When Craig Flury says the words, “Good luck, champs,” to start each heat of the 2025 All-American Soap Box Derby at Akron’s Derby Downs, racers know that the mechanism that holds their cars in place is about to release and that gravity will quickly take hold.
Flury, the local derby director in Akron, has been involved with the event for decades — first as a racer in the 1960s, and later, he said, as a volunteer, race director and board member.
For the 2018 inductee into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame, today’s race was most likely his last as local director, Flury said, because “we need to bring some young blood in here” to take on leadership positions.
One leader on the track Saturday was 15-year-old Colt Nelman, son of Tina and Keith Nelman, who took first place in the local masters division. Although the Hudson High School freshman can compete in the division until he is 20 years old, his 6-foot-tall frame is getting too large. He has to squeeze his shoulders to fit into the derby car shell.
“This is my last race. It’s good to go out with a bang,” he said after the event, adding that he plans to continue cheering on his 11-year-old sister, Raegan, who competed Saturday in the rally stock division.
Nelman said the best advice he could give his sister is to “listen to Dad.” Wise words, considering the Nelman’s father, uncle, grandfather and cousin have all raced in the derby over the years.
Keegan Altomare, 13, an eighth grader at Holy Family School, made it to the second heat of the rally masters division and said he was “happy to be here” experiencing “the thrill of the hill” again.
Last year, on the day before the race, the Altomare family’s home was engulfed in flames. Even when he was in the hospital being treated for smoke inhalation, Keegan asked his parents if he could still compete in the derby — and he did, with support from his family and friends.
“It’s a community, and everyone’s there to help each other,” Keegan said. “Everyone just feels like family. Even if you lose, kids will give each other hugs and high-fives. We’re all friends here.”
Saturday night, Altomare was one of three racers being honored with the derby’s President’s Youth Volunteer Service Award in a ceremony at the Akron Civic Theatre downtown. The award recognizes volunteers under the age of 21 who have made a positive impact on the derby through their leadership on the local, regional and national levels.
Another local racer, 19-year-old Ella Probst of Green, celebrated her 12th year competing in the derby and raced in the rally masters division. The 2024 Green High School graduate said her cousin competed in the derby years ago, and every time she saw the car, which was stored at her grandfather’s shop, she would rush to jump into it. Two weeks after she turned 7 — the minimum age for a derby participant — she was racing.
Today, Probst slid into her teal car, hand-painted with panda designs. “Pandas are my favorite animal,” she laughed. “They’re lazy and like to eat food, and I’m lazy and like to eat food.”
Before the race began, she shared a special handshake with her father, Steve — she called him her “biggest number one supporter.” Although next year might be her last to participate, she said she wants to volunteer with the derby and help support new racers.
“Do it. I genuinely don’t think you’ll regret it,” she said, encouraging other young adults to participate in the competition. “There are some ups and downs, of course, but there is in everything. You get the satisfaction of being able to help new racers. Having them look up to you because of how long you’ve been racing? It’s an honor.”
To see complete results from the 87th FirstEnergy Soap Box Derby World Championships, visit bit.ly/3IvEjab. A winner list is below.
2025 All-American Soap Box Derby final results
Local Stock
1st | Adaela McBride | Ogallala, Nebraska
2nd | Audrey Lu Myers | Omaha, Nebraska
3rd | Keith Carlton | Greater Lafayette, Indiana
Local Super Stock
1st | Diego Juarez | Ogallala, Nebraska
2nd | Alexa Fischer | Columbus
3rd | Davis Hinkle | Indianapolis, Indiana
Local Masters
1st | Colt Nelman | Akron
2nd | Saleta Nichols | Federalsburg, Maryland
3rd | Logan Sennholtz-Linder | Chicago
Rally Stock
1st | Drew Brand | Omaha, Nebraska
2nd | Ava Diehl | Livingston Manor, New York
3rd | Micah Adkins | Indianapolis, Indiana
Rally Super Stock
1st | Kaylee Kirk | Utica, New York
2nd | Dasha Driscoll | Elkhorn, Nebraska
3rd | Cohen Hardman | Highland, Utah
Rally Masters
1st | Jacob Hamm | Polk City, Iowa
2nd | Brenna Kilby | Kansas City, Missouri
3rd | Cayson Hayes | Conneaut
