All-American Soap Box Derby: Local racers were eliminated early

Austin Martin of Cape Girardeau and Hunter Schuette of Jackson both failed to make it past the first round of racing at the 68th All-American Soap Box Derby on July 30.

The race, which was part of a week full of festivities with 500 racers expected to compete, took place at Derby Downs, a 954-foot race track in Akron, Ohio.

Schuette, 10, competed in the stock division, while Martin, 11, competed in the super stock division. Martin was the first local super stock driver to advance to the national event.

Martin said inexperience was the key factor in his early defeat.

"There were people there that have been doing it longer than I have," he said.

-- Southeast Missourian