Day 2 of Soap Box Derby National Championship gets underway in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Racers from around the country are in Indianapolis this weekend to compete in the Soap Box Derby National Championships.

It has been 22 years since the Circle City last hosted the race and leaders say they are happy to bring it back home.

“We have a history of racing here, Indy racers hold world championship titles,” said Indianapolis City-County Councillor Monroe Gray, Jr.

Soap box racers have been taking to the 1,000-foot-long track at Wilbur Shaw Soap Box Derby Hill since Friday for practice and car inspection. Qualifications in double-elimination style tournaments kicked off Saturday afternoon and will run through Sunday. Championships will take place Monday.

Forty-two out of the 150 racers are from Indy’s own Inner City Youth Racing League, which is also hosting this year’s national championships.

“We would normally have double than 40 but because of the virus, a lot of kids are not in school and so the program is smaller,” said Gray.

The pandemic has impacted the weekend’s schedule with shifting race times and reduced practice times to spread out activities.

Still, on Sunday morning, racers remained focused with many families opting to camp out in RVs parked at the bottom of the hill.

17-year-old Jenna Wolfe drove from Ohio with her dad for the tournament and was making last-minute adjustments to her car before hitting the track.

“I’ve been racing for nine years, I’m here to win,” said Wolfe.

For a full schedule of racing events, click here.