AKRON, OHIO — For the first time in 30 years, a championat the All-American Soap Box Derby has been stripped of his title.
Thirteen-year-old rally stock championship winner Wilton Blakelyof Huntersville, North Carolina, lost his title late Saturday afterofficials discovered violations in the way his car was built.
Eleven-year-old Koby Garnhart of Winnebago, Illinois, has beendeclared the new winner in that division.
The violations were discovered during a mandatory post-raceinspection.
Officials say Blakely used extra materials and glue to give hiscar an unfair advantage.
Soap Box Derby general manager Jeff Iula says Blakely's fatheradmitted he'd used illegal materials, but might have justmisinterpreted the rules.
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