First-time racer wins Clovis derby

Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Paige Harris, right, gets ready for her race against Dillon Raney during the Clovis Soap Box Derby Saturday morning on Sycamore Street.

When Matthew Lusk was asked to compete in Saturday’s 15th Clovis Soapbox Derby, he jumped at the chance. And now the 9-year-old is headed to the All-American Soapbox Derby next month in Akron, Ohio.

“I feel really confident,” said Lusk, after winning the Clovis Rotary Club organized event in his first year as a contestant. “My dentist invited me to race and of course I said yes. My goal during the competition was to stay close to the double yellow line, which worked out great. And I am happy that I’ll be competing (at nationals) in the same car I had today, because I’ll be very familiar with it.”

Clovis Soapbox Derby Director Larry Erwin said 22 racers battled it out for the crown, as competitors rolled their gravity-powered soapbox cars down Sycamore Street adjacent to Yucca Middle School.

Brayden Bryant finished second and Mateo Chavez claimed third place honors — with the top three finishers each receiving trophies.

“Our champion will now go and race against champions from all over the world,” said Erwin, who competed in a soapbox derby in Owensville, Kentucky as a youth. “There will be competitors from Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia, among other nations, so it’s a global event. They call it the All-American race, but it has an international flavor. One of our racers a few years ago made it to the third round nationally.”

Erwin said Lusk would vie for two titles at nationals during the week of July 10 — the national rally championship and the All-American crown.

“We had a beautiful day and all of the kids were great,” he said. “We’re going to send a kid to Akron to compete on the sports grandest scale, so we’re excited to see how that’s going to unfold. This is the largest field of competitors we’ve had and we’re pleased with the manner in which the event is growing.”

Erwin extended plaudits to a cadre of volunteers, including the Clovis High School Junior ROTC, Clovis High football team, and the city of Clovis for providing the track while Trans-Matic Transmissions delivered the “hill” needed to serve as the race starting block.

“It seems whenever we need something, somebody steps up to the plate to lend a hand and we’re grateful,” he said.

Lusk said he’s stoked for what awaits in Akron.

“Going into today’s competition, I knew a bunch of the other kids had competed (in soapbox derby) a bunch of other times, but I won,” said Lusk, who attends Clovis Christian School. “That’s really given me a confidence boost heading into nationals.”