NASCAR and the Soap Box Derby UPDATE: The All-American Soap Box Derby, which has been looking for ways to get broader national exposure, is about to get a boost from one of the best-known racing organizations in the land. NASCAR, confirmed Tuesday it is planning a “youth initiative” with the Akron-based derby. Neither side would provide details, but said they would make a formal announcement Friday [July 5th] in Daytona, FL. Tony DeLuca, executive director of the All-American Soap Box Derby, also declined to comment. “It’s really premature,” he said. “We really can’t make any statements right now.” The 65-year-old derby, which once boasted a large following and attracted the likes of James Stewart, Rock Hudson and Eddie Rickenbacker to Akron, has seen its popularity wane over the decades. It struggled in recent years to find a large financial backer before Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. agreed to become the national sponsor in 1998, contributing $300,000 a year to the event. Goodyear became the first high-profile national sponsor since Chevrolet pulled out in 1972. The Akron tire maker also helps to promote the race at its retail centers and gives out free tickets. In return, it gets its name prominently displayed at the derby and on derby merchandise. The announcement on Friday will come on the cusp of the next soap box derby. The July 27 championship event will attract 415 racers from 43 states plus Germany, the Philippines, Japan and Canada — a record number, DeLuca said. The event will be held at Derby Downs on Akron’s southeast side, near the Rubber Bowl and Akron Fulton International Airport. NASCAR already has a loose connection to the derby. One of NASCAR’s directors is part owner of Brand Sense Marketing, a Los Angeles-based marketing services company. That firm announced last fall that it had been named the exclusive marketing agent for the derby.(Akron Beacon Journal)(7-3-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR announced on Friday, a multi-year partnership with the All-American Soap Box Derby, a national property with grassroots applications founded in 1934, which will benefit from the relationship through NASCAR’s media awareness and resources. The All-American Soap Box Derby, based in Akron, Ohio, is looking forward to working with NASCAR after enjoying so much success with one of its partners, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. The All-American Soap Box Derby maintains a strong relationship with Akron-based Goodyear, which also possesses a long-standing and successful partnership with NASCAR. The All-American Soap Box Derby will become part of NASCAR’s Youth Program initiative, which was established to expose America’s future generation to the motorsports industry, and more specifically NASCAR, and its numerous opportunities. NASCAR’s Youth Program initiative also includes the Diversity Summer Internship Program and support of the Urban Youth Racing School. The Diversity Summer Internship Program, established in 2000, is a 10-week, fulltime, paid summer internship program designed to expose diverse youth to the motorsports industry, which includes NASCAR, sponsors, licensees, teams and tracks. More than 40 interns have participated in the program. Since 1999, NASCAR has been supporting the Urban Youth Racing School, a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia that provides inner-city youth ranging in age from 8-18 with an opportunity to learn about the industry through a 10-week curriculum. Due to the growing number of applicants, the Urban Youth Racing School doubled the number of sessions it was offering to accommodate the interest level. The All-American Soap Box Derby is an annual season-long competition, which runs from March to July. The All-American Soap Box Derby sanctions nearly 350 local events throughout the United States each year that showcases its three major divisions as well as points-accumulating “rally” races. The major divisions are Stock, for first-time builders ages 9-16; Super Stock, for experienced builders ages 9-16; and Masters, for advanced builders ages 11-17. All local winners advance to the Championship Race in Akron in July. The 65th running of this week-long championship event is scheduled for July 27.(NASCAR PR)(7-6-2002) (7-5-2002)
