The cheers of a crowd reach a fever pitch as a flamboyant group of contestants step onto a stage. All smiles and pomp, the team makes an offering to the feral spectators in the form of a choreographed routine. The pre-show display comes to a close as a single brave team member dons a helmet and climbs into an extravagantly adorned soapbox car. With one final show of camaraderie, the team shoves the engineless contraption down a steep obstacle-laden course and prays to the powers-that-be that no injury befalls the driver. Wielding a combination of skill and dumb luck, it’s up to the pilot to navigate jumps, hay bales and general hazards of the road. In an ideal world, they’ll meet the finish line with all four wheels and legendary status. But just as many attempts end in epic crashes and brutal face plants—not without their own brand of glory, of course. This is the scene Salt Lakers will soon experience as the Red Bull Soapbox Race makes its very first appearance in Utah on Saturday, June 14 2025.
About the Race
The event, which first took place in Belgium 25 years ago, makes a visit to major cities each year. Salt Lake is one of only three soapbox races hosted by Red Bull in 2025, and the local adrenaline junkies, engineers and showmen responded in droves to participate. Over 400 applicants—the most of any U.S. Red Bull Soapbox event so far—submitted mock-up car designs, team narratives and general dream-big motivations. 40 teams from Utah and across the country were selected for a chance to conquer the soapbox course, which will take place at the top of Main Street near the State Capitol. In a nod to the Beehive state, track obstacles for this race include The BFGoodrich Rock Garden: a bumpy obstacle course fashioned after Moab’s iconic red rock. More challenges drivers will face are The Sticky Steps, the Smith’s Speedometer and the piece de resistance—a massive jump near the finish line appropriately named The Ski Jump.
Part extravagance and part skill, contestants are also judged on showmanship and creativity. Their handmade motorless vehicles must have steering and braking capabilities, but teams are encouraged to push their cart design to outrageous levels. This year’s cart lineup includes a rainbow snail, a delicate arch, Grandma Sickamore’s white bread, and of course, a technicolor whale. Team members will match their thematic carts with costumes and a 30-second pre-show routine, both of which factor into their overall score.
Meet the Teams
Exactly who you might ask is brave enough to test their mettle, melodrama and engineering aptitude at such an event? I sat down with Utah-based team Dad’s Rat Finks to see how they plan on sweeping the race this Saturday.
“We definitely have a triple threat of expertise to bring to this year’s Soapbox event.” Jon Farrington is competing with his family, which includes professional float builder, alumni soap box competitor, and most importantly, his dad—Mike Farrington. Mike raced in local soapbox events throughout his childhood, races that were judged on speed and agility rather than flair. Combined with his award-winning float builds, Mike has applied all his specialized expertise to design a light weight Rat Fink-inspired cart with plenty of panache.
The family is also well-versed in Red Bull-branded events, as Jon is just coming off a win at a recent Flugtag competition in Tampa—in which participants attempt to fly home-made, human-powered flying machines across bodies of water. “I definitely think I’ve learned some tricks from Flugtag that I’ll be able to apply to Soapbox,” Jon says with a knowing smirk. Though his Flugtag team comprised NASA employees, he’s more excited to compete at Soapbox with his family this weekend. The all-hands endeavor also includes pilot Patrick Farrington, co-driver Ryan Farrington, Pusher Candice Jones and professional choreographer Kaylene Farrington—the latter of which Jon’s believes brings extra star quality to the team. “One thing I’ve learned from Red Bull events is that showmanship gets the most points,” he says.
Dad’s Rat Finks are looking forward to honoring their family’s patriarch with another shot at soapbox history. When asked about their racing goals, three separate answers sum up their approach to the race perfectly. The ever humble champion, Jon is content with bringing home “the memories, to be able to compete with our entire family is something I’ll never forget. It’s been so fun to work together with our partners and even our kids are so excited about it.” Alumni soapbox competitor Mike Farrington has a more pragmatic goal: “I’d like to have a good track time getting down.” And for driver Patrick, it’s more about walking off the track in one piece, “I hope my helmet stays in place…Maybe I’ll add some motorcross gear to go the full measure.”
Salt Lakers can see Dad’s Rat Finks for themselves this Saturday, June 18 at the Capitol Grounds! The Farringtons will take their shot at the course in the middle of the event, with more participant highlights including Dave Kindig and Kevin Scheiel from the hit show Bitchin’ Rides, Red Bull Airforce and World Champion Skydiver Mike Brewer, and Secret Live of Mormon Wives castmember Mayci J. Neeley. The event is free to attend, but event organizers are expecting thousands of spectators, so plan travel accordingly.
What: Red Bull Soapbox Race
Where: Utah State Capitol | Main Street
When: Gates open at 10 a.m., races begin at 12 p.m.
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