Tusc Soap Box Derby race held in New Phila
The Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby is open to children age 7-20 in Tuscarawas, Carroll, Harrison, Coshocton and Muskingum counties.
The 69th running of the Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby Local race was held June 23 on Wabash Hill in New Philadelphia. Tuscarawas County will send seven champions to the All American this summer. This is the most the organization has ever had qualify for the world championships held in Akron each July.
There were three divisions: Stock, Super Stock and Masters. There were eight Stock participants, eight in Super Stock and four in Masters. One winner of each division will go on to compete in the All American Soap Box Derby World Championships held in Akron July 15-20.
The winners for Stock were Jaxon Walker in first place, Raeleigh McCumbers in second place and Cherokee McDole in third place.
The winners for Super Stock were Carson Feller in first place, Camden Hanstine in second place and Gavyn Parker in third place.
The winners for Masters were Sarah Martin in first place, Emma Davis in second place and Chevella McDole in third place.
This year Tuscarawas County has four rally champions who earned points by attending rally races and earned 600 points or more. Rally races are held around the country all year long. A rally race consists of a double-elimination and single-elimination race on both Saturday and Sunday of a race weekend.
Representing Tuscarawas County is Jensen Stull, 10, son of Brian and Christy Stull of New Philadelphia. He will compete at the All American as a 2024 stock rally champion for Region 6 (Ohio/West Virginia). He earned points by racing in rally races across the country this past season and is currently ranked third in the United States. He has earned six rally wins this season. This is his third trip to the All-American. He will be in fifth grade at Central Elementary in New Philadelphia. He is in Cub Scouts, enjoys rally racing, likes watching NASCAR and enjoys playing video games.
Competing in the Rally Stock Division is Jordan Bitticker, 9, son of Blake and Lori Bitticker of Midvale. He will compete at the All American as a 2024 stock rally champion for Region 6. He earned points by racing in rally races across the country this past season and is currently ranked 10th in the United States. He attends Midvale Elementary in Midvale. He has collected one win this season. This is his second trip to the All-American. In addition to soap box derby, he enjoys racing, wrestling and is in the Boy Scouts.
Hudson Stull, 13, is the son of Brian and Christy Stull of New Philadelphia. He will compete at the All American as a 2024 rally super stock champion for Region 6. He earned points by racing in rally races across the country this past season and is ranked sixth in the United States. He has collected four wins this season. He will be in the seventh grade this coming school year at Welty Middle School. This is his third trip to the All-American. He enjoys bowling, likes soap box derby, and loves learning about history and visiting new places.
Racing in the Rally Masters Division is Savannah Blind, 13, daughter of Wenny Denman and Scott Blind of Dover. She will compete at the All American as a 2024 rally masters champion for Region 6. She will be in eighth grade this coming school year in Dover. She enjoys playing soccer, basketball, soap box derby and hanging out with friends. This is her fourth trip to the All American. She won in the Local Stock Division in 2021, the Local Super Stock Division in 2022 and the Local Masters Division in 2023. She is the first person in Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby history to have three championships back-to-back-to-back.
In addition to the seven champs that are competing in the championships, the Tuscarawas County Derby director was inducted into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame. Tim Hiller, 66, raced for five years in the Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby beginning in 1969. He became a volunteer soon afterward and has been race director since 1984 and is the longest-serving active director in the nation. He promotes soap box derby participation through presentations at local schools and various local events, staging outdoor rallies in spring and fall and indoor rallies in winter months that attract participants from multiple states. He holds technical sessions where experienced race families share their racing knowledge with new participants. His goal always is to run a fair and memorable race program for racers and families.
The Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby is open to children age 7-20 in Tuscarawas, Carroll, Harrison, Coshocton and Muskingum counties. No experience or equipment is necessary. Call Brian Stull at 330-204-5711 or Tim Hiller at 330-407-7580 or follow the Facebook page, Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby.