FirstEnergyAll-American Soap Box Derby Countdown


AASBD Race Program 

The All-American Soap Box Derby® is a youth gravity racing program which has run nationally since 1934. The program is administered by the International Soap Box Derby, Inc., an Akron, Ohio-based nonprofit organization.

Children between the ages of 7-20 are eligible to race in the program. Kids, along with a parent, mentor, etc. build a car using a specially designed kit purchased from the ISBD.

Races are held each year in officially sanctioned Soap Box Derby® race locations throughout the United States and a few foreign countries. The racing season culminates at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race, held each July at the world famous Derby Downs Track in Akron, Ohio.

There are two ways a child can qualify for the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race. The first is to enter a local race and win. The child will qualify for the World Championship Race and compete against other Local Champions. 

Local race programs are sponsored by a variety of civic clubs, service organizations and business firms. These groups establish their local Derby administrative and promotional organizations to conduct the program. Local race organizations are responsible for a license fee to the ISBD.

The second way to advance to the World Championship Race is to earn enough points through the Rally Program and represent his/her region against other Rally Champions. 

There will be three racing divisions in most races and at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race. The Stock division is for kids ages 7 through 13. The Super Stock division is for kids ages 9 through 18. The Masters division is for kids ages 10 through 20. 

Racing Commission
The Racing Commission provides guidance and management of racing rules regarding Local races as well as the building requirements for the stock, super stock and masters cars. The Racing Commission is responsible for inspection of Champ cars and largely responsible for managing the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby race in Akron each July. Within the Racing Commission, sub-committees include the A-team, Associate Racing Commissioners and the Ultimate Speed Committee.  

Rally Commission 
The Rally Commission is responsible for oversight of the Rally Race Program. This includes establishing and maintaining rally race rules as well as ensuring fun, healthy and safe rally programs meet the goals of the AASBD mission. The Rally Commission also handles rally rule questions and clarifications. Each July, the Rally Commission is proud to recognize the top 10 point achievers in each division as well as regional point winners, Rally Challenge winners and Rally Championship winners during the annual award ceremony at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby. During race week in Akron, the Rally Commission is responsible for managing the DQ Rally Challenge race, the Parents Race and assisting the Racing Commission and Regional Directors wherever possible to insure a successful race week program.  

Competition Committee
The Competition Committee is an advisory group composed of the committee chairs for the Rally, Racing and Regional Director Committees as well as a Soap Box Derby Board Member and a member appointed by the Soap Box Derby President & CEO. The Competition Committee is responsible for coordinating program initiatives, final review of proposed rule changes and providing input into AASBD strategic planning. Items for consideration of the Competition Committee are brought forward by each of the committee chairs.

Regional Directors
Each region within the All-American Soap Box Derby Race Program has a Regional Director who is responsible for establishing a fair, healthy, and positive racing experience within their Region. The Regional Directors serve as an information resource for race directors within their region, a source of knowledge for new race directors as well as racers, and are the liaison between the Local Derby Associations and the International Soap Box Derby. The Regional Directors are a critical component for ensuring a successful FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby race in Akron. They are responsible for loading the racers within the starting gates, managing the new Build and Battle competition, and working within all aspects of the Champs activities during race week to ensure the Champs enjoy the Race Week experience. Regional Directors contact information is located below:

Region 1
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Rich Johnson
425-239-7838
johnsoncamano@frontier.com

Region 2
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Chris Harris
408-369-4311
chris@corpwest.com

Region 3
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Jerry VanWaart
712-347-9702
jvanwaart@hotmail.com

Region 4
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming
John Evans
816-350-3004
johnsevans@sbcglobal.net

Jerry VanWaart
712-347-9702
jvanwaart@hotmail.com

Region 5
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
ElizaBeth Kimball
608-965-3241; 309-582-4949
elakimball@gmail.com

Region 6
Ohio, West Virginia
Jamey Allen
740-808-0328
jalle35@columbus.rr.com

Region 7
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina
Eric Griffin
407-353-6228
griffineric@cfl.rr.com

Region 8
District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia
Jim Hagan
301-252-7035
haganracing@comcast.net

Mark Marine
610-574-5101
markcmarine@verizon.net

Region 9
New York
Mark Scuderi
585-261-8881
mscuderi@rochester.rr.com

Region 10
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
Richard Behan
603-953-3086
rabehan54@hotmail.com

Region 11
Connecticut, Rhode Island
Mike Corson
203-470-4295
ctoitmike@yahoo.com

Region 12
Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee
Tommy Waters
828-443-4786
marylin.waters@gmail.com

International
Bernie Daynes
705-740-2160
bdaynes@bell.net