Editing Justin Yoder

{{Short description|American soapbox racer (1986–2024)}}
{{citations|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Justin Yoder
| image              = 
| image_size         = 
| caption            = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1986|11|9}}
| birth_place        = [[Middlebury, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2024|09|15|1986|11|9}}
| death_place        = [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]], U.S.
| education          = 
| occupation         = 
| spouse             = Stephanie Yoder
| parents            = Myron (father)<br/>Sheila (mother)
| relatives          = Seth (brother)
}}

'''Justin Ross Yoder''' (November 9, 1986 – September 15, 2024) was an American soapbox racer. He was the first child with a disability to drive a [[Gravity racer|soapbox]] in the [[Soap Box Derby|All American Soapbox Derby]]. In 1996, he challenged the regulations to allow children with disabilities to use a hand [[brake]] instead of the required foot brake. Thanks to him, regulations were changed. The hand brake is now called the Justin Brake in his honor.<ref>{{cite news | last = Gagnon | first = Dawn | title = Bucksport boy gears up for Soap Box Derby. Special brake lets 11-year-old compete | work = [[Bangor Daily News]] (Maine) | date = 1998-06-12 }}</ref>

Yoder had spina bifida and hydrocephalus. His story is told in the film ''[[Miracle in Lane 2]]'' starring [[Frankie Muniz]].<ref>{{cite news | title= Three Disney Channel Shows Receive Nominations for 2001 Humanitas Prize | work = [[Business Wire]] | date =2001-06-15 }}</ref>

Yoder was a [[Mennonite]] and attended the same church as the film's screenwriters Don Yost and Joel Kauffmann.<ref>[http://www.goshen.edu/news/bulletin/sept00/soapbox.html Roll It: GC Alums strike success in soap box racing and celluloid], Goshen College Bulletin, September 2000.</ref>

Yoder was a student at [[Goshen College]] in [[Goshen, Indiana]], and majored in [[American Sign Language|American Sign Language Interpreting]].

Yoder was involved in a serious car collision on September 14, 2024, after another driver being pursued by police at high speed struck the vehicle he was riding in. He died the following day from his injuries, at the age of 37.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wane.com/top-stories/driver-involved-in-chase-that-ended-in-deadly-crash-in-ligonier-arrested-police-say/amp/|last=Carrol|first=Joe|title=Driver involved in chase that ended in deadly crash near Ligonier arrested, police say|date=27 September 2024}}</ref><ref>[https://www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com/obituary/justin-yoder Obituary | Justin Yoder | Yoder-Culp Funeral Home], Justin Yoder Obituary, September 2024.</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{cite news | last = Schmucker | first = Jane | title = Goshen to the ocean: Disabled bicyclist rolling to the Atlantic | work = [[Toledo Blade]]
| date = 2004-06-08 | url = http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040608/NEWS17/406080345 | accessdate = 2007-04-26}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212345/http://www.bethanycs.net/pdf/bulletin/bulletin014.pdf Justin Yoder ('05): "Frosh surprised by caring classmates"], Bethany Christian School Bulletin, pp.&nbsp;6–7, Summer 2002 edition. (Retrieved April 26, 2007)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoder, Justin}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Elkhart County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Goshen College alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Indiana]]
[[Category:People with spina bifida]]
[[Category:American activists with disabilities]]
[[Category:Sportspeople with disabilities]]


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