Final race of year conducted

Crystal Churchill beat Kenny Pontieux as she drove her way to victory in the 6-year-old division of the final Soap Box Derby of the season Saturday at the Brainerd Area Civic Center parking lot.

Pontieux lost the first race to Nathan Schmidt and had to fight her way back through the losers' bracket for the championship. Churchill came through the winners' bracket, beating Sydney Johnson in her first race and then beat Pontieux for the championship. Nathan Schmidt was the consolation champion.

In the age 7-8 division, Dan Murray took home the gold by defeating Haley Pontieux for the championship. Murray defeated Pontieux in the quarterfinals. Pontieux had beaten Jaeger Sypnieski and Courtney Eschenbacher to meet Murray, who sent Haley Pontieux to the losers' bracket where she beat Eschenbacher for another chance at Murray, who has not been defeated in two years of racing in the 7-8-year-old division. Kristen Pontieux was the consolation champion.

The 9-10-year-old race saw Christopher Churchill and Ben Wasson meeting for the championship. Wasson raced Jade Smith for his first chance at Churchill, who sent him to the loser bracket. Churchill raced Betsy Stewart from Wayzata for a chance at Wasson. Churchill came out with no losses for the championship. Betsy Stewart won the consolation championship.

In the 11-up division, Tylan Eschenbacher took home his first championship, beating Sara Stewart and Zach Denny.

The final race of the season was a free for all with all racers put in a single-elimination tournament. The girls of the racetrack overpowered the boys. Courtney Eschenbacher, an 8-year-old, defeated Jade Smith, a 10-year-old.