WEST PARIS – A soap box derby car autographed by former NASCAR race driver Ricky Craven will be raffled off Sunday during the annual derby.

The soap box derby begins at 11 a.m. on Kingsbury Street and cars will be available for young people to try, organizer Katie Collette said.

“We ask for racers to be there by 9:30 a.m. for registration and weigh in,” Collette said. “We will have the senior league race first then the junior league.”

The raffle will be held after the end of both races, Collette said. The estimated time is about 1 p.m.

In January, Craven visited the Paris Elementary School as a highlight in the school’s six-week annual reading program. He autographed the car at that time. The reading program was intended to get students reading with its theme of “Revved Up For Reading.”

Craven, who was born and raised in Newburgh, began his race car career at the age of 15, going on to win the 1991 TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, racing in the Busch and Winston Cup series. He now works as an analyst for ESPN Hot Shots and online with Yahoo sports.

Organizers say the car is being raffled off to help raise funds for the West Paris soapbox derby track. Tickets for the Ricky Craven car will be sold during Old Home Days, also on Kingsbury Street, on Saturday in West Paris.

The derby will also feature a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to the West Paris girls senior league softball team.

The snack shack will be open during the event, serving hamburgers and hot dogs.