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Oak Creek — For those who don't think soapbox derby racing can be the edge-of-your-seat, bite-your-nails kind of sport, think again. Saturday's sixth annual Steamboat Springs Rotary Club Soap Box Derby in Oak Creek was intense.

Oak Creek racer Corey Snyder hadn't lost a single race until she went up against Steamboat Springs racer Dusty Reed, who also hadn't lost.

As the two prepared to race for the honor of winning the derby, the crowd rose to their feet and began cheering.

"I'm so excited this is finally happening. This is for all the bananas," Oak Creek Mayor Kathy "Cargo" Rodeman said.

The racers barreled down Main Street in Oak Creek battling the wind and one another.

Reed, 15, won by a hundredth of a second, putting Snyder in second place, which was fine with her.

"This was the first time I've ever raced," she said. "I was just out here to have fun, I never even thought I'd get this far."

Snyder said she wasn't upset she didn't take first place.

"I'm really happy. It was really fun, and I am really happy for (Reed)," she said.

Reed, a five-time soapbox derby participant, said he was glad he won but wasn't overly ecstatic.

"I'm excited, but it's not like this is the biggest achievement of my life," he said.

Winning Saturday's race qualified Reed to compete at the 69th National Soap Box Derby Championships in Akron, Ohio.

"I never thought I had it all along. It was a pretty interesting race," he said.

Before Reed and Snyder's last race, judges and timers mistakenly announced that Reed won one of the heats, though spectators and announcers disagreed.

In the end, Reed confronted officials and told them he was certain he had not beat Snyder, and the racers were forced to discard that heat and begin another.

"I told them I didn't win because I was actually behind (Snyder). I didn't see a reason to cheat," he said.

Reed made himself as competitive as possible and hoped for the best.

"I got as low in my car as I could. I drove as straight as I could, and put my head down almost to the point that I couldn't even see," he said. "I was aerodynamic."

Rotary Club member and event organizer Ben Northcutt said all the racers did very well.

"These kids have figured this out. They know where the speed is at," he said.

Northcutt said he was glad that six girls and seven boys competed in the races Saturday because it taught them more than just technique and strategy.

The racers "learn sportsmanship because things may happen here that challenge their values. It teaches them competitive spirit and workmanship, and it gives them a real sense of accomplishment," he said. "They have a ball."

During the awards ceremony, racer Colton Martindale was given the best sportsmanship award for how he handled an incident he encountered during a race.

"When he was racing, one of the other racers crossed the line, which means Colton could have asked for another run. But he didn't make a big deal out of it. He told us he wasn't even worried about it," Northcutt said.

Fellow racer Emily Woltkamp was given the honor of racing the best looking car, Northcutt said.

Woltkamp's car was painted black with red roses on the sides.

While the racers were busy racing, Youth in Motion volunteers worked to educate other participants and spectators with a series of booths and activities addressing drug and alcohol issues, dental hygiene and gun safety.

"We started these activities because we wanted to get more kids involved in what today is all about. We wanted to draw them in," he said.

Northcutt said the soapbox derby is an event that the racers look forward to all year, as do their parents and community members.

"Everything ran very well," he said. "I'm pleased."