Teen from Iowa Wins Soap Box Derby | Des Moines News

Thirteen-year-old Melvin Spoelstra from Iowa just stunned the world by winning the All-American Soap Box Derby championship—taking home a $3,000 scholarship, gold ring, trophy, and jacket after racing gravity-powered cars built over months. With nearly 300 young racers competing, Melvin’s win was fueled by family support and the Des Moines Soap Box club, proving teamwork makes champions. The event faced chaos from Canadian wildfire smoke, delaying races and pushing weigh-ins to Saturday. Beyond the thrill, the derby honors mentors like Bill Speeg, building a legacy of engineering passion, grit, and sportsmanship for the next generation. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7b4470bafb22f74d