the AASBD, includes a shell, wooden floorboard, and assorted hardware.
To become involved with, or to learn more about, the Omaha Area Soap Box Derby Association,
e-mail the association or call 712-347-9702. You may also contact the
AASBD or call them at 330-733-8723.
2009 NDR National Championships
Several Omaha Area Soap Box Derby competitors raced in the 2009 NDR National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa the week of July 26-31, 2009. In the Stock division, Bryanna Plog took 4th place, Dalin Plog won 6th, and Kolton Ginter earned 12th. In the Super Stock division, Samantha Kunkle took 6th place. In the Masters division, Bryanna Plog won 5th place. In the NDR Masters division, Samantha Kunkle earned 9th place.