Scouting America partnership has roots with Zachary Tinkle and Andy Hillenburg

Scouting America and the Zachary Tinkle Foundation recently announced a national partnership centered around the Pinewood Derby where a lucky Cub Scout that enters and wins the design contest will get his or her design wrapped on the Fast Track Racing No. 11 car driven by Zachary Tinkle at the ARCA Menards Series East race at Rockingham Speedway in April.

The Pinewood Derby is an annual event where Cub Scouts build wooden cars with family and race them on gravity-driven tracks. Cub Scouts learn STEM principles in trying to build the fastest car and also are encouraged to get creative with their designs.

Fast Track team owner Andy Hillenburg and driver Zachary Tinkle both have backgrounds in Cub Scouts participating in Pinewood Derby contests, which is one of the reasons why Scouting America and the Zachary Tinkle Foundation partnered for the design contest.

After participating in Cub Scouts from second through fifth grade, Tinkle became a Webelos Super Achiever, which means he completed all 20 Webelos and Arrow Light adventures while in the program. It’s estimated that only around 20 percent of Cub Scouts earn this achievement. He accomplished this around the time he was just starting his racing career in go-karting.

In a Facebook Live with Scout Life, Tinkle was asked about how he performed in the Pinewood Derby. He reflected that he didn’t win a race or design contest but learned a lot because he could have spent more time on both. It was a lesson to focus more effort on the Raingutter Regatta contest, which he did win.

One thing he appreciated was the friendships he developed in Scouts, as he is friends to this day with a fellow pack member that has even been a photographer for him at a race. Tinkle has all of his uniforms, hats and handbooks from his Scouting days.

Hillenburg participated in Cub Scouts from around ages 8-12 and recalls that the first Pinewood Derby car he made with his dad was a green Jimmy Clark paint scheme that he recalls won best appearing car. But was really slow, and they wanted to win races. So they then focused on making cars that would go fast but had simple paint schemes. He then won the Pinewood Derby races two years in a row and still has the cars and trophies from those wins.

Hillenburg said he also still has his Scout handbooks and felt it was a great experience because he learned a ton by participating in something constructive that developed skills. In talking about the partnership on the Pinewood Derby contest, Andy said, “I think Zachary is a great representative to the young Scouts today. It’s great to be part of something that was important to me as a youngster.”

The contest is happening now with Cub Scouts from across the United States uploading photos of their Pinewood Derby car designs in hopes of winning the coveted prize package that includes: the No. 11 Fast Track Racing race car wrapped with his or her Pinewood Derby design, name on the passenger side name rail, four pit passes and travel expenses paid to Rockingham.

Cub Scouts have until Feb. 28 to upload a photo to the Scouting America Pinewood Derby contest website page: go.scoutlife.org/zacharytinklecontest.

Zachary Tinkle’s full race schedule plans for 2025 will be announced at a later date.