Congratulations to all our local derby drivers

Summer is in full swing, and we all know what that means.

The mercury is rising, the days are longer and over-priced hot dogs and beer are being consumed daily in ballparks all over the country.

It also means names like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson are dominating NASCAR conversations every week as the race for the cup begins to heat up.

Except, that is, for the last Saturday in July when people in Culpeper turn their attention back to a slightly slower form of racing — the All-American Soap Box Derby.

Culpeper truly has become a derby town.

“We are so blessed that we live in Culpeper,” Race Director Frankie Gilmore said. “In talking to a lot of other directors, it’s clear that we really do put on a top-notch derby from safety to the drivers themselves to all of our amazing volunteers.”

A year removed from hosting the world’s second-largest race, Culpeper turned the tides in 2009 and took the top spot from Fredericksburg with 154 registered drivers from all over central Va. taking over Blue Ridge Avenue June 20.

The derby began here in 2003 with a pedestrian 35 drivers but has blossomed ever since, and the growth doesn’t look like it’s going to end any time soon.

Since its inception, Culpeper’s derby has produced a former world champion in Brandon Feagan, and the area is home to six drivers who competed in Saturday’s world championships in Akron, Ohio.

None of our local products placed against drivers from all over the world, but their hard work and dedication can’t be overlooked.

Just like any other Soap Box driver, all six of these young people took time out of their busy lives to build their respective cars to exact specifications. They poked, prodded and tweaked their chariots for months, shaving every possible second before the big race.

Three Culpeper-area drivers — Brandon Feagan (Super Stock), Ciera Backe (Masters) and Tyler Miller (Stock) — had their hard work pay off after they claimed first place in their respective divisions and cemented a spot in Akron.

The other three — Hunter Chapman, Amanda Halsey and Rebecca Johnson — took an even longer route to Ohio, qualifying for the championships with rally points.

Doing so meant traveling all up and down the east coast to race just about every weekend for months at a time. Between school work and time on the track, the rally drivers truly did eat, sleep and dream about Soap Box racing.

The growth and success of the Soap Box Derby of Culpeper has been just about unparalleled by anywhere else in the country or the world. And now with a permanent track slated to be installed in the next year or so, Gilmore says the sky is still the limit.

“We have so much that we have yet to even tap into,” she said. “The derby is just a wonderful family event, and we are so excited about its potential and the future.”

So now for all the proud parents, pit crew members and race officials all over area, let me be the first to congratulate all the drivers and the people who make it all possible on a job well done. You’ve represented Culpeper well. Keep up the good work.