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Addisen Murphy, 9, of Hurlock raced through the winners’ bracket to take the title of champion in the stock division of the 24th annual Delmarva Soap Box Derby on Saturday, June 6, in Federalsburg; Fiona Brittingham, 11, of Seaford, Del. did the same in the super stock division. They were among 28 kids who competed, 18 in the stock division and 10 in super stock. Competitors came from as far away as St. Michaels and Georgetown, Del.
The differences in the divisions are ages and weight, explained Derby Director Danny Phillips of the Federalsburg Volunteer Fire Company, which sponsors the derby. Stocks weigh 200 pounds, combining car and driver, and are for children ages 7 to 13; super stocks weigh 240 pounds and are for ages 9 to 17.
Phillips said drivers and cars are weighed out, and steel plates are added to the gravity-powered cars as needed so the racers all weigh the same (within a half pound), and timing becomes a matter of aerodynamics and steering.
A few competitors own their own cars, but building one’s own can be cost prohibitive with model kits running over $1,000 these days, Phillips said. He said the cars have a wooden floor, similar to an ironing board or a surfboard, surrounded by a plastic shell, with a small steering wheel, and a block brake. Cars ride about three inches off the ground.
The course began at the top of the hill on W. Central Avenue by the "Y" and ended at the bottom, near Covey-Williams Alley. A deputy using his radar gun clocked one of the racers at 21 mph during practice, Phillips said.
The fire company has an assortment of cars it has collected over the years and loans out for the derby, which is held annually on the first Saturday of June. The firefighters inspect the cars to make sure they are safe, tightening steering cables, and replacing brake pads as needed.
Registration opens a month before the derby; drivers sign up, then they come by the fire house and pick out the car they like, he said. Racers are welcome to take home the car they pick to practice, decorate, and fine tune it. Only four racers elected to take their cars home this year.
The derby is a double elimination competition. Each heat consisted of two phases, or laps, with the overall shortest time advancing in the winners’ bracket and the loser moving to the consolation bracket until the top finisher in each bracket raced for the title.
Addisen, 9, is a fourth-grader at Hurlock Elementary. Her hobbies include softball, horseback riding, and swimming. This was Addisen’s third year competing in the derby. Her car was sponsored by Murphy’s Auto Body of Hurlock and was the car her father raced when he was a boy.
She competed against Jude Brittingham, 9, of Seaford, Del., for the stock division title. Jude is a third-grader at Stillwater Academy. His hobbies include fishing, climbing trees, and hunting. This was Jude’s second year competing. His car was sponsored by Burke and Herbert Bank.
Addisen and Jude competed head-to-head earlier in the day, with Addisen topping the winners’ bracket. Jude went on to win the consolation bracket to face her again. In their second face off, Jude won, dealing Addisen her only loss of the competition, so they had to race again. Addisen proved triumphant with a time difference of .013 seconds, ultimately taking the title. This was her fourth year in the derby. Her car was sponsored by Burke and Herbert Bank.
Fiona won each of her heats to take the super stock title, defeating Hunter Cannon of Hurlock, last year’s stock division champion, twice -- once to reach the top of the winners’ bracket and again for the title.
Saturday was Hunter’s 9th birthday. He is a third-grader at Warwick Elementary. This was his second year in the derby. His car was sponsored by Idlewild Ruritan.
Champions cannot compete again in the same division, Phillips explained, but it worked out that both of last year’s winners were able to return by competing in the opposite divisions. Nathanial Merrikin, 12, of Federslsburg was the 2025 super stock division champion. A home-schooled six-grader, Nathanial finished fourth in the stock division this year, which was his fourth year competing. His sponsor was Sisk Fulfillment.
Trophies were awarded to the top eight finishers in each division with Burke and Herbert Bank providing cash awards ($50, $100, and $150) to the top three stock and super stock winners.
Racers voted for the Coolest Car Award in either division with Nathaniel’s No. 14 Sisk Fulfillment car winning in the stock category and Reagan Dodge’s No. 100 car, sponsored by Federalsburg VFC, winning in the super stock category.
Phillips said his helpers watch how the kids act throughout the day, then discuss their observations to decide the sportsmanship winner. This year’s Kenny Smith Memorial Sportsmanship Award went to Asher Miller.
Addisen and Fiona will go on to compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby 2026 World Championships in Akron, Ohio, in July. Phillips said Federalsburg has two previous world champion winners: Caitlin Smith, 2008, and Saleta Nichols, 2019.
