Siblings Brilee Butler and Logan Sennholtz-Linder may be nine years apart in age, but they are each other’s biggest fans.
Brilee, 8, and Logan, 17, both compete in Soap Box Derby racing and have qualified to compete on the national stage at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship in Akron, Ohio.
The 88th annual event will take place from July 11 to 18.
“She’s my biggest supporter,” said Logan, who has been racing for about 10 years. “She cares way more about my success than I do.”
Brilee said her brother wishes her good luck and happiness before she races.
“When I was racing one of the best people, I said, ‘Logan, I’m nervous,’” Brilee said. “He said, ‘Everything will be fine. Just don’t give up. Just believe in yourself. Even if you lose, just try again.’”
Logan reminds his sister that her competitors are also nervous, but to have fun, win or lose.
“That makes me happy, that I have a sibling who actually helps me,” Brilee said. “My heart will be pounding, and he says, ‘Take deep breaths, then blow your candles out.’”
The siblings, who live in St. Charles, and race with the Naperville-based Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby organization have competed in 10 states, including New Hampshire, Nebraska, West Virginia and North Carolina.
Naperville is considered their local track.
A recent race in Naperville helped propel Brilee to the world championship as she earned points to qualify.
Brilee, who will enter third grade in the fall, has qualified as both a Rally Champion and an All-Star competitor. She is the top point-earner and has the most first-place wins in the region, which also includes Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota. She said her friends don’t believe she participates in car racing, but teachers will ask about her events.
“Derby is in my DNA,” Brielle said.
Logan, a rising senior in high school, will be competing in the Legacy division, which features experienced racers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the sport and continue to build upon years of racing experience. This will be his 9th trip to the world championships.
Naperville resident Ethan Cortes, 10, will be traveling to Ohio for the first time after earning the title of stock car Chicagoland champion on June 6 as the winner of the Greater Chicago Golden Ticket at the Naperville track.
Ethan has always been into cars and racing, his mom Wendy said, and has really enjoyed getting a chance to participate in the sport.
“I joined soap box for the fun of it,” said Ethan, who will be entering fifth grade in the fall. “I never thought I would win.”
Ethan likes customizing his car and participating in the races and is disappointed if the races are canceled. He is excited to participate in the world championships and has been analyzing the track and asking how it might be different than the Naperville track.
“I look forward to feeling that thrill again,” Ethan said.
One of the highlights of racing is the tight-knit community that has developed, said the racers and their parents.
Wendy Cortes said the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby club is a welcoming group that makes it easy for children to try something new. Older children help the younger ones, and everyone cheers one another on.
It’s “good, old-fashioned kid fun,” she said.
Race day offers a team feel, even though it’s an individual sport, Cortes said. She enjoys watching Ethan’s self-esteem grow and how he gets excited when he has a good run.
Logan said some of the best parts of racing are the friendships that are made along the way.
“I do it because of the people you meet,” Logan said. “I found some of my best friends from derby. It’s honestly kind of sad that they’re from places like Iowa, where I can’t see them that much, but it makes the friendship a lot better because the times you do see them, you are never not talking.”
Last year, he lost to a good friend from Minnesota by 0.002 seconds but wasn’t sad or mad. There’s a lot of camaraderie among the participants and mutual respect, he said.
Brielle said she knows she is one of the youngest racers and will be competing in a division that ranges from 7 to 14 years old.
“I feel happy and very excited for myself, but I’m also a little scared,” she said.
Brielle said she appreciates that everyone around the track cheers the racers on, and she and Logan’s mom, Leslee Butler, said she has enjoyed being a part of the journey.
“Seeing them come out of a stressful situation with their heads held high, success or no success, seeing their growth and their self confidence — both of them have made me very proud,” she said.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
