Hawksworth continues his chase to the top

One of the fun parts about the IndyCar series coming to Iowa Speedway each season is introducing foreign-born drivers to what Iowa is all about.

And what's more Iowan than taking a driver to a farm and showing him where the corn grown to make the E-85 that powers his car comes from? Bradford, England native Jack Hawksworth got just that opportunity Tuesday at a farm outside Knoxville during an appearance in advance of the July 12 Iowa Corn Indy 250.

'I don't know much about farming, to be honest,” Hawksworth said. 'I (didn't) know if they'd have me milking cows or something like that, but I (was) ready and prepared for whatever they threw at me.”

Jokes aside, Hawksworth has shown he's prepared for whatever people throw at him on the track during his short but quick rise from go-karts in England to the Verizon IndyCar Series.

The 23 year-old is a driver fans should take note of now, because even though he only has one top 10 finish – a seventh at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, a race he was dominating until late – he's been successful in every other level he's raced.

After six years and in karts – becoming the No. 1 shifter kart driver – in his native England, he ran one season in the Formula Renault U.K. Winter Series Series in 2011, then came to the United States. In 2012 he ran the Star Mazda Series, setting records for most wins, poles and fast laps in a season. Last season, he ran in Indy Lights, collecting three wins and a third place finish at Iowa Speedway, where he led 48 of the 115 laps.

'It's been four years (in cars) and every year I've raced in a different (type of) car,” Hawksworth said. 'It's been interesting. All the cars are different to drive. It's still essentially four wheels and an engine, so you get in and drive the wheels off it, but there's slightly different driving styles.

'Every year you get older and more experienced so you approach racing slightly differently. That's the biggest thing. With age and experience, every year you have to up your game just a little bit – especially when you move up the ranks.”

He said along his rise from karts to IndyCar, he knew he'd have to make the most of each year in racing to reach his goal of competing in the top American open wheel series.

And though most European-born drivers have Formula-1 as the target, Hawksworth was adamant he wants to be in IndyCar and had it circled long ago. One of the biggest attractions, he said, is the 'old-school” feel of American racing. The close quarters at U.S. circuits help drivers learn their limits, which isn't something European drivers always get.

Iowa Speedway plays right into that for the road-course ace Hawksworth, who is still slowly improving his oval skills. He said the results haven't shown how much he feels he's improved on ovals this season, and believes they will improve with time.

If his (albeit short) history is any indication, it won't take too long.

'Everything about it is more old-school. The ovals are a bit more dangerous, and I like the fact that there's some danger it in – not because I'm some daredevil or a lunatic or anything like that, but I just feel like there needs to be that (fear),” Hawksworth said. 'You just never know where you're going to be (in the future) and you concentrate on the now and hope for the best. But my ambition and goal – I've said it since I came over here – was I wanted to win in IndyCar.

'And that's not changed. I want to stay here the rest of my career and win races and championships.”

WALL OF FAME NIGHT

Hawkeye Downs Speedway will host the 13th Annual Keith Fleck Memorial Wall of Fame Night with six new members set to join previous inductees for a special ceremony during Intermission.

This year's inductees include Merv Chandler, Lee Behrens, Shane Carson, Virgil Dietz, Dan Pospishil and Jim Pospishil. Also during intermission, the Lil' Racer Car Club will hold their annual candy dash.

All six divisions will be in action Friday night, with the late models and modifieds getting back to action after a week off due to 'weepers” pushing water up through cracks in the track.

Extra Cash is on the line for feature winners in late models and modifieds with the Liz Girl Logistics Lucky Roll. Feature winners in those divisions will roll the dice to earn cash for themselves and the local Juvenile Diabetes Center.

INDEE UP NEXT FOR SUMMER SERIES

The IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for late models kicked off four straight weeks of Tuesday night action with its event at Marshalltown Speedway on Tuesday night, won by Cedar Falls native Jeff Aikey.

The series continues next Tuesday at Independence Motor Speedway, with racers going for another $3,000 payday for winning the event. It was this race last season that started a record-tying four-race win streak for Justin Kay, who leads this season's points standings by five ahead of Andy Eckrich.

IMCA Sport Mods and IMCA Hobby Stocks will run as support classes for that event.

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