Littles excited, nervous about race

Editor's note: This is the fifth of several stories about a Cape Girardeau sister and brother competing this week in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. April Little is 13, and her brother, Jordan, is 9.

April and Jordan Little took the day off Friday to prepare for the All-American Soap Box Derby today. (Beth Little ~ Submitted photo)

Watch April and Jordan Little at the Soap Box Derby

By Peter Wylie

Southeast Missourian

AKRON, Ohio -- After a week of test runs and car maintenance, Jordan and April Little said they're excited and ready for today's All-American Soap Box Derby races.

However, April said she's not excited about the early schedule.

"I have to be at the track at 6:30 a.m.," April said, "so we're going to have to get up at like 5 a.m."

April said she was a little nervous for the race, but also excited to start racing after the long week of preparation.

Jordan said he was nervous because it will only be his second Soap Box Derby race.

He said he also was dreading the long ride home.

"We're going to my dad's house, which is an extra five hours on top of the 10 it took to get here," Jordan said.

Their mother, Beth, said the family took a trip to the zoo Friday during their day off. April said her favorite animal was the snow leopard, while Jordan preferred the tigers and Beth like the flamingos.

Beth said they planned to view DVD footage of last year's race Friday night to prepare for the competition.

"We'll watch the DVD and pick out places to run in each lane," Beth said Friday. "Then we'll try to get a good night's sleep and be ready to go tomorrow morning."

Beth, April and Jordan's father, John Little, and car sponsor Mike Rushing will don custom-made shirts reading "Little Racing" to cheer on April and Jordan.

April, running in the Super Stock division, will race first, at about 10 a.m. Jordan, running in the Stock division, will run after the Super Stock field is whittled down to the final six contestants, putting his start time at about 1 p.m.

Real-time updates and video of the Little's races will be available at semissourian.com all day today.