LIBERTY — Five Sullivan County racers are headed to Akron, Ohio, this month to compete in the national Soap Box Derby, carrying forward a local racing program that has been sending young drivers from North Main Street in Liberty to Derby Downs since its first year.

The racers will compete during the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby Race Week, which runs July 11-18 in Akron. The main championship race is scheduled for Saturday, July 18.

Three Sullivan County racers earned automatic berths by winning their divisions at the May 30 Sullivan County Soap Box Derby in Liberty. Henry Freidenstine won the Stock division, Steven Padin won Super Stock, and Mason Rodriguez won Masters.

They will be joined by rally racers Emma Gaebel, who will compete in Masters Rally, and Ava Diehl, who will compete in Stock Rally. Rally racers qualify through a separate circuit by traveling to competitions and earning points.

Dennis Muthig, a Sullivan County Soap Box Derby committee member, photographer and car handler, said the county’s local winners advance by winning one of the three sanctioned divisions.

“You advance in an automatic berth to go to Akron, Ohio,” Muthig said.

The Sullivan County Soap Box Derby began in 2012. The race is held on North Main Street in Liberty, where gravity-powered cars can reach about 30 mph. The local derby includes Stock, Super Stock and Masters divisions, with boys and girls competing in the same field.

Muthig said the local program has learned and adapted since its early years. The committee once lined the course with hay bales, but later switched to pipe along the side rails to make the track safer and more efficient. The event also depends on volunteers, parents, local sponsors and equipment used to move cars back up the hill.

The committee itself is small, Muthig said, with about five members, though many more people help on race day.

“We rely on a lot of help to set up the track,” he said.

Muthig became involved through family. His sister-in-law was one of the local derby’s originators, and his family began racing in 2013. A lifelong photographer, he documented the first year and later became part of the committee.

He is also deeply involved with the cars. Muthig Farms has fielded cars for local racers, including the Maple Express stock car. This year, Muthig will travel to Akron as the car handler for Rodriguez, whose Masters car is sponsored by Harris Funeral Home and Muthig Farms.

The car handler’s role, he said, is constant during race week. The handler stays with the car and driver through inspection, alignment, preparation and race day details.

“Everything goes by the car handler,” Muthig said.

At Akron, he said, the pressure is immediate.

“You get one shot,” he said. “You have to win, and you have to keep winning.”

Before the trip, Rodriguez’s car will be taken apart, cleaned, checked on scales and prepared for inspection. Once in Akron, the driver and car are registered, the car is examined and racers get a practice run before competition.

Muthig said soap box racing may look simple from the outside, but it quickly becomes a lesson in physics, engineering and patience. Builders work with weight placement, balance, alignment and axle adjustments. Races can be decided by tiny margins.

“You’re dealing with the best in the world,” Muthig said. “It’s a matter of microseconds.”

Sullivan County racers have had success in Akron before. Muthig said a previous Muthig Farms Super Stock car reached the “elite nine” in Akron. He said local racers have brought back numerous trophies in recent years, and at least one local Masters winner earned a major scholarship after winning at nationals.

For Rodriguez, this year’s trip carries extra meaning. Muthig said the Masters winner is nearing the end of his soap box racing years because of his size.

“It’s his last chance,” Muthig said.

After Rodriguez won in Liberty, Muthig said, the young racer climbed out of the car and immediately looked for him, scanning the crowd before locking eyes and breaking into a run.

“All he did was get out of the car and look for me,” Muthig said. “He came running at me.”

Rodriguez threw his arms around Muthig in an emotional embrace, overwhelmed by the moment after securing his trip to Akron. Muthig said he hugged him back, letting him take it in for a second before gently reminding him there was still something left to do.

“I had to tell him, ‘Hey, you’ve got to go shake hands,’” Muthig said.

Rodriguez pulled away, still smiling, and turned back toward the track to congratulate his competitors, a moment Muthig said captured both the excitement of the win and the sportsmanship the program tries to teach.

Muthig said moments like that are why he keeps coming back. He also pointed to his nephew, Bryce Muthig, who placed fourth this year in the Massey Ferguson car, and Jerin Burton, who has raced with the Maple Express team for five years.

At the end of the day, Muthig says its all about the kids. 

“The kids are the ones who benefit,” Muthig said. “They’re given this special opportunity.”