Ironside a winner behind the wheel at Downs

CEDAR RAPIDS – Three years of marked improvement finally paid off in a big way for Mark Ironside.

The former Cedar Rapids Jefferson and University of Iowa wrestler recorded his first feature win in the Legends racing division during weekly points races last night at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

'It's about time that the Hawkeye car got across the finish line in first place for a change,” Ironside said. 'It was really cool tonight, it wasn't like a fluke.”

The night started strong for Ironside's No. 10 car with a win in the preceding heat race from the fourth starting position, then he jumped out early in the feature. Through 16 laps, Ironside maintained a consistent lead ahead of the field, continually surging after turn 2 of the quarter-mile asphalt oval. Ironside credited handling improvements, most notably the ability to keep speed through the center and being able to come off corners without extra acceleration.

'The car's just phenomenal,” Ironside said. 'I changed the set-up on it about three weeks ago with the help of (Hawkeye Downs sportsmen division racer) Dave McCalla, and it really helped me out a lot. It's a matter of continuing to learn to drive the set-up, and we're getting better and better at it.”

Ironside, 39, won two individual state wrestling championships for Jefferson in 1992-93, then two NCAA titles with Iowa in 1997-98. He was the 1998 Hodge Trophy winner, given annually to the nation's best collegaite wrestler.

Ironside was even recognized by National Wrestling Media with an award two years ago for his radio broadcasts of Iowa wrestling on KXIC radio.

This is his third year of racing in the Legends division at Hawkeye Downs, and his first feature win did not come without drama. With nine laps to go, the yellow caution flag was raised when Steve Kohli spun out on turn 3, then previous feature winner Brody Willett bumped up against Dennis Diercks with six laps to go. With Willett and Diercks forced to the back of the pack, Ironside fended off defending points champion Kevin Korsmo for the victory, which included a third caution before the final lap.

'Just keep in my line,” Ironside said of his post-caution strategy. 'Kevin Korsmo, he's tough as nails. He's behind me, but the great thing about having him behind me is the fact that I know he's going to race me clean. I know that if I hold my line, he's going to have to pass me on the outside. I'm not going to give up the bottom, and I held true down there and he almost got around me a couple of times on the outside, but that's what makes it fun racing. The more he brings it on the outside, the more I want to push it on the inside, too.”

Both McCalla (Sportsmen division) and Nathan Ballard (hobby stocks) made it five for five in feature wins this season. Dallas Chandler picked up his second hornets victory, while former Modified division points champion Brian Gibson closed the night with his first late model victory of the season.

HAWKEYE DOWNS SPEEDWAY

At Cedar Rapids

MILLER TIME HORNETS

1. Dallas Chandler (Cedar Rapids); 2. Todd Ness (Cedar Rapids); 3. Troy Scott (Cedar Rapids).

MOUNTAIN DEW SPORTSMEN

1. Dave McCalla (Cedar Rapids); 2. Nathan Ballard (Marengo); 3. Bob Ahrendsen (Cedar Rapids).

BARRON MOTOR SUPPLY HOBBY STOCKS

1. Ballard; 2. Braxton Franks (Cedar Rapids); 3. Matt Hudspeth (Granger).

DUBLIN CITY PUB LEGENDS

1. Mark Ironside (Swisher); 2. Kevin Korsmo (Atkins); 3. Brody Willett (Alburnett).

Carpetland USA LATE MODELS

1. Brian Gibson (Walford); 2. Tim Plummer (Norway); 3. Brad Osborn (Janesville).

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com