Attention of Racing World Will Focus On Akron's All-American Soap Box Derby

Business Wire, July 17, 2002

Business Editors

For the week beginning Monday, July 22, eyes of the racing world will focus their attention on Akron's Derby Downs as more than 400 youngsters prepare their gravity-powered race cars for the 65th All-American Soap Box Derby on Saturday, July 27.

Beginning on Monday, July 22, at 9:00 a.m., Derby fans from Akron and throughout the country will welcome the 414 contestants during day-long ceremonies on the campus of the University of Akron. The boys and girls, who are between the ages of eight and 17, are coming to Akron from 43 states, Washington, D.C., Germany, the Philippines and Japan.

During the week, the young champions will be at Derby Downs for safety checks of their racers, as well as trial runs down the track.

"The Soap Box Derby program has enjoyed a tremendous resurgence in popularity in the past few years, as evidenced by the record number of local champions and rally contestants who will compete at Derby Downs next week," said Roy Hartz, chairman of the Derby organization.

"This momentum will continue in future years, thanks to the agreement announced earlier this month with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), calling for the Soap Box Derby to be part of NASCAR's Youth Program Initiative," Hartz said.

Under terms of the new partnership, NASCAR and the Soap Box Derby will promote one another's racing programs and NASCAR will assist the Derby organization in identifying and securing additional corporate sponsors.

Race Day activities at Derby Downs on Saturday, July 27, begin at 9:30 a.m., with opening ceremonies and the celebrity Oil Can Trophy Race. The first official heat of Derby racing will be at 11:00 a.m. The day's racing events should conclude by 4:00 p.m.

There are three divisions in Soap Box Derby racing. The Stock Car category features ready-to-assemble race cars for the novice entrant; the Super Stock cars are similar but larger, and the Masters division cars are the sleeker, more sophisticated cars.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is the national title sponsor of the All-American Soap Box Derby.