Mainers star at Derby Houlton driver 2nd

AKRON, Ohio – The most successful performance by a Maine contingent at the Soap Box Derby World Championships ended with three Mainers coming back with two runner-up trophies and a fifth-place finish.

Jeffrey Holmes of Houlton and John Blais of Rumford finished second in the rally stock and non-rally super stock racing divisions, respectively to become the first Maine racers to finish higher than fourth. A fifth-place finish by East Hodgdon’s Chelsea Sloat in the stock division made the 2002 worlds Maine’s most successful soap box outing ever.

The previous best finish by a Maine racer at the worlds is believed to be a fourth-place finish three years ago.

Holmes, who finished third overall in the stock division at the 7th annual Northern Maine Derby last month and missed qualifying for worlds by one place, but came to Akron anyway after qualifying for the stock rally field. He won his first two races with times of 28.46 and 28.55 seconds, but lost to champion T.J. Pond, who came in at 28.64 in the championship race.

The three rally division fields (masters, stock, super stock) are determined by times gleaned from a season-long racing circuit rather than one weekend derby, which is what determines who qualifies in non-rally masters, stock and super stock. Holmes didn’t lose until the final race, when Pond won the title with a time of 28.64 seconds.

Only the top three racers in the rally divisions are considered placing, whereas the top nine are awarded in masters, stock and super stock.

In the super stock division, Blais was runner-up to Roger Yeomans, Jr. after Yeomans edged him with a time of 28.57. Blais won his three previous races with times of 28.56, 28.59, and 28.62.

Sloat also won her first three races with times of 28.57, 28.49 and 28.73, but lost to eventual stock champion Cameron Vannatta in her fourth race. Vannatta timed in at 28.61. Sloat then finished second in a three-way race for fourth, fifth, and sixth as the fourth-place finisher (Kalene Powell) finished in 28.70.

Saturday’s racing action was interrupted at midday as a rain shower stopped the races for 45 minutes to an hour. Afterward, the three-lane course was dried with squeegees and racing resumed without interruption despite a few sporadic and short sprinkles.

Several honors were handed out to Soap Box Derby host cities and race directors.

Although Houlton lost its title to Fredricksburg, Va., as host of the largest Derby race in the nation, it ranks first as the largest stock race with a field of 94 racers. Houlton also retained its membership in the 100-plus club as it tied Waynesboro, Va., for second overall with 156 entrants. Fredericksburg drew 171 racers. Brewer moved up to fifth in the country at 115. Three Maine cities rank among the top eight as Camden is eighth with 82. Tracey Weed was one of four people given an outstanding Derby director award.