Local racer places third in soap box championship

By ELISE FRANCO

The 14-year-old Austintown boy is recognized by his hometown and Youngstown for his Soap Box Derby accomplishments.

AUSTINTOWN — For Joe Puntel, winning is important, but it’s not everything.

The 14-year-old has been racing soap box cars for two years, but he’s no amateur.

“I’ve raced in maybe 20 races,” Joe said. “And I think there’s only been two or three times I haven’t placed.”

Joe, of Austintown, made history in the Mahoning Valley this past weekend, when he placed third in the Super Stock division of the All-American Soap Box Derby Championship in Akron.

He is the first local racer who was not in Rally division to ever return from Akron with a trophy, his mother, Brenda Puntel, said.

“It made me so excited ... I never realized how good it was,” Joe said. “I just felt like, ‘Wow!’”

For his third-place finish, he received a $2,500 scholarship. He said his car was also awarded VIP status, which means it passed pre-race inspections with a 100 percent score, and family members can sport a blue ribbon during the race as recognition.

“It’ll just be really nice to say, ‘My car was perfect,’” Joe said.

On Monday night, he and Zachary Krohn, 9, of Canfield were honored by the Austintown Board of Trustees with a Proclamation of Accomplishment for their victories in the Youngstown derby race in June.

“It feels so good because I’ve been recognized by not one [community], but two — Austintown and Youngstown,” Joe said.

He was also given a congratulatory resolution by Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams.

“Mayor Williams told Joe soap box racing was one of the things he wished he would have done as a child,” Brenda said.

Joe said he began racing after his current coach, Terry Torrigno, posted a sign at work asking for a driver.

“My dad saw the sign Mr. Torrigno put on the door at work and asked me if I wanted to do it,” Joe said. “And that’s how I got hooked.”

He said his favorite part of racing, aside from taking home shiny, new trophies, is building relationships.

“It’s about making friends and getting to spend time together,” he said. “Also, my coach, Terry, is the best guy. He’s great.”

Brenda shares the same sentiments as her son.

“It’s been such a good experience for him to meet other people, build self-esteem and become something bigger,” she said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he will take with him forever.”

Brenda said she and her husband, Joseph, do everything they can to support their son and be a part of the team, but they couldn’t have gotten this far without the help and support of friends, family and sponsors.

“My husband is the pit-man. He loads and transports the car and does the general overseeing of Joe,” she said. “I’m at the bottom of the finish line, waiting to make sure it all goes well.”

Joe qualified for the championship race in June after winning first place in the Super Stock division of the Greater Youngstown Area derby.

“I felt really glad that I won that one,” Joe said. “Haleigh [Kuebler], the girl I beat, her sister beat me last year, so I didn’t want to make it like a tradition for them.”

Leading up to a race, he said, the only thing he does differently is watching what he eats because, in the Super Stock division, the car and driver combined can weigh only 230 pounds.

“I really cut back on sweets and junk food right before the race,” Joe said. “And I have to get up very early sometimes, so I try to get a lot of sleep.”

To get ready right before a race, he said, he likes to stretch because it can be hard to lean forward in his car if his muscles aren’t loosened up.

“I like to lay down and get my calves going,” Joe said.

Next up for Joe is the Kanawha Valley Soap Box Derby Association’s Buccaneer Race and Rally Race in West Virginia on Aug. 12. Last year, he said, he placed third in the open rally race and wants to bring home first this time around.

efranco@vindy.com