Local racer wins national title at the 73rd All-American Soap Box Derby

AKRON, Ohio - Akron's own won the National Title at the 73rd All-American Soap Box Derby.

On Saturday, 12-year-old Megan Gongaware of Akron won the Local Stock World Champion title, giving Akron its 16th national champion.

More than 500 boys and girls from across the country and as far away as New Zealand participated in the competition held at the world-famous Derby Downs track. Racers between the ages of eight and 17 spent months building their gravity-powered racecars and competing in local Soap Box Derby competitions to earn their trip to the World Championships. Gongaware will receive a share of $30,000 in scholarship awards.

Veteran Hollywood actor/director Corbin Bernsen served as parade grand marshal during opening ceremonies and was on-site all day shooting scenes for his new Soap Box Derby movie, 25 Hill.

The Soap Box Derby season runs year-round in over 155 cities and communities across the United States and overseas culminating with the AASBD World Championship in Akron. Each competitor builds his/her own gravity-powered car from kits purchased from the AASBD, typically with assistance from an adult or mentor.

In the Stock Division racers from 8 to 13 years old compete in cars built from kits, which assist the Derby novice by providing a step-by-step layout for construction of a basic style car. This division is designed to give the first-time builder a learning experience.

In the Super Stock Division racers from 10 to 17 years old have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and build a larger, heavier model car, also from a kit.

In the Masters Division racers from 10 to 17 years old have the opportunity to build a more sophisticated designed-style car in this advanced class of racing. Masters entrants build a car from scratch or purchase a Masters Kit from the AASBD.

 Information for this story on newsnet5 was provided by the All-American Soap Box Derby.

The top finishers in each class of the 73rd All-American Soap Box Derby held here Saturday:

Masters Division
1. Morgan Champagne, Dover, N.H.
2. Maranda Busby, Moss Point, Miss.
3. Megan Hensley, Fredericksburg, Va.
4. Holly Underwood, Akron, Ohio
5. Kevin Baeza, Erie, Pa.
6. Brooklyn Hunt, Omaha, Neb.
7. Kallie Myers, Tuscarawas, Ohio
8. Victoria Bohlsen, Indianapolis
9. David Elman, Massena, N.Y.

Super Stock Division
1. Tucker McClaran, Salem, Ore.
2. Megan Riley, Indianapolis, Ind.
3. Danielle Hoeckelberg, Littleton, Colo.
4. Tyler Fleck, Souderton, Pa.
5. Zachary Krohn, Youngstown, Ohio
6. Cody Williams, Marietta, Ga.
7. Alisha Morgan, Beaumont, Texas
8. Luis Moreno III, Cleveland
9. Matthew Yob, Pottsville, Pa.

Stock Division
1. Megan Gongaware, Akron, Ohio
2. Maggie McLaughlin, Ambridge, Pa.
3. Joshua Cummings, Bowling Green, Ky.
4. Abby Elman, Massena, N.Y.
5. Aaron Leonard, Owensboro, Ky.
6. Autumn Vincent, Athens, Tenn.
7. Madison Shoff, Akron, Ohio
8. Anthony Poggi, Silverdale, Wash.
9. Patrick Barnes, Arlington, Mass.

Rally Masters Division
1. Michael Morawski, Guilderland, N.Y.
2. Maddie Quinn, Pleasanton, Calif.
3. Gerard Lizama-Bomm, Orlando, Fla.
4. Jimmy "Fireball" Fell, Bay Village, Ohio
5. Zachary Roe, Fredericksburg, Va.
6. Emerson Witte, Lee, Ill.
7. Dustin Chrisman, Akron, Ohio
8. Nicky Vaccaro, Rochester, N.Y.
9. Summer Robinson, Tallahassee, Fla.

Rally Super Stock Division
1. Sean Brown, Spotsylvania, Va.
2. Sam Fehrman, Pendleton, Ind.
3. Brittney Weems, Willowick, Ohio
4. Tarryn Rutherford, Charlotte, N.C.
5. Rebekah Hoak, Holley, N.Y.
6. Chaz Blair, Rockfield, Ky.
7. Mark Ostrander, Rantoul, Ill.
8. Alex Beckerink, Lakewood, N.Y.
9. Allison Knaggs, Ogallala, Neb.

Rally Stock Division
1. Ricky Desens, Webster, N.Y.
2. Cassie Kilby, Independence, Iowa
3. Dylan Morris, Bowling Green, Ky.
4. Jacob Green, Lancaster, Ohio
5. Alex Motto, East Greenville, Pa.
6. Kendall Allen, Lancaster, Ohio
7. Dylan Gunn, Dunnellon, Fla.
8. Emerson Minch, Strongsville, Ohio
9. Lauren Burkert, Audubon, Pa.

Super Kids Division
1. Cody Nelson, Huntington, W.Va.
2. Dakota Hatfield, Matewan, W.Va.