A significant part of Hawkeye Downs’ past and present, Jim Hanson hopes for a bright future

CEDAR RAPIDS — Over the last decade, Jim Hanson has been the winningest driver in Hawkeye Downs Speedway’s weekly racing series.

Seven track championships split between two divisions (three in Sportsmans, four in Hobby Stocks) leave Hanson with the most titles since 2014.

While Hanson’s been a significant part of the past and present, he hopes a bright future is ahead for racing at Hawkeye Downs, whether he’s competing or not.

“There are a lot of good people out here,” Hanson said. “The facility is probably one of the best around the Midwest. I hope it continues to grow and gets more people involved. Get these kids involved.”

Speaking of “kids,” Hanson’s daughter, Emma, raced in the Hornets division at the beginning of the 2022 season at age 15.

If not for her competing, Hanson may have earned his eighth trophy last year.

“I quit in the middle of the season because my daughter was racing,” Hanson said. “I was leading points in Sportsmans and I just couldn’t concentrate on both cars. So, I just quit in the middle of the season last year so I could concentrate on her.”

Unfortunately, after the “seventh or eighth” race, Emma totaled out her car, ending her 2022 campaign.

She then decided to take this year off, leaving the door open for Hanson to return.

“If she was going to race this year, I probably wouldn't have,” Hanson said. “But circumstances change.”

Hanson’s hopeful that she’ll return to the track in the future.

“I think she'll possibly be back next year,” Hanson said. “If that happens, I’ll probably go to a part-time schedule next year or not race at all. I don't know, we'll see.”

Hanson’s making the most of his opportunity this year, leading the Sportsmans division by five points over 2022 champion Todd Ness.

While Hanson has battled Ness and several others in the division before, he’s been impressed with one of the newcomers.

“We’ve got (Jacob) Tiegen, who is new,” Hanson said. “He’s raced Legends cars and has moved over to the full-size cars and he's actually fun to race with.

“He goes out there and he races hard every week and will give you what you give him, which is good.”

Tiegen, 17, is third in points and one of several young drivers competing at Hawkeye Downs this year. He represents part of what Hanson hopes will be a sustainable future of racing at the Speedway — something the staff has been working to build.

“They’ve got a program with the schools right now (Iowa BIG) where the kids are putting cars together,” Hanson said. “We’ve got to get the kids to the track and get them involved — hands-on, you know, and continue to grow.

“The people that run it (Hawkeye Downs) are doing an awesome job and then learning as they go. I think it's headed in the right direction.”

As far as what’s right in front of Hanson this season, he’s prepared.

“The points lead is close, but I've been there, done that before,” Hanson said. “It’s business as usual.”