Dennis VanFossen Jr. introduced a new racing challenge at this year’s Fleet Forward conference. The event was held on October 22.

VanFossen serves as the executive director of the International Soapbox Derby, overseeing fundraising, events, sponsorships, and other initiatives.

“We don’t just build drivers…we inspire the next generation of champions,” said VanFossen. “We’re building engineers.”

Chris Brown and Lauren Fletcher from Bobit are going toe-to-toe in this year’s Corporate Derby Challenge; the challenge supports the Hourglass Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young technicians through trade school scholarships.

This is a way to give back.

How to Sponsor

Want to get in on the action? Sponsor Team Brownor Team Fletcher … A $500 sponsorship gets your name or company logo on our soap box car and helps fuel the Hourglass Foundation’s mission.

If a sponsorship isn’t enough, you can enter your own team into the challenge and race alongside both Fletcher and Brown next summer in Akron, Ohio.

About Soapbox Derby  

Founded in 1934, the International Soap Box Derby is a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation of champions, bringing STEM Education out of the classroom through hands-on design and competition.

Its programs emphasize perseverance, sportsmanship, and community. These values align closely with FFC’s mission to accelerate innovation and leadership across the fleet and mobility industries.

By partnering with the Soap Box Derby, Fleet Forward aims to showcase how creative design, teamwork, and engineering can drive new ideas both on the track and in the mobility space. Details on how fleets and suppliers can participate or sponsor a racer will be announced following the conference.

Details on how to learn more about this event can be found at soapboxderby.org/corporate-derby-challenge.