Pinewood Derby Trophies: Speed and Design Awards

Short answer

A pinewood derby gives two kinds of awards: speed awards, decided on the track, and design awards, decided by judges or a vote. Most races give first, second and third for speed in each age group or den and overall, a handful of design awards, and a small keepsake for every racer. We design the set around your race name and artwork, cut and printed in acrylic and wood, so the trophies can be shaped like a car, a checkered flag or your own emblem. There is no minimum order, and you approve a design proof first.

First, second and third place awards on wood bases with printed acrylic faces and cut metal numerals

Two contests on one track

The fastest car and the best-looking car are rarely the same car, and a good derby rewards both. Speed awards go to the cars that win heats. Design awards go to the cars that took the most imagination, the most care, or the most nerve.

Design awards matter more than they seem to. For a child whose car comes last in every heat, a design award is the difference between a good day and a bad one, and a well-chosen list means most of the room goes home with something that names what was good about their car.

Because the same awards repeat every year, a derby suits semi-custom awards: your race artwork on a stock body, reordered with a new year. An overall champion’s trophy can be a one-off, cut to shape as a custom award.

The awards a derby usually gives

Overall speed

First, second and third across the whole race. The largest three trophies on the table.

Speed by age group or den

First, second and third within each group, in the same design at a smaller size.

Design awards

Judged or voted categories. Five to ten is typical; a list to copy is below.

Every racer

A medallion on a neck ribbon or a pin for each child who built a car.

Pack perpetual

A plaque that stays with the group and records each year’s overall champion.

Open and family class

A separate award for siblings and parents who race their own cars, kept apart from the main results.

A design award list to copy

Choose the categories before the race and tell families what they are. Children build toward a category when they know it exists.

Design award categories
Award	What it rewards
Best in Show	The car the judges would most like to take home
Most Original	An idea nobody else had
Best Paint Job	Finish, color and care
Most Realistic	Looks like a real vehicle
Funniest Car	Made the judges laugh
Best Use of Theme	If the race has a theme
Most Aerodynamic Looking	Looks fast standing still
Best Non-Car	A hot dog, a pencil, a shark
Built It Myself	Clearly the child’s own work
Judges’ Favorite	For the car that fits no category

That last award is worth keeping. There is always one car that deserves something and fits nowhere.

What goes on the trophy

Derby results are decided on the day, so trophies are made with the award on them and no name. Keep it to the race, the award and the year.

Pack Pinewood Derby
First Place · Overall Speed
2026

Pack Pinewood Derby
Most Original Design
2026

If the group wants names recorded, a perpetual does that; ask about name plates in your quote request. Perpetual trophies covers how many years to plan for.

Counting the awards

Work the count out on paper before you ask for a quote. Three overall speed awards, three per age group, the design awards, and one keepsake per registered racer. Add two or three spare participant pieces for late entries; a child who registers on the morning of the race should not be the one without a medal.

District races are the same list at a larger scale, often with a sponsor to thank. See sponsor plaques for that piece, and volunteer awards for the person who has run the track for ten years.

What to send us

The race name and any artwork you are entitled to use. Send your group’s own artwork rather than a national organization’s marks.
The award list with quantities, including participant pieces.
The race date.
Whether you will reorder the same design next year.

We send a design proof of the set and nothing is made until you approve it. Request a quote with your race date and we will answer against it. More event pages are in the Recognition Library.

Pinewood Derby Trophies FAQs

How many trophies does a pinewood derby need?

Count three overall speed awards, three for each age group or den, five to ten design awards and one keepsake per racer, plus a few spares for late entries.

What are good pinewood derby design award categories?

Best in Show, Most Original, Best Paint Job, Most Realistic, Funniest Car, Best Non-Car and a Judges’ Favorite cover most races. Announce the categories before families start building.

Can a trophy be shaped like a car?

Yes. Our acrylic is cut to shape and printed in full color, so an award can be a car, a flag or your own emblem.

Should every racer get an award?

Most races give every child who built a car a medallion or pin. It is a first competition for many of them.

Can you put the official program logo on the trophies?

Send artwork your group is entitled to use. A national organization’s marks are protected, so most groups use their own pack or event artwork.

Can we reuse the design each year?

Yes. The design can be reordered with the year updated.

Racer in a helmet raising both arms as gold confetti falls under stage lights

RACE DAY COMING?

Send the race name and the award count

Send your race artwork and the list of speed and design awards. We design the set and send a proof before anything is produced.

Tell us the race date and we will quote against it.

Request a Quote

Pinewood Derby Trophies