Backe, Halsey and Johnson make it to second round

AKRON, Ohio – The Culpeper area sent three girls to the 72nd annual All-American Soap Box Derby.

The trio – Ciera Backe, Amanda Halsey and Rebecca Johnson – each experienced the same result at legendary Derby Downs on Saturday, a victory in Round 1 and a loss in Round 2 that eliminated them from their respective racing divisions.

Backe, 16, won her first race Saturday in the Masters division in a time of 29.45 seconds. She then lost in the second round to Justin Rayle, of Mechanicsville, Md.

“It’s been really a great experience with my family,” Backe said. “It’s a good opportunity to have fun and race.”

Backe, a junior-to-be at Eastern View High School, was making her second trip to Akron after losing in the first round in 2005 at the age of 12.

“It was a lot scarier for me because I didn’t know what I was doing at all and it was my first year racing,” Backe said regarding the 2005 appearance. “This time was a lot more fun. I got to hang out with my friends.”

Backe said she visited Cedar Point amusement park in nearby Sandusky.

Megan Thornton, of Cleveland, Ohio, won the Masters title in 29.30 seconds. Rayle, 15, placed fourth in the finals. His older sister, 17-year-old Courtney Rayle, competed in the Ultimate Speed division after winning the 2008 Masters Division title.

Halsey, 16, won her first heat race Saturday in the Rally Super Stock division in a time of 29.66 seconds. She then lost to Will Carter, of Bowling Green, Ky., in the second round.

Halsey, a junior-to-be at Orange County High School, was making her third trip appearance in the Derby after losing in the first round in 2006 and 2008.

“I feel like I made it to that next level and I feel much more confident about my racing abilities,” Halsey saids

Alex Seither, of Mason, Ohio, won the Rally Super Stock division title and Carter placed eighth.

“The reason I lost is because I drove really bad,” Halsey said. “I can admit that because I know I was kind of in that moment where I had already messed up, so I just kept on messing up from that point on. Everybody said it was close, but I know I could have done better.”

Johnson, 14, won her first heat race Saturday in the Rally Masters division in a time of 29.45 seconds. She then lost to Wolfie Ruddell, of La Mirada, Calif., in the second round.

Johnson, a freshman-to-be at Orange County High School, was making her second trip to Akron after securing a win and a loss in the 2007 Derby.

“I am happy with how I did, but I just wish I could have gone further,” Johnson said. “I learned a lot of stuff from coming up here and talking to people.”

Johnson said the highlight of the trip was watching an Akron Aeros minor league baseball game at Canal Park.

Megan Hydutsky, of Pottstown, Pa. won the Rally Masters division title and Ruddell finished seventh.