Hawkeye Downs highlights its history

CEDAR RAPIDS - Race car drivers of the past paved the way for present drivers.

The drivers and others contributed to the history at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and eight figures of the past will be honored Friday night during the track's 10th Annual Keith Fleck Memorial Wall of Fame Night. Pre-race ceremonies begin at 7:15 p.m. with heat races set for 7:30.

Wall of Fame inductees consist of drivers Johnny Mudd and Paul Newkirk of Cedar Rapids, Charles Safley of Springville, Waterloo's Karl Sanger, and Jim Gerber, of Davenport, car owner and motor builder Benny Jamison and contributors Ron Hochstetler, of Cedar Rapids, and Marion's Les Burianek will be honored in a ceremony between heats and feature races. A meet and greet will be held under the grandstands before races begin.

Paying tribute to past drivers and contributors is important to Hawkeye Downs race promoter Mike Becker.

"There are drivers from the past that were our heroes when we were growing up," he said. "They were the guys we watched. They're the reason we got interested and the reason we're doing things today. ... Let them know we still love them and we remember them. Let them  we were proud of them back then and we still are today."

 Mudd was a well-liked sportsman driver, who won track titles in 1999 and 2003. Newkirk was a midget car racer in the 1940's and 1950's before becoming a nationally-known mechanic. Sanger raced late models at the track in the 1970's and 1980's. Gerber, whose dad, Johnny Gerber, was inducted last year, was a jalopies and stock cars in the1950's and 1960's. Safley competed in street stocks on dirt and pro stocks on asphalt at Hawkeye Downs in a career that spanned from the 1970's to 1990's. He won consecutive titles in 1979-80.

 Burianek was a photographer and writer, covering auto racing in the 1950's and 1960's. Hochstetler's towing company provided service to the track, while Jamison was a car owner, motor builder and crew member for successful drivers at the track. Jamison is an example of the many contributors who were behind the scenes instead of behind the wheel.

"He owned cars that had successes," Becker said. "Some of the guys out there winning races, he was the reason they were winning."

The night will include a Candy Dash for kids, a midget car display and an appearance by the Corvette Club. Late models will run a 50-lap feature instead of a 30-lap feature. Competition will also include a 40-lap ASA Trucks feature race.

"We're trying to do something different," Becker said. "I think the trucks are cool. I think it will be a neat addition to the program just to change things in the middle of the season."

If rain wipes out races, plans will be to still recognize the Wall of Fame inductees at the Bingo Hall at Hawkeye Downs,