DES MOINES, Iowa (January 24, 2022) – Red Bull Soapbox Race is excited to announce it is bringing the world’s wildest downhill race to Des Moines on Saturday, June 18. Since the first race in Brussels in 2000, over 100 Red Bull Soapbox events have been held in places like Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia. This is the first time the event has come to Iowa. The Red Bull Soapbox Race is a race competition in which amateur teams see who can navigate their homemade cart the fastest through a downhill course, filled with obstacles and potential crashes, in front of a crowd of tens-of-thousands. Although the thrills and spills of the race can generate the crowds’ biggest roars, the event is fueled by more than just the need for speed. Teams are judged on a criterion of one-third speed, one-third creativity, and one-third showmanship. So, in addition to building the quickest cart, teams will also need to impress the judges and crowd by how outrageous and charismatic they can be. “We are eager to show off the great city of Des Moines and our beautiful downtown to the thousands of people coming to either race or spectate,” said Greg Edwards, CEO and president of Catch Des Moines. “The Iowa State Capitol building is the perfect race spot as it is an iconic part of Des Moines and the state of Iowa. And as racers go down the hill there, they will take in the views of the East Village and downtown. Not to mention, the 25,000 in attendance at our famous downtown farmers’ market will get a great view of the Red Bull Soapbox Race as well.”  Red Bull Soapbox Race is also partnering with Hy-Vee and Casey’s, two of Iowa’s hometown businesses, to add even more local flavor to the event.  Since Hy-Vee understands its customers’ own “need for speed” with their grab-and-go meal solutions and express Aisles Online grocery service, the retailer will work with Red Bull to add their own “speedy” feature on the course to add even more twists and turns for race day excitement. “We’re delighted to welcome the Red Bull Soapbox Race to Iowa,” said Tina Potthoff, senior vice president of communications for Hy-Vee. “We can’t wait to see how participants use their creativity to come up with new and innovative cart designs. As a sponsor of numerous sporting events each year, we look forward to adding this event to our line-up of races taking place this summer.” Casey’s will announce one lucky car as ‘Casey’s Hometown Racer’ at the June 18th event, recognizing the vehicle that best reflects the heart of its community. The ‘Casey’s Hometown Racer’ will recognize the vehicle that reflects the heart of its community. The criteria include vehicles with designs reflecting: - The city/town they are from; and - What the racer/team loves most about Casey’s. A committee will select one winning and one runner up team, and each team member on the two teams will receive free pizza for a year in their Casey’s Rewards account. “We’re excited to play a role in the race as it draws passionate racers and fans from all over, and puts an exciting spotlight on Des Moines. Casey’s is rooted in local communities across 16 states and we’re looking for hometown-themed cars that celebrate where they’re from,” said Tom Brennan, chief merchandising officer for Casey’s. The highly competitive application phase opens on January 24 and will close on March 18 when up to 50 teams will be selected to participate. Teams of five are invited to enter their craziest car concepts through the formal application found at the Red Bull Soapbox website. Past applicants have found inspiration for their car’s designs in everything from their favorite food to their favorite spots. Applying to participate in Red Bull Soapbox Iowa is free, but applicants must be 18 years or older to enter. Red Bull Soapbox Race Iowa’s course will run the length of East Walnut Street, alongside the State Capitol Complex, from E 12th Street to E 7th Street. Viewing is free and open to the public.

 

About Catch Des Moines Catch Des Moines is the official destination marketing organization promoting and representing Greater Des Moines to leisure travelers and meeting/sports planners. Our focus is to increase visitors to the metro and elevate the visitor experience to drive economic success and enhance the quality of life in the 15 local Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.