2026 Columbus Soap Box Derby Championships on June 6
June 4, 2026 – Columbus, Ohio – Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc. announced today details of its June 6th championship race on Derby Hill in Big Run Park. 32 entries will compete in three divisions – Stock, Superstock, and Masters.
“This is our 81st year of hosting the Columbus Derby Championship,” said Troy Woodall, Director of the Columbus Soap Box Derby. “Each division champion will represent Columbus in the World Championships July 18th in Akron. Last year, Columbus had its best world championship performance ever with Kylie Kirk finishing 1st in Rally Superstock, Alexa Fischer finishing 2nd in Local Superstock, and Lenora Acker finishing 7th in Local Stock.”
This year’s field includes racing teams from COSI’s STEAM Platform program and Loeb Electric, nine entries originating from COSI’s SciFest, and eight drivers from Delaware’s Unity Community Center.
“I always dreamed of competing in the Soap Box Derby as a kid, but was never able to,” said Troy Lopes, first-year parent pit crew to his daughter Troi. “Troi took a few test drives last month at COSI SciFest and now here we are competing in the Columbus Championships. Indeed, big dreams do build champions.”
“We have amazing community support here in Columbus” said Steve Conkel, Board Member and Treasurer, Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc. “Thank you to our race day sponsors Roehrenbeck Electric, Loeb Electric, Tim Landers Photography, and Lighting Dynamics, Inc.
This year’s field features four All-Americans, 17 rookies, and competitors from Columbus, Delaware, Dublin, Grandview, Grove City, Hilliard, Lebanon, Lewis Center, New Albany, Troy, Westerville, and Upper Arlington.
In addition to our race day sponsors, car sponsors this year include Be A Fence Foundation, Capital Industrial Group, COSI, Culver’s, Danny Hughes, DIRTT, EICK Global STEM Academy, Grace Tire, Germain Ford, Haus Foundation, Integrated Schoolhouse, John Koldstitch, Kit Walter, KM Medical Aesthetics, Loeb Electric, Sam & Grace Photography, TechCon Solutions, Unity Community Center of Delaware, Winterwood & Co, and Zach Miller Photography.
Additionally, the Columbus Soap Box Derby recognizes its supplier partners Cardinal Storage, Exelon Realty, Hilliard Bradley Football, and Wanner Metalworx.
Racing begins around 10:00am after inspections and weigh-ins. Champions will be announced on Facebook and Instagram. Admission is free and the public is invited to cheer on the competitors. Racing occurs on Derby Hill in Big Run Park, 4201 Clime Road.
About Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc.
Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that operates the Columbus Soap Box Derby. Find us on the web at https://columbus.soapboxderby.org. Follow us on Facebook at “Columbus Soap Box Derby” and on Instagram as @columbussoapbox_derby
Want to give derby racing a try? Go to https://columbus.soapboxderby.org/signup to sign up for our next test drive event.
About COSI STEAM Platform Program
An immersive STEAM learning program for Central Ohio middle- and high-school students designed to strengthen STEAM skills and to create a more robust pipeline toward STEAM careers. Contact Te’Lario Wakins at twatkins@cosi.org
About Unity Community Center
Our mission is to improve the quality of life and positively impact the Delaware Ohio community. Our Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) program provides exciting hands-on activities including Soap Box Derby racing, computer programming, robotics, 3D printing, drone design, and more. Contact Taj Bakare at tbakare@unitycommunitycenter.org
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