Shelby Rose, right, races against Tyler Wisely in the Super Stock division of the 12th annual Quincy Soap Box Derby Saturday, June 11, 2016, on North 18th Street near Bob Mays Park. The event was sponsored by the Breakfast Optimist Club. | H-W Photo/Phil Carlson

Posted: Jun. 6, 2017 8:50 am

QUINCY -- For the second straight year, more than 150 youngsters will be a part of the Breakfast Optimist Club Soap Box Derby.

Director Ray Wilson has confirmed each of the event's three divisions will have 50 or more participants for Friday and Saturday's 13th running of the Grand Prix of Gravity.

"We're in the final stages of preparation for this year's event, and I don't think anyone could be happier," said Wilson, who is overseeing the derby for a sixth year. "We've made some subtle changes in the overall process that should help the races keep moving along and make it even more enjoyable for the participating families and spectators who will be on hand."

Races on both Friday and Saturday will be run on the 18th Street hill by Bob Mays Park.

Friday will again be set aside for the Super Kids portion of the derby. All competitors fall under the special needs category and will race in specially designed "buddy" cars that allow for an accompanying driver.

The tentative schedule calls for two or three separate divisions like last year to be run consecutively starting at 11:30 a.m.

"Some of the Super Kids need to take part at certain times, and those are the kinds of details we are still finalizing," Wilson said. "We want the day to be enjoyable as possible for the kids and their families."

Saturday's racing will start at approximately 9 a.m., following a series of practice runs beginning at 8.

At this time there are 54 Super Stock Division entries, 55 in the Stock Division and 50 Super Kids. The number of Stock Division cars is a new derby record.

The 159 combined entrants would be a derby record -- one more than last year -- but that total is not yet cast in stone. Wilson said that figure might change by "one or two" by race day because "there are some family commitments and other issues that might arise for a few of the kids, and those kinds of things can't be helped."

This is the third year of more than 100 racers. The derby topped the century mark the first time in 2015 with 122.

Top returnees

Headlining this year's lineup of drivers is all-time victory leader and two-time champion Kaelyn Hess. Her 36-8 record and 0.818 winning percentage are both tops in derby history.

Hess is seeking a third title to go with her 2013 and 2012 Stock Division championships. Hess also owns two runner-up finishes (2015, 2014) and a third place (2016) in the Super Stock Division. Her five top-four finishes are the most in the derby record book.

Cooper Kleinkopf (25-15), fourth on the all-time victory list, also returns. He won the 2015 Stock title.

Other top Super Stock returnees include Andrew Buckley (13-10), Alexandria Meyers (10-6), Conner Muder (10-6), Jordyn Liesen (9-4) and Laura Steinkamp (9-4).

Meyers will sing the national anthem prior to the start of Saturday's schedule.

Leading the Stock returnees is defending champ Jadyn Vogel (13-3). Kleinkopf, Jayson Johnson (16-6), Clay Simpson (8-4) and Matthew Boudreau (8-6) also return.

All derby participants are between the ages of 8 and 17.

Hall of Fame

The fifth inductee into the Quincy Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame will be announced during Saturday's event. This year's inductee will join Cainan Roff (2016), Logan Steinkoenig (2015), Nathan Butts (2014) and Kayla Reichert (2013).