71st AASBD Celebrities

Celebrities are a tradition at the All American Soap Box Derby. Actors such as Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks, Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Regan and even NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt have all come to Akron.

In 2008 the All American Soap Box Derby welcomes one of it's own celebrities. Denny Zimmerman participated in the 1954 All American as the champ representing Hartford, Connecticut. Seventeen years later, in 1971, he took Indianapolis by storm, racing in the 500 and also being named rookie of the year. He is the only person to be both an All American Champ and participant in the Indianapolis 500 auto race. Welcome back Denny!