Sixty youngsters from around the Akron area braved near 90-degree heat to race in three divisions to qualify for just three spots in the national race set for July 22 at Derby Downs. Racers from Akron and its immediate surrounding communities will be at the race track next Saturday for similar qualifying races. In the master race, Ryan McFall of Cuyahoga Falls set a record with his first-place victory. Combined with his wins in previous years, it made McFall the first racer ever to win all three division titles. Rob Baugher, who serves on the race's organizing board, said volunteers go to great lengths to ensure a fair and competitive race.
Inspectors weigh and measure the cars to make sure they meet specifications.
Racers, who are under the age of 17, even exchange wheels and lanes between runs to ensure no one has an unfair advantage. At the top of the long hill, drivers spent a majority of their time exchanging racing tips. Away from the swapping of race-day stories, Lisa Riedinger sat in the shade and soaked in her surroundings. Since she is 16, this marked her last year of racing. This race, in which she finished fifth in the super stock division, was memorable, not only because it was her last, but because of the heat.