Hawkeye Downs 2024 preview: New track layout, new racing class among developments

CEDAR RAPIDS — Racing season is here, finally.

Six days after inclement weather postponed what was originally scheduled to be opening day at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, drivers will start their engines for competition Friday night, officially kicking off HD’s 99th season.

Corey Crispin, 2023 Hornets track champion, believes there’s plenty for competitors and fans to be excited about this year.

“I’m looking forward to new drivers and cars joining the competition,” Crispin said. “That can really shake things up.”

Hawkeye Downs race director Brian Gibson estimates “a double-digit car count increase from last year.”

Another development at HD in 2024: An alteration to its quarter-mile track.

“We modified the racing lanes on the quarter mile to promote two-wide racing,” Gibson said. “We moved the bottom of the track out in the center of the corner, so instead of a constant circle, it's more of an oval and there is slightly more banking when you get off the bottom 4 to 5 feet of the track.”

Crispin thinks the change could change the results of races.

“It always changes the way the races unfold when there are new elements added,” he said. “Fans should be eager to see how the new track layout will change the results of races. Cars that have been dominant in the past may no longer be, since the bottom lane has moved.”

The Speedway also added a new racing class — HD (Hawkeye Downs) Dawgs.

“Fans should be excited to know that Hawkeye Downs is incorporating a new half-mile ‘breakout rule’ class,” last year’s Hobby Stocks track champion Derek Parrot said.

In this class, a designated time is set and the objective for drivers is to run as close to that time as they can without “breaking out” or “going under.”

“Currently, we have the time set at 22 seconds,” Gibson said. “This is a class to encourage a lot of our fans who want to see racing out on the half mile.”

HD Dawgs also is “an economical way to run the half time,” according to Gibson.

While vehicle parameters (late models are not allowed to compete) and safety measures are required to be met, the class has a “wide-open set of rules,” Gibson said.

“It could be an older dirt car — it could be an older asphalt car — it could be a truck,” Gibson said. “This class is designed so a person can participate without having to spend crazy money on an engine and new tires all the time, but still get out on the half mile.”

The first points of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series will be accumulated Friday. Points will be tallied every Friday until Aug. 16 when a track champion from each class is scheduled to be crowned.

“Fans should be excited about some great racing this upcoming season and the track has had some offseason improvements that fans will notice,” Hornets driver Chad Vozenilek said. “Brian (Gibson) and staff have done a great job and I feel the track has good momentum heading into this 99th season of racing.”

This year’s schedule has 17 races. Visiting racing series include the Sprint Series, A.I.R.S. Vintage Racing Series, Big 8 Late Models Series and the ASA Midwest Tour.

“Hawkeye Downs has some of the best racing out of the numerous tracks I’ve been to across the country,” said Legends driver Jacob Tiegen. “If you want to see some of the best Legend racing in the country, nothing beats my hometown Hawkeye Downs.”

In September, the Bandolero National Championship race will be hosted at Hawkeye Downs.

Additionally, HD will host other racing events for community groups, including Patriot Promotions’ Street Drags, Midwest Shredfest drifting events and more.