AKRON, Ohio – Several competitors from Aroostook County turned in solid efforts during the 64th All-American Soap Box Derby over the weekend.

Alex Mooers of Houlton, Brandon Arey of Caribou and Emery Lincoln of Hodgdon all advanced past the first heat on Saturday. It was the first time any racer from the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby competition advanced beyond the first heat, according to Northern Maine director Andy Mooers.

The racers qualified for the national competition in June at the Northern Maine event, which has been held for six years and has been the site of the nation’s biggest derby (183 racers in June) for the last five.

Alex Mooers, 12, competed in stock; Arey, 12, was in super stock. They were eliminated in the second phase of races.

One of six Mainers qualifying from District 10 in the Derby rally program, super stock racer Emery Lincoln, 14, entered the second round for the first time in three trips to Akron. The other racers – all eliminated in the first round – were Ryan Aucoin and Dana Tidd from Houlton and Kurt Ward of Hampden in the stock division, plus Stacy Marriner of Camden and Maegin Jolin of South Portland in super stock.

Another Mainer who made it through the initial heat in the regular Derby races was South Portland’s Ariana Andrews in the stock division.