Flint Soap Box Derby set to return for 5th year

FLINT, Mich. — The Flint Soap Box Derby will roll back into town for its fifth consecutive year on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Chevy Commons.

From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., local students will race hand-built cars down the track in a celebration of engineering, teamwork and tradition. The event, which includes schools from across Southeast Michigan, marks another step forward in the derby’s comeback story and offers a glimpse into its future with the planned restoration of Cronin Derby Downs, Flint’s historic racing hill.

“This is a great event for the City of Flint,” said Kevin Cronin, President and CEO of the Flint Soap Box Derby. “We are honored to add another chapter to the impressive legacy of the Flint Soap Box Derby. Our race at Chevy Commons is an exciting culmination of the hard work and learning that happens throughout the season.”

Originally launched in 2019, the revived Flint derby blends racing with hands-on STEM education. Students work alongside volunteers to design, construct and fine-tune their own derby cars. The experience introduces youth to engineering concepts and provides them with technical skills.

“Our mission is to inspire participants toward future STEM careers and provide a highly engaging environment where they can learn and grow,” Cronin said. “This is most evident during our building workshops. We want to cultivate skills, develop lasting relationships, and emphasize the importance of building as one.”

This year’s competition includes one sanctioned race in the All-American Soap Box Derby’s Super Stock Division. Student racers represent schools including Freeman Elementary, Beecher High School, Dailey Elementary, Carman-Ainsworth High School, St. John Vianney Catholic School, Bendle, Flushing and Swartz Creek Middle Schools, Springview Elementary, McGrath Elementary, Holy Family Catholic School, Stevenson Elementary in Southfield, and United Oaks Elementary in Hazel Park.

Soap box racing in Flint dates back to 1936, when cars first sped down Cadillac Street. The tradition continued for decades at Cronin Derby Downs, once considered one of the premier racing hills in the country. After a long absence, the race was revived in 2019, and organizers say it’s now stronger than ever.

For more information, visit Flintsoapbox.org, follow @FlintSoapBoxDerby on Facebook or @FlintSoapBox on Instagram.