Nathan Schmidt among winners

Nathan Schmidt had some hard-fought races to win the championship in the 6-year-old division at the Brainerd Lakes Downhill Drags Soap Box Derby on Saturday.

Five participants raced in a double-elimination race with a consolation bracket.

Schmidt lost to Crystal Churchill in the second race and had to race his way back to the championship in the losers' bracket.

In the losers' bracket, Schmidt raced Sidney Johnson, Kenny Ponthieux and finally Churchill for the championship. Churchill was undefeated up to that point, but when Schmidt beat Churchill in the first race, they had to race again. Schmidt's car won by inches as he crossed the finish line in the Brainerd Lakes No. 60 car sponsored by the Brainerd Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Jaycees.

In the 6-year-old consolation division, Sidney Johnson was the winner.

In the 7-8-year-old division, Danny Murray, an 8-year-old pro Soap Box Derby driver, took home the championship. Murray sent Courtney Eschenbacher and Morgan Gilbert to the losers' bracket. Taya Person raced back to the championship through the losers' bracket, beating Kristen Pontieux, Jaeger Synieski, and Gilbert to get a chance at Murray driving the Wendy's Car.

Murray was defeated by Person in the first race but Murray's driving ability took him across the finish line first. It was Murray's seventh championship.

In the consolation division, Courtney Eschenbacher raced Kristen Pontieux for the championship.

Ben Wasson showed his driving talent by taking home the championship in the 9-10-year-old division, beating Sara Kleist twice. Kleist went through the winners' bracket undefeated until meeting Wasson.

Wasson defeated Jake Bradford and was sent to the losers' bracket by Adam Kleist. He clawed his way back by beating Bradford and Kodi Ringheimer before meeting Adam Kleist in the quarterfinals and winning.

Wasson was now up against Sara Kleist and had to beat her twice for the championship and he cruised past Kleist for the victory.

Christopher Churchill defeated Jade Smith for the consolation championship.

Willie Britton became a two-time champion in the 11-up division, defeating Zack Denny before Trevor Lossow sent Britton to the losers' bracket. Britton than defeated Haley Bradford to get a chance at Lossow. Because Lossow was undefeated throughout the races, Britton had to beat him twice for the championship. The race was a photo finish with Britton the victor.

Tylan Eschenbacher beat Trevina Newcomer for the consolation championship.