Petrzelkas battling for Hobby Stock title

CEDAR RAPIDS - Matt Petrzelka's three-year grip on the Hobby Stock division at Hawkeye Downs Speedway may finally be showing signs of loosening - not only from a former champion, but his own brother as well.

'It's good competition this year,” Petrzelka said before finishing third in the Hobby Stock feature Friday night in front of a season-high crowd estimated at 2,500. 'You've got (Nathan) Ballard. He's really strong, a past points champion. Jim Hanson, too. He's come on.”

Ballard got his fifth feature win this season to re-claim the season points lead. Greg Hentrich (Sportsmen), Todd Ness (Hornets), Kevin Korsmo (Legends) and Tim Plummer (Late Models) also won.

'My car was handling pretty good,” Ballard said in a victory lane interview. 'After last week - losing an axle and a points lead - my dad told me to go out and win races and not worry about points.”

While Ballard and Petrzelka have combined to win the last five hobby stock points titles, a new driver is coming up a strong third in the standings - Petrzelka's 18-year-old brother, Adam.

'I've raced a lot more races this year,” said Adam, who finished fourth last night. 'My brother helped me set my car up a lot better this year. It's helped quite a bit.”

Before last season, Adam had no official racing experience - honing his chops on the gravel roads of his Norway hometown. Once Matt came upon a car for sale online, Adam was quickly on his way - with a healthy nudge from big brother.

'He's not scared of anything so I figured it'd be good for him,” said Matt, 23. 'Growing up he always wanted to (race). He likes speed.”

While Adam contends any sibling rivalry is limited to minor garage disputes over losing each other's tools, Matt counters that there are times in which he needs to deliver a message on the track.

'Sometimes he gets in my way and I've got to let him know I'm there,” Matt said. ''I'm coming through' - give him a little bump.”

Nevertheless, it definitely remains more of a sibling collaboration than rivalry - evidenced by Adam's first feature win May 30.

'I like to see him win,” Matt said. 'It's fun to race against your brother like that ... it was awesome.”

The brothers plan to enjoy one last summer of track tussles on the venerable half-mile asphalt oval before Matt sells his Hobby Stock car to race dirt tracks four nights a week next year.

'It's kind of fun at the same time, but it kind of sucks because I know he's a lot better than me,” Adam said. 'He's had a lot more laps and he's a lot smoother. He has more experience so far.”

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