Ten-year-old Julia Pisasale won the 71st annual Orange Crate Derby by beating her older sister, Kara, 12, twice, by a nose on Sunday afternoon. The Pisasales have dominated the derby the last four years, each winning the race twice. Julia has beaten Kara twice in a row, winning in 2019 and 2021, and Kara won it the two years prior, in 2017 and 2018.

“I kind of wanted Kara to win, but it felt really great to beat her,” Julia Pisasale said. “This is her second year in a row winning,” said sister Kara. “So now we are tied.”

When asked which sister would win next year, both responded, “Me.”

After the final duel between the two sisters, family members hugged Julia as she climbed out of her pink car. But Julia saved her biggest hug for her older sister. The two even shared a winner’s handshake after the race. Both sisters plan on racing until age 14. That could spell doom for the rest of the field for years to come.

The Orange Crate Derby, held down a stretch of road along Bayview Avenue, included a few accidents. A black car sporting flames along the side raced by Albert Leach had its wheel fall off just before the finish line. Leach smashed the car into a hale bale after crossing the line. He climbed from his car with a smile on his face and held his wheel as he looked to find the pin that held it in place. Leach’s car won best looking car. 

The Zoila W had trouble with its breaking system and twice nearly crashed into opponents after crossing the finish line. The car, raced by Liljana Saganic, 11, and twin, Luca, was built by Ross Weene for his daughter, Zoila, who couldn’t race this year.

Final Results

1. Julia Pisasale, 10, 

2. Kara Pisasale, 12

3. Finnegan Boyle, 11

Juniors

1. Cameron Carvalho, 9 

Best Looking Car: Albert Leach, 10