OGALLALA, Neb. (Aug. 7, 2025) — After a summer that saw local racers capture world titles, the Wild West Soap Box Derby in Ogallala will launch its 2026 season this Saturday with a daylong rally event expected to draw top competitors from several states.
Bob Collins, a longtime organizer with the Wild West Soap Box Derby, said local drivers made history at the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships in Akron, Ohio, earlier this summer. Ogallala’s Adaela McBride and Diego Juarez, both reigning local champions in Stock and Super Stock divisions, each won world titles. Region 4 — which includes Ogallala — earned more than 30 trophies, the most of any region in the world.
Collins credited the racers’ parents for their dedication, traveling to events nationwide. “It’s a family thing,” he said. “They go coast to coast and down south, and they’re successful wherever they go.”
Saturday’s races, held at the Wild West Soap Box Derby track, will mark the first points competition for the 2026 All-American season. The schedule includes two rally races in Stock, Super Stock and Masters divisions, with some heats run under the lights — a rare feature among derby tracks.
Racers from Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Missouri are expected. The event is free to attend, with concessions available. Gates open at 7 a.m., registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and racing starts around 10:30 a.m. A lighthearted sponsor race featuring adult-sized derby cars is planned for early afternoon.
“We’re going to have some world-class racers here in Ogallala,” Collins said. “It’s going to be a great time.”