A New Brunswick boy is headed to Ohio to take part in the annual All-American Soap Box Derby.

Darius Raynes competed in the Saint John Soap Box Derby last month and took home the top prize, which qualifies him to compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby Championships next month.

“We go to Akron, Ohio and I've never been to the states before, only Calais,” says Raynes.

Akron, Ohio is home to a famous soap box derby track. Raynes and his family will spend a week there competing against other racers from around the world.

“It's a huge deal, I guess it's an international championship,” says Erin Adams, Raynes’ stepmother. “I guess there's going to be drivers from all over the world coming to compete in this event and we have Darius who is going to be representing our province.”

Paul Kelly is Raynes’ teacher and race coach. He says soap box derby racing is kept on a fair playing field because each of the racers gets the same car and no alterations can be made.

“You're not allowed to have the car until the cars are available to all the drivers, you have the same amount of time to practice, no car be changed in any way,” says Kelly. “They have very strict rules about lubricating the car, you can’t wax the car, you have to be careful about stickers you put on the car, the helmets are all the same, so it's pretty strict and pretty fair.”

Kelly says winning the race is up to whoever is behind the wheel.

“It really is the ability of the driver,” says Kelly. “Each lane would have a few differences, a few fast spots, a few slow spots, so you have a chance in each lane to pick out those little imperfections in that road in that race course and you can have an advantage if you can see that road ahead and keep a low profile as you go down the hill.”

“When I drive the car I get as aerodynamic as I can and not using the brake at all until the very end,” says Raynes.

This 13-year-old says it's the feeling of going down the hill that he loves.

“Feels like you're driving a real car and really fast speeds,” says Raynes.

“He has no fear when it comes to speed,” says Adams.

Raynes says he'll spend the next few weeks practicing his positions to prepare for the races.

“It's huge and I kind of feel scared and nervous,” says Raynes.

Despite the nerves, Raynes says he's excited to be one of the few Canadians to compete in the All-American sport.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford