AKRON TO HOST MORE THAN 300 RACERS FOR THE 86TH ANNUAL FIRSTENERGY SOAP BOX DERBY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS JULY 20
AKRON, Ohio (June 25, 2024) – More than 300 Soap Box Derby racers from the United States, Canada and Japan will compete for the title of world champion on Sat., July 20 at the 86th annual FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio.
These Derby champions, ages 7-20, all genders, earn a trip to Akron by winning local races in their hometowns or by accumulating points in a series of “rally” competitions held around the United States and Canada. They arrive July 14 and stay for a week of activities culminating in the World Championships on July 20.
“We look forward to welcoming the champs, their families, race officials and fans to Akron,” said Scott Taylor, president and chief executive officer of International Soap Box Derby, Inc. “Each racer is supported by parents, teachers, coaches and others. These teams work hard, some traveling many weekends out of the year, to gain a spot here in Akron.
So coming to Derby Downs to race for the title of world champion is a great opportunity and honor. They should be very proud to be here and to represent their hometowns and their countries.”
Qualifying for Akron
Racers compete in three divisions based on their ages and construction skills—Stock, Super Stock and Masters – for a share of $36,000 in college scholarships provided by the Bill Speeg Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Race Week and Race Day Activities
Race week kicks off with a parade and welcoming ceremonies in downtown Akron on Mon., July 15. The parade steps off from Canal Park at noon and moves along Main St. to Cascade Plaza.
Race day begins with a parade at Derby Downs at 8 a.m. Racing starts at 8:30 a.m. and continues to approximately 2:30 p.m. Awards are presented at the Akron Civic Theatre in downtown Akron at 7 p.m. that night.
For more information, visit 2024 World Championships.
A live webcast covering real-time coverage of all races on July 20 will be available at www.soapboxderby.org.
National SuperKids Classic
The National SuperKids Classic will also take place at Derby Downs on Fri., July 19, with a final race on July 20 in the afternoon. The SuperKids is a series of races for children with disabilities. They compete in two-person cars driven by veteran racers. SuperKids also travel from around the United States to compete at Akron for the title of World Champion. There is a parade on Friday morning and the race begins at 9:30 a.m.