PC’s Riff family to compete in SLC’s Red Bull Soapbox Race on June 14

Park City's Riff family's entry vehicle into Saturday's Salt Lake City's Red Bull Soap Box Race. Photo: Jennifer Riff

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –  Red Bull Soapbox Race Utah has officially announced the teams selected to participate in the June 14th  event. Drivers and pit crews will now begin to bring their designs to life as some of the city’s most creative minds prepare to share their need for speed with the thousands of spectators expected in front of the Utah State Capitol. Red Bull Soapbox Race Utah also broke the record for most team entries in the history of the U.S. events. 

Park City’s Riff family; parents and pilots for the race Jennifer and Josh, and their children Asher, Sam, and Rachel, is not only included in that record-breaking statistic, but they have earned a spot in the actual race, something not all those entrants can claim. 

They’ll be easy to spot since they will be dressed up in bee costumes.

Jennifer Riff, fully grasping the silly nature of the event, told Townlift, “We’re straight outta the hive into overdrive,” Jennifer Riff, fully grasping the silly nature of the event, told Townlift. “Fuel the hive, race to thrive. We will stop for pollen. We’ll go from zero to buzzed in 3.2 seconds.” She concluded, “We’ve got 850 hornetpower under the hood.”

The final roster includes participants from across Utah, neighboring states, and from as far as California and North Carolina. With wild designs, teams must survive the twists, turns, and ramps of a downhill course and also win over the judges and crowds with showmanship and flair. Competitors will be scored equally on speed, creativity of their vehicle, and overall performance.

This year’s lineup will feature some outrageous cart designs, from a rainbow snail to a bathtub to the Rocky Mountains to a flying carpet. Spectators can also expect fun costumes, skits, as well as the thrills and spills that come along with achieving Red Bull Soapbox Race glory.

Judging the team performances and cart designs will be local legends like Dave Kindig and Kevin Schiele from the show Bitchin’ Rides, and they’ll be joined by fellow Utahan Mike Brewer, a member of the Red Bull Air Force, five-time World Record holder and World Champion skydiver. 

Salt Lake City’s own Tyler Bender joins them, a rising comedian with over a million followers, as well as Mayci J. Neeley from the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and Natalia Grossman, a Red Bull athlete and Olympian climber.who’s highly anticipating the race’s debut in her home state.

“Red Bull Soapbox Race is one of the wildest events that I’ve seen, so it’s sure to be loved by the state of Utah,” said Natalia. “I’m excited to be a judge to see how the teams bring to life their designs and if they can make it down the course. It’s going to be such a fun race!”  

Red Bull Soapbox Race Utah is free to attend and is expected to attract large crowds. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure a great viewing spot along the hay bale-lined course that will run from the Utah State Capitol down Main Street. Gates open beginning at 10 a.m. and the green flag, signaling the start of the race, will drop at 12:00 p.m.

Red Bull Soapbox Race is a one-of-a-kind event where amateur drivers race homemade, non-motorized vehicles down a downhill course filled with obstacles, jumps, and sharp turns. It’s not just about speed: creativity and showmanship are equally important. Teams of five people build their carts with whatever materials they can find, push them to the starting line, and hope for a speedy, show-stopping run.

This year’s race in Salt Lake City is the second stop of three Red Bull Soapbox Races in the U.S., with Des Moines, Iowa and Los Angeles, California also joining the action.