Soap Box Derby crowns four champions

PORT JERVIS — The 19th annual Port Jervis Soap Box Derby crowned four champs on June 10.
Twelve-year old Dylan LeBlanc, 13-year old Molly McKerrell, 15-year old Dayton LeBlanc and 10-year old Lucy McDermott will all go on to represent Port Jervis in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, in late July.
For the first time in the derby’s 19-year history, a driver achieved the triple crown. Dayton LeBlanc, who won in the masters division, has also won in both the stock and super stock divisions in years past. This achievement in the gravity racing sport that is very rare. “I can’t believe I did it," Dayton said. "It feels amazing!”
Another first for the Port Jervis event was that this year had an international flare. This year’s derby hosted it’s first-ever foreign driver, exchange student, Hiromi Nishimura, who drove in the super stock division.
This year’s derby was sponsored by several local businesses and organizations including the City of Port Jervis, Tri-State Drywall and Acoustical, Cornerstone Healthcare, the Port Jervis Outdoor Club and the YMCA Camp of New York.
Three Scholarships were also awarded on derby day. The Elizabeth Ashley “Boo” Bisland Memorial Scholarship Fund financed three $1000 awards to past drivers who are graduating this year and are going on to post-secondary education. Scholarships were awarded to Shannon Klotz, Heath Hoovler and Jessica Williams.
Results This year’s race results:
Super Stock
2018 Champion — Molly McKerrell
Second Place — Penny Jones
Third Place — Jillian Talmadge
Fourth Place — Moira Griffin
Super Kids 2018 Champion — Lucy McDermott
Second Place — Erin Brown
Third Place — Rylin Marshall
Fourth Place — Cody Eisenring
Masters 2018 Champion — Dayton LeBlanc
Second Place — Shannon Klotz
Third Place — Sabrina Hendricks
Fourth Place — Abby Ehlers
Stock 2018 Champion — Dylan LeBlanc
Second Place — Mason McKerrell
Third Place — Nicholas Bisland
Fourth Place — Olivia Hedges